Wednesday, 31 May 2023

Victorian Multicultural Commission

Report 2021–22

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:19): Today I rise to speak on the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s annual report for 2021–22. We are making progress for our multicultural Victoria, but recent events on the steps of this Parliament show it is not without its challenges for the multicultural commission, the VMC, and diverse communities in Victoria. This commission is dedicated to advancing the exposure and support of multiculturalism in Victoria. In a state where equality is not negotiable, this is vital work. Over the 2021–22 year the VMC had four strategic priorities: promotion and advocacy, investigation and reporting, community leadership and COVID-19 response and recovery. Within these priorities they identified three key focus areas to address: mental health, employment and family violence. The VMC focused on building community engagement, participation and representation, and it is this that I will discuss tonight.

The VMC advocates for CALD communities through active engagement with community stakeholders in the not-for-profit sector and government departments. The commission also conduct extensive research, which they use to develop submissions that help craft more reflective and responsive legislation. These submissions and this expert advice have helped inform legislation – for instance, the Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 and, on a federal level, the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Consistent Waiting Periods for New Migrants) Bill 2021, which addresses waiting periods for new migrants. And the commission has played an important advisory role on Family Safety Victoria’s project steering committee, the Victorian government’s Anti-Racism Taskforce and the Mental Health Ministerial Advisory Committee.

The VMC has also been successful in supporting the next generation. There is no better example than the Multicultural Youth Network. This network allows young people to form bonds and provide advice to government departments and the VMC on relevant issues. Co-designing, walking together and listening to lived experience is vital to its work.

The VMC recognises the importance of celebrating those who make a difference. The VMC’s awards for excellence recognised 52 Victorians across 15 categories who have made Victoria more inclusive and welcoming to multicultural communities. The Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll recognises individuals and organisations who go above and beyond for Victoria’s multicultural communities. The Victorian Refugee Awards saw 14 refugees and asylum seekers recognised for their accomplishments during the 2022 Refugee Week. I have personally seen the contributions immigrants have made to our community: for instance, Kamal Ibrahim and the community group One Ball and their work using soccer as a medium for change, and Ravneet Singh Sohi, a Sikh community leader who supports everyone from the elderly to newly arrived immigrants.

The VMC helps multicultural Victorians strengthen our state, and it is important that we have an independent body like the VMC working hard every day for our state to achieve its statutory purpose, the objectives set out in the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011.

The VMC works tirelessly for Victoria. They support vulnerable communities who are suffering. They held 32 COVID-19 forums and round tables to act as an effective bridge between CALD communities and the government to ensure departments were flexible to their needs. These meetings were critical in ensuring delivery of both information and essential supplies. This critical outreach led to material improvements to multicultural communities during the pandemic.

The VMC has also been incredibly integral in supporting art and artists in CALD communities. This work means that multicultural communities can express their experiences through the medium of art and help promote understanding and acceptance in the wider community, and it ensures that all stories, perspectives and lived experiences are represented.

The VMC, in partnership with Swinburne University, from my neck of the woods, established the Multicultural Film Festival and the schools competition. This festival and competition allowed multicultural experiences to be explored through film whilst also encouraging and empowering multicultural people to explore their artistic passions. Through the medium of short film, the VMC has helped individuals in the community to explore their creative and technical talents whilst also sharing their important stories. The five award-winning films were showcased at Federation Square, streamed on SBS On Demand and on the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s YouTube channel and screened at the City of Casey’s Bunjil Place.

I commend the VMC on their important work, and I thank the chairperson of the VMC Vivienne Nguyen and her team for their passion and dedication. The VMC should take deep pride in how they have thrived and the work they have done to promote multicultural Victoria. I know there is much work to be done, and I am proud that we have organisations like the VMC to help to boost the bonds of multicultural Victoria.