October Monthly Reflections

In the month of October, we experienced both celebration and adversity in equal parts, and while it has been tough, it has also been a privilege to see the community rise to all of these occasions.

To all communities impacted by the floods around Victoria, please know that there is a lot of support available to you. The Victorian Government flood recovery page?is a great place to start. Our sincere gratitude to all of the community groups and services who have been on the ground supporting multicultural communities, especially in the Greater Shepparton region.?

The floods have been another reminder of the importance of multicultural inclusion and engagement on a structural and systemic level so that we can prevent, prepare, and respond. The VMC will continue to advocate for this to Government, and hope to see this embedded into future emergency responses.?

On a happier note, we recently celebrated another group of community leaders who are strengthening multiculturalism in this state. The 2022 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence was held on 25 October, hosted by the Governor of Victoria the Honourable Linda Dessau AC at Government House.

The 2022 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence at Government House

Thank you to our 2022 recipients and guests who attended on the evening. It was an illustrious ceremony on the beautiful grounds of Government House, a fitting venue for such impressive accomplishments. Visit our website for a full list of winners and honourable mentions.

Last month the VMC was also excited to launch our Multicultural Youth Network at Parliament House. After a statewide search, 20 people aged between 16 and 25 were selected to represent their region of Victoria and formally advise the VMC on issues and challenges impacting young multicultural Victorians. All of them have multicultural backgrounds, and some have lived-experience as a refugee or person seeking asylum.

As we celebrated together, the new members spoke of their eagerness to begin meetings, get to know each other, and start making an impact for all young Victorians. We can't wait!

VMC Multicultural Youth Network representatives for the 2022 - 2024 term

There were many cultural celebrations throughout October that I and other VMC Commissioners had the privilege of attending. This includes celebrations of Dashain, Mawlid and Diwali.?

I was proud to represent the VMC at the Premier's Diwali Gala Dinner, where we enjoyed a beautiful showcase of cultural celebration and important religious traditions. The Hindu community in Victoria continues to grow each year, and I'm grateful to be welcomed into these spaces. There's a great picture from the night below, but I should note that the Commissioner for Human Rights & Equal Opportunity, Ro Allen, did not elbow me on purpose! We had a fantastic time.?

The 2022 Premier's Diwali Gala dinner

It's important to the VMC that everyone, regardless of background or identity, is welcomed in our community. I recently conveyed these thoughts when I was invited to speak at the Disability Royal Commission public hearings. This particular hearing was dedicated to learning about experiences of violence against, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.?

In addition to this hearing, the VMC prepared a submission for the Disability Inclusion Bill in Victoria. People with a multicultural background often have intersecting identities, and our voices should be represented in every space.?

On the topic of representation, I'd like to invite those who are eligible to enrol to vote ahead of the Victorian state election?by 8 November.?The Victorian Electoral Commission has prepared many useful translated resources, and are inviting organisations to reach out if they would like an information session. Please consider taking advantage of this for the benefit of your community.?

Finally, we are thrilled to announce the 2023 Cultural Diversity Week theme -?Our Past. Our Future:?Celebrating and reflecting on the contributions of Victoria’s multicultural communities. We hope that this theme inspires you to plan activities that value and bring together established and emerging communities and reflect on Victoria’s strong past and look to its bright future as a multicultural state.

Please follow the VMC on our social media channels to stay up to date with the latest information about this event, including when expressions for interest open for the 2023 Multicultural Gala Dinner - it will be soon!?

Thank you,

Viv