Enhancing Victoria's Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Diversity
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Victorian Multicultural Commission annual report 2009-10 Annual Report 2009-10 Enhancing Victoria’s cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. Level 3, 3 Treasury Place East Melbourne VIC 3002 TELEP HONE (03) 9651 0651 FACSIMILE (03) 9651 0612 EMAIL [email protected] www.multicultural.vic.gov.au Annual Report 2009-10 The 2009-10 Annual Report covers the core work of the Commission and its achievements within the context of its objectives and functions, as outlined in the Multicultural Victoria Act 2004. This report can also be viewed online at: www.multicultural.vic.gov.au Copies of this Annual Report can be obtained from the Victorian Multicultural Commission: TELEPHONE (03) 9651 0651 FACSIMILE (03) 9651 0612 EMAIL [email protected] PRINTED ON ecoStar 100% recycled stock using environmentally friendly inks. chairperson’s report contents letter to the premier ......................................................................3 chairperson’s report .......................................................................4 enhancing 7 diversity about the commission enhancing victoria’s cultural, religious and linguistic diversity .............................................6 our role ...............................................................................................6 about the multicultural victoria act 2004 ............................6 our policy framework ....................................................................8 our commissioners .........................................................................9 our staff ...............................................................................................9 expenditure ......................................................................................9 promoting community grants program 22 harmony supporting and empowering victoria’s community groups .................................................10 funding categories .....................................................................10 grants administration and assessment ...............................10 cultural precincts enhancement fund programs and partnerships ......................................................10 preserving our heritage for future generations .............27 italian precinct (lygon street) ..................................................27 consultations, committees and chinatown precinct (little bourke street) ...........................27 community engagement greek precinct (lonsdale street) .............................................27 responding to the needs of our community ...................13 cultural precincts and community infrastructure fund .....................................................................28 consultations ..................................................................................13 advisory /consultative committees ......................................13 joint collaborations community engagement ..........................................................14 partnering for better outcomes ............................................29 promoting harmony initiative appendices fostering understanding commission meeting attendance register ........................33 and appreciation of diversity ..................................................18 grants .................................................................................................34 print and online communications ........................................20 multicultural advisory board....................................................69 awards and receptions...............................................................21 awards for excellence ................................................................70 language services & refugee support victorian refugee recognition record ..................................72 improving the access and equity for all victorians ..........23 language services .........................................................................23 training and development ........................................................24 Annual Report 2009-10 1 letter to the premier Header The VMC is and Sub Head Photo Name 2 Victorian Multicultural Commission letter to the premier The Hon John Brumby MP Premier of Victoria Minister for Multicultural Affairs 1 Treasury Place EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Dear Premier, In accordance with Section 18 of the Multicultural Victoria Act (2004) I have great pleasure in reporting on the Commission’s operations for the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010. Yours sincerely, George Lekakis CHAIRPERSON Photo Name Photo Name Annual Report 2009-10 3 chairperson’s report strength in our diversity Each year the Annual Report is an opportunity to look back on the achievements of the previous year with an eye to the road ahead. It is also a chance to reflect on what we stand for and how our numerous activities, both as a Commission and a community, have helped to advance the principles of multiculturalism in our State. We are fortunate that in Victoria these principles roundly condemn what were isolated, but nonetheless are clearly enshrined in law. The groundbreaking deplorable, acts of violence. The overwhelming show Multicultural Victoria Act 2004 reminds us that we of solidarity sent a strong symbolic message across are all entitled to mutual respect and understanding, the country and the world that we are an open society regardless of our background; and it reminds us that embraces diversity and strives for harmony. of our duty to promote and preserve our cultural The official response to these incidents was concrete diversity, to work together and to respect the as well. The Government took specific measures democratic processes of our society. to support international students announcing It is these values that give purpose, direction funding for a 24 hour International Student Care and cohesiveness to the myriad of activities that Service, an International Student Welcome Booth we carry out as the Commission, and through our at Melbourne Airport, and an Indian International many partnerships with community groups and Student Advisory Service. These services have now government departments. commenced operations and offer assistance to all Broadly, the 12 months between 2009 and 2010 of our international students in times of need. I am marked a definite year of growth and co-operation pleased to report that many clients have already that enabled us to build on the solid foundations of expressed their deep gratitude for the help they have multiculturalism in Victoria. received. The year brought many challenges and The Commission continued its strong engagement accomplishments, both for the Victorian Multicultural with community organisations, helping them to Commission (VMC) and for multiculturalism in the address their specific needs, because a community’s State of Victoria. It has been an exceptionally busy issues are a society’s concern. and rewarding time, not only for the Commission, That is why we continued to support and empower but also for the thousands of community groups communities through promoting unity, delivering operating in Victoria. on community aspirations, and celebrating diversity, We continued to make a significant whole of while providing independent, timely and responsive government and whole of community contribution advice to the Government. to Victoria’s diversity by advancing a number of The highly anticipated Victorian Awards for strategic priorities outlined in All of Us: Victoria’s Excellence in Multicultural Affairs was again a Multicultural Policy (2009). Collaborative work on successful and rewarding event. Each year I am these priorities across Government has continued moved by the number of worthy recipients who to bear fruit. Whether it was to improve access to have been nominated by their communities. The services, develop the cultural competence of service individuals and organisations who received awards staff, reduce racial and religious discrimination, or developed programs which helped to improve to support vulnerable members of culturally and cross-cultural and interreligious harmony in the linguistically diverse communities (CALD), the Victorian community, improved relations between commitment and cooperation across government police and Victoria’s culturally and linguistically departments has been exemplary. diverse communities, and raised awareness about the In July 2009, Victorians stood together and marched education and settlement needs of migrants side by side in support for multiculturalism, and and refugees. against racial prejudice and intolerance. The Walk Faith leaders met with the Premier of Victoria, John for Harmony, led by the Premier brought together Brumby, late last year to discuss how best to maintain over 10,000 Victorians from diverse backgrounds to and enhance multifaith and multicultural harmony 4 Victorian Multicultural Commission chairperson’s report across the State. The Multifaith Leaders Forum was held prior to the Parliament of the World’s Religions, an international, interfaith gathering which was held in Melbourne in December of 2009. The Parliament was an outstanding success, as well as a showcase of our State’s cultural and religious diversity. The State Budget committed $19.7 million in funding to multicultural communities. This was excellent news and we are hard at work to make sure this funding benefits those who need it the most. The Victorian Multicultural Commission’s grants program provided financial support to Victoria’s