CMY welcomes Final Report of Victoria’s Multicultural Review and Government Response
The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) welcomes the release of Rebuilding Trust for a Multicultural Victoria, the final report of Victoria’s Multicultural Review. Drawing on community perspectives from across the state, the report highlights how Victoria’s policies, institutions and programs must evolve to better represent and respond to our multicultural and multifaith communities.
The Review’s strong recognition that addressing racism and strengthening inclusion must be a whole-of-government responsibility is encouraging, as is the inclusion of multiple recommendations that centre the experiences and aspirations of multicultural young people.
The report provides recommendations that will strengthen social cohesion and trust in government while also ensuring multicultural young people can thrive and contribute fully to Victoria’s future. But it is only the beginning, with the report highlighting that the Victorian Government will need to act decisively, listen to the voices of communities, and provide sustained investment in these areas to effect change.
Given this, CMY were encouraged by a swift response from the Victorian Government and immediate commitment to acting in identified areas. This demonstrates that the Victorian Government recognises the urgency for reform and is committed to strengthening multicultural Victoria through:
- the establishment of the new statutory organisation, Multicultural Victoria, to drive unified coordinated policy, advocacy and community engagement and an independent voice into Government;
- developing a new four-year whole-of-government multicultural strategy, led by the Premier;
- requiring all Cabinet submissions to include an impact statement on multicultural affairs, inclusion and social cohesion;
- a new $5 million capacity building fund to multicultural organisations to build stronger communities to enhance social cohesion.
These measures will better reflect and respond to the needs of multicultural and multifaith communities.
CMY looks forward to seeing how the new $5 million capacity building fund will be delivered in response to the recommendations outlined in the review, particularly as they relate to priority areas for multicultural young people.
CMY values the opportunity to have contributed to the review process through both our consultation and submission. We are pleased to see a number of our suggestions reflected in the final report. These recommendations echo what young people and communities have consistently told us: that systemic racism continues to create barriers to opportunity, that young people must be at the centre of community building investment, and that culturally safe, community-led support is vital to building belonging and resilience.
CMY looks forward to working with Government to consider the remaining recommendations as part of the development and delivery of the new, integrated, whole-of-government multicultural strategy. We commit to working closely with Government, community organisations and young people to ensure these important reforms deliver on their promise of a more equitable and inclusive Victoria that meets the needs of future generations.
Download the Final Report and the Government’s response at: https://www.vic.gov.au/victorias-multicultural-review