Owning Victoria’s Future: empowering multicultural young people
Empowering multicultural young people and achieving intergenerational equity are the focus of the Centre for Multicultural Youth’s (CMY) platform for the 2026 Victorian Election.
‘Owning Victoria’s Future: empowering multicultural young people’ calls for the critical support that enables multicultural youth to reach their full potential and meaningfully contribute.
The platform’s 11 priorities give parties and candidates a timely guide to invest in strong foundations, support and certainty for multicultural young people, while reducing exclusion and disadvantage.
It highlights that falling short of meeting the needs of multicultural youth risks the intergenerational equity that will sustain Victoria’s prosperity, resilience and social cohesion into the future.
CMY CEO Carmel Guerra OAM said it was a crucial time to support multicultural young people.
“Many multicultural young people are feeling the weight of complex and compounding challenges, in what is already a difficult and uncertain time for all young people. They need an equal chance to build their lives.”
Carmel Guerra said investing in multicultural young people is investing in the future of our state.
“Multicultural young people are Victoria’s future – supporting their empowerment should be intentional.
“CMY is calling for investment in this generation of multicultural youth to enable them to meaningfully participate, contribute and be more equipped to have ownership of their futures.
“When multicultural young people can realise their potential, the benefits belong to all of Victoria’s generations to come. It’s an assurance we need in a time of uncertainty.”
CMY is calling on all Victorian Election 2026 parties and candidates to commit to its priorities for multicultural young people, and the organisations and workers who stand with them, across the areas of:
Renewing the foundations:
- Victorian multicultural policy and strategy
- a fully-funded youth strategy to strengthen youth participation
- community and youth sector sustainability
Delivering targeted investment:
- multicultural community-led and place-based approaches
- youth justice
- education
- family violence
- mental health
- employment
- homelessness
- community sport
With almost 1 in 2 young people living in Victoria born overseas or with a parent born overseas, young multicultural Victorians who are eligible to vote this November will set the political agenda, Carmel Guerra said.
“Young multicultural voters are not just watching this state election, they are a significant force within it.”
“CMY is calling on all parties and candidates to honour their needs, listen to their voices and respect their role as we head to the polls.”
Read CMY’s platform for the 2026 Victorian Election.
CONTACT: For interviews with CMY Chief Executive Officer Carmel Guerra OAM, or staff from existing CMY programs (Le Mana Pasifika Project, Jamma and the Centre for Multicultural Sport), please contact Michelle Lane – Senior Media and Events Officer, CMY on 0407 797 047 or media@cmy.net.au.