Victoria: The Place To Be

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About Us

(VMC) is an independent statutory authority that was originally established in 1983 under the name of the Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission. Since then, the Commission has provided independent advice to the Victorian Government to inform the development of legislative and policy frameworks as well as the delivery of services to our culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse society.

The VMC is the main link between Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and the Government, conducting more than 50 community consultations each year.

The Commission now operates under the Multicultural Victoria Act 2004 which conveys the Victorian Government's commitment to recognise the social, cultural and economic contribution of cultural and linguistic diversity to Victoria and enhances the accountability of government departments to all Victorians.

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Structure

Structural Organisation Chart 2009 (PDF 19 kb)

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Objectives & Functions

The VMC’s objectives and functions, as specified in the Multicultural Victoria Act (MVA) 2004 are to:

Objectives

• promote access by Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities to services made available by governments and other bodies;
• encourage all of Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities to retain and express their social identity and cultural inheritance;
• promote co-operation between bodies concerned with multicultural affairs;
• promote unity among Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities; and
• promote a better understanding within Victoria of Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Functions

• ensure that the objectives of the Commission are met to the maximum extent that is practicable;
• investigate, report and make recommendations to the Minister on any aspect of multicultural affairs referred to it by the Minister;
• advise the Minister on factors inhibiting the development of harmonious community relations and on barriers to the participation of Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the social, cultural, economic and political life of Victoria;
• consult with relevant bodies and people to determine the needs of Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including needs in relation to matters covered by any report prepared by the Minister under section 21 (of the MVA); and
• maintain and further develop harmonious community relations between all relevant groups in the context of Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse society.

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