Established in 1983, the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) 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 voice of Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and is the main link between them and the government. Our unique multicultural society remains one of our state’s greatest assets and strengths.

Operating under the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 the VMC is an independent statutory authority and consists of 12 commissioners: a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, a Youth Commissioner, a representative of a community organisation and eight other members.

Objectives and functions

As specified in the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 the VMC’s objectives are to promote:

• full participation by Victoria's diverse communities in the social, cultural, economic and political life of Victoria
• access by Victoria's diverse communities to government services
• unity, understanding, mutual respect and harmony among Victoria's diverse communities
• co-operation between bodies concerned with multicultural affairs and diversity
• a better understanding of Victoria's diverse communities
• the social, cultural and economic benefits of diversity, and
• to encourage all of Victoria's diverse communities to retain and express their social identity and cultural inheritance.

What we do

A key function of the VMC is to provide honest and candid advice to the government on multicultural affairs and citizenship in Victoria. The work of the Commission includes:

• state-wide consultations via a network of regional advisory councils to determine the needs of Victoria's diverse communities
• developing and maintaining partnerships between community organisations that provide settlement support and service delivery for diverse communities
• developing and maintaining harmonious community relations
• researching, advising and reporting to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship on any matter relating to the commission’s objectives, and
• focusing on systematic and community-wide settlement and service issues.

Eight Regional Advisory Councils are currently being established to work in partnership with the VMC and local communities, operating as important conduits for information on regional settlement and service delivery. More information about the Regional Advisory Councils, including how to join one.