ARC Linkage Project: Connecting younger second language learners and older bilinguals
This project brings together upper secondary school learners of Chinese, German and Spanish with older speakers of the language, promoting mutually beneficial inter-cultural, intergenerational encounters. The Office of Multicultural Affairs & Citizenship (OMAC) is working with Monash University on this project.

For more information visit: www.arts.monash.edu.au/intergenerational

A Career in Aged Care: using your language skills at work

The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health have released a new edition of the booklet A career in aged care: using your language skills at work. The booklet is a guide for people who have bilingual or multilingual skills, and are considering a career in the aged care workforce. It will help readers to understand:

• what is involved in aged care work
• how their language skills can be used
• what qualifications they will need
• where and how to obtain these qualifications

Download the A Career in Aged Care booklet.

To order a hard copy of the booklet please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your address details.

Working Effectively with Interpreters in Private General Practice

The Victorian Multicultural Commission was keen to explore ideas to increase the utilisation of interpreters in private general practice. The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health developed an accredited training module for GPs and made it available to GPs and practice staff from the Northern and North Western Divisions of General Practice. Their findings and recommendations are detailed in this report. Download the Working Effectively with Interpreters in Private General Practice (PDF 404 kb) report.

Community Languages Online: Current Practice and Future Directions of Multilingual Information on Victorian Government Websites (2007)

The Community Languages Online - Full Report (PDF 2025 kb) presents the findings of a research project to examine how government can optimise the way translated information is produced and made available online to Victorian communities. The Community Languages Online Executive Summary (PDF 1622 kb) contains the report's key findings and recommendations. The Victorian Multicultural Commission commissioned the project, with research and subsequent developmental work undertaken by Vicnet, a division of the State Library of Victoria.

Language Services in Victoria's Health System: Perspectives of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Consumers (2006)

Victorian Multicultural Commission provided funding to the The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health for their 2006 report Language Services in Victoria's Health System: Perspectives of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Consumers (PDF 2795 kb). The report provides an analysis of how culturally and linguistically diverse consumers access and use language services - specifically interpreters - and examines consumer views on the effectiveness of language service provision in health settings.

The Numbers of Speakers of African Languages Emerging in Victoria (2006)

Victorian Multicultural Commission funded Victoria University to conduct research into the numbers of people who speak emerging African languages in Victoria. The report, The Numbers of Speakers of African Languages Emerging in Victoria (PDF 782 kb) provides information on the relative size of each language group, which can assist in selecting languages for the translation of community and government information.

Pathways to Interpreting and Translating (2006)

Victorian Multicultural Commission engaged the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, Monash University to conduct research into training pathways for interpreters and translators. The report Pathways to Interpreting and Translating, focuses on recruitment, training, accreditation and retention in the language services industry. The Pathways to Interpreting and Translating Executive Summary (PDF 191 kb) contains the report's key findings and recommendations.

Language Services Strategy

Managed by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Language Services Strategy is based on research undertaken in 2001 by the Allen Consulting Group who were commissioned to conduct a needs analysis of language services in Victoria. The government allocated $2.75 million over the first four years for the strategy which concluded in June 2006. More than 60 projects were undertaken in this phase.
Read A Needs Analysis of Language Services - Executive Summary (PDF 1.3 mb)
Read the November 2004 Language Services Strategy Report Card (PDF 83kb) for an overview of some of the early projects.

IMPORTANT
In accordance with commitments outlined in the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Plan for a Multicultural Victoria, a number of policy and program functions formerly located within the VMC have been transferred into the new Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (OMAC) within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Programs outlined on this page are now administered by OMAC.

For more information about OMAC visit the Department of Premier and Cabinet website or call 9651 1101.