Community Consultations
2008 Whole of Victorian Government Community Consultations
Annually, the Victorian Multicultural Commission issues an open invitation to community members to attend a series of community consultations facilitated by the Commission across metropolitan and rural and regional areas. These consultations are an opportunity for communities to provide direct feedback to the Victorian Government on how well services are meeting the needs of Victorians from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.
In 2008, the VMC will hold eleven community consultations from 8 – 29 September in Broadmeadows, Carlton, Footscray, Morwell, Dandenong, Shepparton, Mildura, Ballarat, Geelong, Preston and Box Hill. Click here for the Schedule of dates (WORD 75 kb) for the community consultations.
The Multicultural Victoria Act 2004 (MVA) sets out the consultative function of the VMC. This includes consulting with communities in relation to the annual reporting by all Victorian Government Departments, captured in this year’s annual whole of Victorian Government report: Victorian Government Achievements in Multicultural Affairs 2006-07. As in previous years, the consultations will provide an opportunity for communities to comment on this annual report.
This year the consultations will focus on three additional matters:
1. The VMC will raise with communities the Victorian Government’s intention to develop a new Multicultural Affairs policy for Victoria that builds on the achievements of past policies and activities.
2. At the recent Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs meeting, Victoria agreed to chair a National Working Party on Settlement Issues in Australia. To inform this work, the VMC will be seeking community views on settlement programs in local Victorian communities at the consultations. This information will assist in shaping the National Working Party report and advice to the Federal Government on settlement issues.
3. The consultations will be an opportunity for the VMC to provide communities with information on its community grants program for 2008-09, and where possible, about other grants programs.
If you would like to attend a Community Consultation in your area, please fill out the RSVP (DOC 75 kb) form and return it to info@vmc.vic.gov.au with Community Consultations in the subject line.
If you are unable to attend a consultation but would like to make a direct submission, please fill out a Consultation Written Submission form (WORD 66 kb) form in any language and return it to the VMC before Friday 10 October 2008.
Issues raised through the consultation process are passed on to the Government and Government departments by the VMC directly. Wherever possible, the VMC follows up on issues put forward by individuals and reports back on the specific action taken. All projects which the Victorian Government is undertaking in these areas, and good practice examples of service delivery, will be captured in the 2007-08 whole of Victorian Government report.
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