Community Recognition
In acknowledging the achievements and outstanding contributions made by migrants and refugees, the VMC aims to encourage greater awareness and respect for our cultural diversity. Find out more about the Awards of Excellence, Victorian Refugee Recognition Record, and Community Receptions.
Awards of Excellence
The Awards program was established by the Commission in 2002 to recognise and reward the contribution of individuals and organisations in the promotion of Victoria’s multicultural harmony.
There are nine categories for nomination of an award:
1. Award for Meritorious Service in the Community recognising the outstanding achievement of an individual or community group.
2. Premier’s Award for Community Harmony recognising the outstanding achievement of an individual or organisation that has developed programs, strategies or activities, which furthered cross-cultural harmony in Victoria.
3. Business Corporate Award recognising inclusive practices and or initiatives by a business or corporation that utilises and promotes Victoria’s multicultural advantage.
4. Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria Awards recognising excellence in service delivery in the specified portfolio areas; Aged Care, Arts, Community Services, Education, Emergency Services, Employment, Health, Local Government, Planning, Regional Development and Tourism.
5. Victorian Multicultural Commission Ambassador Award recognising achievements in multicultural affairs by an organisation, an individual or a young person.
6. Victorian Multicultural Commission Media Award recognising excellence in the reporting of multicultural affairs in the media.
7. Police and Community Multicultural Awards Advisory Committee (PACMAC) acknowledging police members who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the development and enhancement of harmonious relations between police and Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
8. Victorian Multicultural Education Award recognising initiatives and practices for the promotion of multiculturalism in school communities.
9. Local Government Award recognising major improvements made, or initiatives developed, by a local municipal council that promotes and strengthens multiculturalism and meets the identified needs of that municipality’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Nominations for the 2008 Awards of Excellence will open in August.
Enquiries: info@vmc.vic.gov.au or call 03 9208 3183
Victorian Refugee Recognition Record (VRRR)
The VRRR is an official recognition of the tremendous contributions that refugees have made to their own communities and to the State of Victoria. It provides a great opportunity for all Victorians to celebrate and document the diverse contributions that refugees have made. This initiative was launched in 2004 and is now held annually in June to coincide with Refugee Week.
The VRRR is open to individuals who arrived in Australia as refugees. Victorians are encouraged to nominate member of the community, friends or relatives who they think have made a real difference to the Victorian community.
Community Receptions
Each year the Victorian Multicultural Commission coordinates 3-4 Community Receptions hosted by the Premier of Victoria. The receptions provide an opportunity for the Premier to formally acknowledge the arrival and contribution of individual communities to the State of Victoria.
In previous years the Premier has hosted receptions for the following communities.
- Indian – 16 August 2002
- Turkish – 28 October 2002
- Lebanese – 21 November 2002
- Greek – 23 March 2004
- Croatian – 30 June 2004
- Polish – 10 November 2004
- Russian – 7 June 2005
- Somalian - 5 July 2005
- Ukrainian - 24 August 2005
- Maltese - 20 September 2005
- Vietnamese - 4 October 2005
- Sudanese - 13 June 2006
- Hungarian – 22 August 2006
- Chinese – 27 September 2006
- Italian – 6 June 2007
- Filipino – 13 June 2007
- Jewish - 19 September 2007
- German - 9 October 2007
- Spanish Speaking - 31 October 2007
- New Zealand - 6 February 2008
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