The Premier of Victoria announced the Multicultural Review in December 2024. Its purpose was to recommend ways the government could strengthen its support to multicultural and multifaith communities.
The review was led by George Lekakis AO and was supported by multicultural experts including Hass Dellal AO, Carmel Guerra OAM, Miriam Suss OAM and Mark Duckworth PSM. The review’s report was published in September 2025.
The review listened to more than 600 Victorians across 57 consultations and received almost 160 written submissions.
Key findings
The review found that our multiculturalism is one of Victoria’s greatest strengths. We all benefit from the cultural, social and economic contributions of our multicultural communities.
However, the review found there are challenges putting a strain on our communities.
The review found many communities feel under attack, with more incidents of Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism and hate crimes.
The review calls for measures to reinforce unity, inclusion and a refreshed whole-of-government approach to multicultural affairs. It made 41 recommendations.
Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria will be a new government entity that will bring together the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and Multicultural Affairs from 1 October 2026.
influence and drive accountability across government
develop multicultural policy
deliver programs.
Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria will have a Multicultural Coordinator General and two Deputies. The Coordinator General will lead the community engagement, advocacy and accountability functions of Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria.
The Victorian Government will develop a new four-year whole-of-government multicultural strategy.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet is getting feedback from communities to inform the strategy.
The strategy will include actions for different departments. Departments will report on what they are doing to meet their actions.
Organisations that receive grants will agree to the Social Cohesion Values Commitment.
The values commitment empowers grant recipients to champion social cohesion, reject division and contribute to community harmony.
This commitment is being rolled out in stages. It has commenced for funding administered by the Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria portfolio and will be rolled out to other government grant programs in future.
The Multicultural Capacity Building Program opened for applications in January 2026. This program will help grassroots organisations strengthen their operations so that they can continue to provide valuable services to their communities.
The program received strong interest from community organisations. These applications are being assessed.
Government will invest $925,000 in a Multicultural Museums Program. This targeted program will aim to increase community participation in multicultural museums. It will aim to strengthen intercultural and interfaith understanding.
The government will recognise interpreting and translating as essential services for multicultural communities. The government will work to strengthen the quality and sustainability of language services in Victoria.
Government will require all Cabinet submissions to include an impact statement on multicultural affairs, inclusion and social cohesion. This recognises the unique access and service barriers faced by multicultural and multifaith Victorians.
What’s next
Establishing Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria will require changes to Victoria’s multicultural legislation, the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 (the Act).
It makes changes to the Act that resets how government listens to, collaborates with and supports Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities.
Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria will be a new government entity that will bring together the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and Multicultural Affairs from 1 October 2026.
Together, the actions address 7 of the review’s most important recommendations. The government is also considering other recommendations and will provide updates on progress.