About Multicultural Affairs

The Multicultural Affairs portfolio supports the Victorian Government to achieve its multicultural vision and priorities.

We work with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and the Victorian Multicultural Commission to foster an inclusive, engaged and harmonious multicultural Victoria.

Multicultural Affairs has 2 units:

1. Multicultural Affairs Programs and Partnerships
2. Multicultural Affairs Policy.

These units work closely with the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Victoria has a long history of multiculturalism.

Victorians:

• come from more than 300 ancestries
• speak 290 languages
• follow almost 200 different faiths.

Source: 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census

This diversity enriches everyone. It promotes understanding, brings new ideas, extends our skills, attracts businesses and creates new jobs.

Legislation

Multicultural Victoria Act 2011

The Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 recognises that citizenship is central to multiculturalism. Aside from Australian citizenship, it also refers to the rights and responsibilities of all people in a multicultural society.

The Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 came into effect on 1 September 2011.

Read the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011(opens in a new window).

Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006

This act was passed in July 2006 and came into effect on 1 January 2008. The Charter put certain civil and political rights, and some cultural rights, into Victorian law.

Victoria was the first Australian state to put formal protection of human rights into law this way. The charter ensures human rights are valued and protected within government and the community.

Read about the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006(opens in a new window).

Reporting requirements

The Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 requires all Victorian Government departments to report annually. These reports describe their achievements and initiatives in multicultural affairs, including:

• their use of language services
• multicultural communications
• multicultural representation on government boards and committees.

Read about the multicultural reporting requirements(opens in a new window) for Victorian Government departments.

Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001

This act was passed on 14 June 2001 and came into effect on 1 January 2002. In June 2006, the Act was amended following consultation with the multifaith community.

Read about the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001(opens in a new window).