Empowering African communities in Victoria

Victorian African Communities Action Plan progress

The Action Plan was developed for Victoria’s African communities by Victoria’s African communities. Its development was led by the African Ministerial Working Group (AMWG), a diverse group of 22 people of African heritage, from October 2016 to February 2018.

During this time, hundreds of people across Victoria’s African communities gave their views and opinions to help shape the plan. The Action Plan responds to well-known issues, and aims to uplift and support people to make decisions that improve their lives.

The action plan proposed more than 250 actions across six focus areas. The suggested actions aim to create opportunities for all people to belong, contribute and thrive. The actions also build on work already being done by communities, governments and others to support people across Victoria’s African communities.

Victorian African Communities Committee (VACC)

The Victorian Government has established a new advisory committee that will provide advice to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs on issues relevant to Victoria's African communities.

Visit Victorian African Communities Committee for more information.

Implementation Committee

Prior to the VACC, a VACAP Implementation Committee guided the implementation and design of VACAP initiatives. The Committee worked alongside the Victorian Government to implement VACAP programs between 2018 and 2022, and supported communities to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Implementation Committee represented a diverse cross section of the African Community.

Focus areas

The 6 focus areas for the action plan:

	Business Growing African Victorian innovation, enterprise and investment across the economy.
	Employment Strengthening skills and pathways to gain meaningful jobs in all sectors.
	Education and training Building stronger learning foundations and skills for life.
	Health and wellbeing Lifting the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of all people.
	Inclusion and empowerment Supporting people to be equal, treated fairly and with respect.
	Leadership, cohesion and connection Contributing to a strong Victoria through effective leadership, cohesive communities and stronger connections across the broader society.

Current initiatives

Employment Brokers Initiative

Funding of up to $350,000 per organisation for two years to support community organisations with significant reach into Victoria’s African communities to engage and host African community employment brokers.

Education Initiatives

Since 2019, funding of over $10 million has been provided for the following initiatives to support learning outcomes for students of African heritage enrolled in Victorian schools.

School Community Liaison Officers

School Community Liaison Officers act as a positive conduit between schools, parents and pupils to support the learning outcomes of African Victorian students in eight schools across Melbourne.

Schools funded by the School Community Liaison Officer Initiative, include:

• Northern Bay College
• Truganina P-9 College
• Debney Meadows Primary School
• Hume Central Secondary College
• Charles La Trobe P-12 College
• Fitzroy Primary School
• Narre Warren South P-12 College
• Lyndale Secondary College

Homework Club Grants Program

The Homework Club Grants Program provides funding for community organisations to deliver culturally appropriate homework support and after-school activities for African Victorian students across the state, where they need it most.

Funded 2024 Homework Club providers include:

Read the Action Plan

Download the full document:

Download a summary of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan document in a range of languages, including English:

Read the Victorian Government response:

Further information

For more information about the Victorian African Communities Action Plan contact the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing by emailing VACAP@dffh.vic.gov.au

Previous grant programs