Empowering Victorian Renters Project
Delivered by Tenants Victoria, the Empowering Victorian Renters Project provided targeted education for multicultural renters to strengthen community capacity and knowledge of rental rights and responsibilities (DGS: $0.33m in 2022–23).
In 2022–23 this project:
- developed new multilingual digital resources including videos, animations, and in-language factsheets to demystify the Residential Tenancies Act 1997
- held three online forums for 100 attendees in partnership with the Victorian Multicultural Commission to cover renters’ rights, scams and preparations for moving into a rental property
- held 10 interactive sessions for 101 attendees to educate newly arrived migrant and refugee communities on rental rights, rental discrimination, the functions of VCAT and supporting renters living with disability, family violence.
Between February and March 2023, Consumer Affairs Victoria ran a communications campaign on international students’ accommodation and renting rights for Chinese students. The campaign leveraged website content, social media, translated factsheets and regular Mandarin SBS Radio programs to help Chinese students and key stakeholders understand renting and accommodation rights and responsibilities.
Power Saving Bonus
The $250 Power Saving Bonus Community Outreach Program assisted vulnerable Victorian households to access the $250 Power Saving Bonus Program (DEECA: $5.70m in 2022–23). The program provided a $250 payment to help ease cost-of-living pressures and encouraged households to compare energy prices and save money. The program worked in partnership with trusted community and not-for-profit organisations to deliver targeted assistance to households experiencing vulnerability including culturally diverse Victorians. Between July 2022 and March 2023, the program supported more than 52,000 Victorians to apply for the $250 payment. Of these people, seven per cent reported speaking a language other than English as their primary language. Between March and August 2023, the program supported more than 67,000 households to apply for the payment. Of these, nine per cent reported speaking a language other than English as their primary language.
Energy Assistance Program
DEECA’s Energy Assistance Program provided tailored, one-on-one assistance to people experiencing financial hardship to navigate the energy market and save money on their energy bills (DEECA: $0.90m in 2022–23). Program partners have strong relationships with multicultural organisations in their networks to ensure tailored phone support and translations are available when needed. In 2022–23, 2,993 households received support through the program. Of these households, more than 20 per cent reported speaking a language other than English as their primary language.
Case study
Waterways of the West CALD Engagement Program and Toolkit
The Waterways of the West region comprises Werribee (Wirrbi), Maribyrnong (Mirrangbamurn) and Moonee Ponds (Moonee Moonee) catchments and is one of the most multicultural regions in Melbourne. In partnership with social impact agency Ellis Jones, DEECA engaged with key stakeholders in the region who collectively determined the need for guidelines that outline best practice, case studies and resources to engage culturally diverse communities on waterways in this region.
In response, DEECA developed the Waterways of the West CALD Engagement Toolkit to support community groups in the region to engage with multicultural and faith communities on waterway issues and policies. The Minister for Water launched the toolkit on the banks of the Werribee River (Wirribi Yaluk) in May 2023, with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, the Werribee River Association and culturally diverse community members present. The initiative has been recognised through two awards: the Better Future Australian Design Awards 2023 and the international GOV Design Award 2022.
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