eBulletin | August

August 2025 — Issue #56

Nearly half of Victoria’s population was born overseas or has a parent born overseas: a powerful reflection of who we are today. Despite this diversity, too many people from migrant and refugee backgrounds are still locked out of opportunities to contribute their full potential.

We hear this in our communities all the time. Too many migrants remain underemployed, and often work in roles that don’t match their qualifications.

Youth unemployment is disturbingly high in multicultural regions, including Melbourne’s growing western suburbs.

Policymakers must address barriers to overseas skills recognition, improve pathways for young people and create inclusive employment opportunities that reflect the diversity of our population. A truly inclusive society provides opportunities for first and second-generation migrants to thrive.

With the Federal Government hosting a Productivity Roundtable this week, it's timely to emphasise the economic impact migrants and refugees make when their skills and experiences are fully utilised. When ECCV recently consulted with representatives from new and emerging communities, employment was a key concern and identified as a systemic barrier to also creating a sense of belonging.

ECCV’s latest policy paper, Building Our Bicultural Workforce, highlights the untapped potential of bicultural workers in the expanding health and care sectors. These workers bring more than language skills, they bring incredibly valuable cross-cultural knowledge to strengthen communities, yet their contributions are undervalued.

At ECCV, we will continue to push for recognition, reform and investment that unlock the full talents of our multicultural communities. Because when every Victorian has the chance to thrive, our whole state prospers.

Abiola Akinbiyi

Chairperson

Victoria’s Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health and Renters Kat Theophanous joined representatives from multicultural community organisations for a roundtable discussion last week on ECCV’s new report, Building Our Bicultural Workforce. "Bicultural workers build trust, advocate, educate and help make community services accessible for all of us. It’s time these workers’ contribution is fully recognised,” says ECCV CEO Farah Farouque.

ECCV's report has shone a light on Victoria's bicultural workforce and what can be done to better recognise the value they bring to sectors including health, aged care, tenancy and family violence prevention. Presently, there is a lack of secure long-term funding and major gaps in training and accreditation. Our report suggests that standardising position descriptions, training and career progression will build the capacity of these key workers.

Read the full the report here.

Speaking to our best traditions as a welcoming nation, ECCV is calling for Australia’s Humanitarian Program to be progressively increased to 27,000 places by 2028-29, up from 20,000 places in 2025-26. According to the United Nations, 123 million people globally were forcibly displaced at the end of 2024. Yet the USA is poised to completely cease its refugee intake. ECCV believes this scenario offers the Albanese Government the opportunity to step up which will enhance our reputation in the Asia-Pacific region. Read the submission here.

Together We Can is a video produced by ECCV in which migrants and refugees reveal their experiences dealing with mental health care. These stories illuminate the unique challenges faced by multicultural communities when it comes to accessing health services that are culturally safe, responsive and inclusive. In these times of global turmoil and cost-of-living challenges, accessible mental health care for migrants and refugees is more vital than ever.

We know that many in our communities have been concerned about the surge in racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism. There are a range of practical supports available. These include new anti-racism local hubs in Wyndham, Whittlesea and Melbourne’s southeast including Casey, Dandenong and Cardinia. Check out some helpful resources here which are also translated in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese

ECCV offers workshops for community leaders, service providers and health practitioners working in mental-health support within migrant and refugee communities. These three-hour workshops aim to provide participants with tools and strategies for supporting mental wellbeing in communities where stigma and shame are often common barriers for those seeking support. The workshops are free and can be arranged by contacting Surmeli Yesilyurt via email on syesilyurt@eccv.org.au.

SAVE THE DATE: on Thursday, 25 September, ECCV is presenting a free one-hour lunchtime webinar to further understanding and support for mental health and wellbeing in multicultural communities. Targeted at community leaders and professionals working in the community sector, the webinar will look at how to make “lived experience” central to the planning, design and implementation of programs and services and strategies for best practice engagement with multicultural communities. The event will be held at 1pm.

Last call to submit a nomination to the 2025 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence The awards aim to celebrate people and organisations championing intercultural understanding and helping our multicultural communities thrive. This year, there are 14 award categories that span from the Arts to Business, Youth Leadership to Emergency Services. Find out more and submit your nomination here by Wednesday, 27 August.

The Transport Accident Commission has launched a new multi-language campaign that aims to remind drivers and passengers of the importance of seatbelts. One in four people who died in car accidents in the past five years wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, while a survey reveals that 4.7% of passengers admitted to not buckling up in the past year. The materials, available in 10 languages, can be downloaded here.