April 2026 — Issue #61

Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter.

Next week's State Budget will be closely watched by multicultural Victorians.

The Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV) has been consulting with diverse communities across the state – particularly in Melbourne’s outer metropolitan suburbs – to identify key priorities ahead of the November State Election.

A key theme emerging from our consultation work has been the impact of cost of living pressures on individuals and families, highlighting the critical role of grassroots community support.

We welcome recent State Government announcements to ease transport costs, and are hopeful that the Budget will deliver further relief across the board.

Long-term, sustainable funding – rather than short-term project funding – is essential to support ethno-specific and multicultural organisations to continue supporting multicultural Victorians.

Read more on our pre-budget submission here.

Above: People speaking up at our recent consultations

News & Updates

Community forums and consultations

Listening to communities is central to our work as a peak body – ensuring our advocacy reflects real experiences on the ground. Recent engagements included a well-attended community forum in Dandenong, as well as statewide roundtables bringing together 40 community leaders to help inform the Victorian Government’s new multicultural strategy.

We also brought together leaders from the multicultural aged care sector across metropolitan and regional Victoria to discuss recent aged care reforms and advocate for key changes. We welcome the recent Federal Government decision to cover the cost of personal care services such as showering. You can read our recommendations on the transition from the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to the Support at Home program here.

As ECCV CEO Farah Farouque noted, "This is a much needed shift that bring enormous relief to both multicultural seniors and community aged care providers. The test of social policy reform of this scale is really in its implementation - we hope further changes are coming".

We thank everyone who contributed their insights and look forward to continuing these conversations in the months ahead.

Our recent aged care roundtable, co-convened with the federal Department of Health, Disability & Ageing

Political Debate

In a multicultural country that owes so much to migration, our policymakers in Canberra and elsewhere must reject divisive narratives and conduct debates with care. Evidence-based debate must underpin both public and political rhetoric.

Failing to do so risks reviving the same exclusionary thinking that underpinned the racist White Australia policy.

Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA)'s statement reaffirms that Australia’s success has been built on migration, with people from diverse backgrounds contributing across all areas of society. It also highlights that there is no evidence to support claims that people from particular countries are less likely to contribute, and cautions against approaches that risk unfair or discriminatory treatment.

ECCV agrees that Australia’s migration system must remain fair, consistent and evidence-based, and will continue to support family reunion and humanitarian pathways that strengthen communities.

Read the statement here

Lebanon - Supporting our Communities

As an organisation advocating for migrants and refugees, we acknowledge the deep distress currently felt amongst Lebanese Australians.

While ECCV’s focus is local, we know that overseas conflicts are never distant for multicultural Victoria. The impact is personal – affecting family members, loved ones and community networks, and bringing grief, fear and uncertainty into everyday life. With more than one million people displaced in Lebanon, the scale of the crisis is deeply felt here.

Last week, ECCV joined Lebanese community leaders to hear directly from community about these impacts. What came through clearly was the need for responses grounded in lived experience – including access to humanitarian pathways and culturally appropriate mental health support.

Read our full statement here

Opportunities & Resources

The Victorian Multicultural Health Survey - have your say

Don't miss the opportunity to share your experiences and ideas to improve access, cultural safety and quality of healthcare in Victoria. The Multicultural Health Survey is available in 14 languages and can be completed by you or with support from someone you trust. Closes 31 May.🔗 Take part here

Multicultural Infrastructure Grants – now open

The Australian Government has announced a $41 million Multicultural Infrastructure Grants program to support community facilities that bring people together. Funding ranges from $20,000 to $1.5 million across three streams for upgrades, equipment and new or expanded spaces. Applications close 18 May. 🔗 Find out more and apply here

ECCV Renters Forum – supporting the transition to electric

Victoria is transitioning from gas to clean, efficient electricity over the next 10 years.

ECCV is hosting an Online Renters Forum on Tuesday 16 June at 1pm, supporting renters from multicultural communities to better understand Victoria's energy rebates and support programs.

The session will share practical ways to reduce energy bills, improve home comfort and communicate with landlords about upgrades such as energy-efficient appliances.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Surmeli via syesilyurt@eccv.org.au