1. Multicultural Affairs and Government in Victoria
Hakan Akyol
Director
Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship

2. Increasing Diversity

3. Population Growth to Nearly Double by 2051
Greater Melbourne
Victoria’s Regions
Victoria
2013
4.3m
1.4m
5.7m
2031 6m
1.7m
7.7m
2051
7.8
2.2m
10m

4. Victoria’s Advantage: A New Policy with Indicators
Launched in March 2014 Articulates Victorian Government’s plan to support and make the most of our diversity, promote community participation and strengthen social cohesion in Victoria Contains indicators used to track Victoria’s progress in multicultural affairs, and identify emerging trends and issues.

5. Victoria’s Advantage: Policy Themes and Sample Indicators
Theme: Maximising the Benefits of Our Diversity
Skilled migrants in work
International visitors & students
Proportion of schools teaching / students learning languages
Theme: Citizenship, Participation and Social Cohesion
Volunteering, membership of boards, committees
Attitudes to multiculturalism & immigration
Complaints relating to discrimination and racism
Theme: Accessible and Responsive Services

6. Whole-of-Victorian Government Approach

7. Cultural precincts and community infrastructure funding programs
The cultural precincts enhancement program started as a pilot in 2007 in Melbourne CBD’s Chinese, Greek and Italian precincts. We are now in the third iteration of the program.
The program name has changed overtime, but the government commitment to cultural precincts and community infrastructure has been bipartisan and consistent, with $28.5 million invested in the last 7 years.
The programs have 2 objectives:
Objective 1 - Promote greater use and access to community facilities by Victoria’s CALD communities and increase their participation in activities and services.
Objective 2 - Enable Victoria’s cultural precincts to remain sustainable and attractive for investment, and cultural and tourism activities.
Funding has provided to Local Councils for streetscape enhancements and to CALD community organisations for the restoration or construction of community facilities across Victoria.
Archway refurbishment in Chinatown, Little Bourke Street Melbourne,
completed in December 2012
Victoria Street Gateway Richmond, completed in March 2014
Photographer John Palermo

8. Cultural precinct enhancement led to maintaining of increasing visitors
An evaluation of the program completed in 2013 found that cultural precinct enhancement led to maintaining or increasing visitors.
Maintaining visitors, as opposed to increasing visitors, is a significant outcome in its own right.
Melbourne’s Chinese, Greek and Italian precincts were perceived to be in decline prior to receiving CPEF funding.
All precincts surveyed have increased or maintained visitor numbers since the grant.
Case Study – Eaton Mall Enhancement
This was evidenced through the project at Eaton Mall.
$1 million was allocated to the City of Monash to revitalise Eaton Mall in Oakleigh with Mediterranean theming including street furniture, an Agora, backgammon tables, upgrading paving and lighting, artwork and a small stage.
Prior to the grant, Eaton Mall had not received an upgraded in 30 years.
The project was a $2.3 million partnership between the Victorian Government, the City of Monash and Melbourne Water.
After the works were complete, last summer was coined as one of the precincts busiest.
Eaton Mall, Oakleigh completed in March 2013 Photographer: Jonathan Makaay.

9. Refurbished archways in Chinatown