Victoria’s Labor government has given $4.9 million to immigrant and minority groups while declaring its support for multiculturalism and “diversity”.
Premier Jacinta Allan’s office confirmed the handout on Monday, and said the taxpayer funds would go to almost 200 different multicultural organisations supporting 46 different ethnicities and 15 “faith groups”.
The recipients include the Australian Iranian Society of Victoria, to “establish a sustainable operational base and expand education and community engagement initiatives”, and the South Sudanese Australian Academic Society Inc, to deliver “education and wellbeing support programs”.
The Gurduaras Council of Victoria has also been given funding to “enhance organisational capacity and expand culturally safe support services for Sikh Victorians”.
“At a time when our diversity is under attack – the Allan Labor Government is reaffirming our commitment to multicultural and multifaith communities,” Ms Allan’s office said.
“We don’t just tolerate diversity – we embrace it, and we will continue to work with our proud multicultural communities to make Victoria stronger, safer and fairer.”
Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria Ingrid Stitt said while announcing the funding that immigrant and minority groups “make our state stronger”.
“Grassroots multicultural organisations are the lifeblood of our communities – we’re backing them in with funding so they can continue to ensure that all Victorians can fully enjoy our state’s vibrant and inclusive society.”
Labor said $1.6 million of the funding, which was provided as part of its 2025–26 Multicultural Capacity Building Program, went to “new and emerging and regional communities”.
The new and emerging countries and ethnicities are Afghanistan, Assyrian, Burundi, Chaldean, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hazara, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kurds, Liberia, Myanmar, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Pashtuns, Pasifika communities, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajiks, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Timor Leste, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbeks, and Yemen.
Header image: Ms Allan and Ms Stitt at a Diwali event (Facebook).
