The Victorian Government is supporting multicultural and multifaith communities to tackle racism through funding for local anti-racism initiatives and the establishment of a landmark Anti-Racism Taskforce.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence today announced 42 community organisations will share in more than $3.8 million to boost cross-cultural understanding across Victoria.
Non-profit organisation Youth Activating Youth will use $110,000 to increase young people's knowledge of their rights in the face of racism, while the Tenants Union of Victoria will receive $70,000 to empower the South Sudanese community to combat racism in the rental housing market.
Funding of $100,000 will help Rumbalara Football Netball Club, in partnership with the Kaiela Institute, to deliver courses that improve understanding of Indigenous culture and reduce racism in the Goulburn Valley, while Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council will receive $70,000 to deliver anti-racism and bystander training.
For a full list of recipients, visit vic.gov.au/local-anti-racism-initiatives-grants-program.
Minister Spence, along with Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams, also announced the establishment of an Anti-Racism Taskforce to lead development of a whole-of-government Anti-Racism Strategy to proactively address race and faith-based discrimination in Victoria, considering issues such as unconscious bias, privilege, and how race intersects with other forms of discrimination.
Eleven community members with diverse experience will sit on the Taskforce, alongside representatives of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
The Taskforce will be co-chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Member for Sunbury Josh Bull and Member for Northern Metropolitan Region and proud Yorta Yorta woman Sheena Watt.
It will consult directly with communities - ensuring a diversity of voices and perspectives help shape our strategy to a stronger, fairer state. To learn about the taskforce, visit vic.gov.au/anti-racism-taskforce.
As stated by Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence
"Racism has no place in Victoria. Tackling it head on is vital to building a stronger, fairer society."
"The Government and the Taskforce will work with communities to ensure the Anti-Racism Strategy represents the diverse views of Victorians."
As stated by Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams
"We know that racism against First Nations people continues - we are supporting communities to address the problem at the local level and build a more equal Victoria."
"The voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will play a critical role in shaping Victoria's new Anti-Racism Strategy."
