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Empowering African communities in Victoria

The Victorian African Communities Action Plan was developed by and for Victoria’s African communities.

A collection of diamond shapes with African tribal patterns set on different colours like a patchwork quilt
A collection of diamond shapes with African tribal patterns set on different colours like a patchwork quilt

Victorian African Communities Action Plan progress

Read all about the progress of implementing the Victorian African Communities Action Plan.

Progress update

Victorian African Communities Action Plan progress

The Action Plan was developed for Victoria’s African communities by Victoria’s African communities. Its development was led by the African Ministerial Working Group (AMWG), a diverse group of 22 people of African heritage, from October 2016 to February 2018.

During this time, hundreds of people across Victoria’s African communities gave their views and opinions to help shape the plan. The Action Plan responds to well-known issues, and aims to uplift and support people to make decisions that improve their lives.

The action plan proposed more than 250 actions across six focus areas. The suggested actions aim to create opportunities for all people to belong, contribute and thrive. The actions also build on work already being done by communities, governments and others to support people across Victoria’s African communities.

Victorian African Communities Committee (VACC)

The Victorian Government is establishing a new advisory committee that will provide advice to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs on issues relevant to Victoria's African communities.

Applications to join the committee have now closed and assessments are underway. An announcement of the new committee members will be made in September or October 2022.

Implementation Committee

Prior to the VACC, a VACAP Implementation Committee guided the implementation and design of VACAP initiatives. The Committee worked alongside the Victorian Government to implement VACAP programs between 2018 and 2022, and supported communities to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Implementation Committee represented a diverse cross section of the African Community.

Focus areas

The 6 focus areas for the action plan:

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Business
Growing African Victorian innovation, enterprise and investment across the economy.

Employment
Strengthening skills and pathways to gain meaningful jobs in all sectors.

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Education and training
Building stronger learning foundations and skills for life.
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Health and wellbeing
Lifting the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of all people.

Inclusion and empowerment
Supporting people to be equal, treated fairly and with respect.

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Leadership, cohesion and connection
Contributing to a strong Victoria through effective leadership, cohesive communities and stronger connections across the broader society.

Current initiatives

Employment Brokers Initiative

Funding of up to $350,000 per organisation for two years to support community organisations with significant reach into Victoria’s African communities to engage and host African community employment brokers.

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Read more

Education Initiatives

Funding of $5.5 million for the following initiatives to support learning outcomes for students of African heritage enrolled in Victorian schools.

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School Community Liaison Officers

School Community Liaison Officers act as a positive conduit between schools, parents and pupils to support the learning outcomes of African Victorian students in eight schools across Melbourne.

Schools funded by the School Community Liaison Officer Initiative, include:

  • Northern Bay College
  • Truganina P-9 College
  • Debney Meadows Primary School
  • Hume Central Secondary College
  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College
  • Fitzroy Primary School
  • Narre Warren South P-12 College
  • Lyndale Secondary College
Portrait image of Osman Ali-Khelil, Senior Project Officer for VACAP

Senior Project Officer

Meet Osman Ali-Khelil, who is working within the Department of Education to support the coordination of VACAP's education initiatives.

Read more

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Homework Club Grants Program

The Homework Club Grants Program provides funding for community organisations to deliver culturally appropriate homework support and after-school activities for African Victorian students across the state, where they need it most.

A new funding round to support community organisations will open soon.

Funded Homework Club providers to October 2022 are:

Homework Club Provider Location
African Australia Welfare Bureau Epping
AMSSA North Melbourne
Ballarat Regional MC Ballarat
Community in Abundance Dandenong
St Michael Ethiopian Church Caroline Springs
Edmund Rice Debney Meadows Primary School
Family Safety Online
IMAAP Online
Living and Learning Pakenham Pakenham
MYSS Cranbourne
Save the Children Fitzroy
Somali Community Inc. Flemington Primary School
VYSSA Lyndale Secondary College

Reviewed 12 September 2022

Multicultural Affairs

Contact us

Victorian African Communities Action Plan Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

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