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:
| Business |
 | Employment |
 | Education and training Building stronger learning foundations and skills for life. |
 | Health and wellbeing |
 | Inclusion and empowerment |
 | 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.
Education Initiatives
Funding of $5.5 million for the following initiatives to support learning outcomes for students of African heritage enrolled in Victorian schools.
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
Senior Project Officer
Meet Osman Ali-Khelil, who is working within the Department of Education to support the coordination of VACAP's education initiatives.
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 |
Read the Action Plan
Download the full document:
African Communities Action Plan - Full Document
Download a summary of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan document in a range of languages, including English:
African Communities Action Plan - English Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - Amharic Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - Arabic Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - Dinka Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - French Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - Nuer Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - Oromo Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - Somali Brochure
African Communities Action Plan - Tigrinya Brochure
Read the Victorian Government response:
African Communities Action Plan - Victorian Government Response
Further information
For more information about the Victorian African Communities Action Plan contact the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing by emailing VACAP@dffh.vic.gov.au
Previous grant programs
Reviewed 12 September 2022