Establishing Multicultural Victoria
The Multicultural Victoria Amendments Bill 2026 (Bill) proposes to establish Multicultural Victoria, a new government entity that will reset how government listens to, collaborates with and supports Victorian multicultural and multifaith communities.
This new entity would bring together the portfolio’s policy development, grants delivery, and community engagement functions. It was a key recommendation made by Victoria's Multicultural Review.
The Bill proposes that the new entity will commence on 1 October 2026.
If the Bill is passed, a new Multicultural Coordinator General, two deputies and members of the Multicultural Community Advisory Group will be appointed.
All existing programs, funding agreements and events currently delivered by the Victorian Multicultural Commission would carry over to Multicultural Victoria.
Proposed changes
The Multicultural Victoria Amendments Bill 2026 proposes that the new entity opens on 1 October 2026.
Once Multicultural Victoria is established, the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and Multicultural Affairs portfolio in Department of Premier and Cabinet will merge.
A new Multicultural Coordinator General, two deputies and a Multicultural Advisory Group will be appointed.
All existing programs, funding agreements and events will carry over to Multicultural Victoria.
What Multicultural Victoria will do
Multicultural Victoria will bring together community engagement, policy and grant delivery.
This seeks to ensure that community voices can better influence government policy and grants for multicultural and multifaith communities.
These functions are currently delivered by two bodies: the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Multicultural Affairs Division in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Leadership of Multicultural Victoria
The Bill proposes Multicultural Victoria will be led by:
- a Multicultural Coordinator General
- two Deputy Multicultural Coordinators General - one who must be from regional Victoria
Multicultural Victoria will be supported by a Multicultural Community Advisory Group.
These independent appointees will support, represent and advocate for all communities in an impartial and transparent way.
Applications for these positions are open until 9 August 2026 – but appointments will not be made unless the legislation passes Parliament.
Role of the Multicultural Coordinator General and deputies
The Bill proposes the Multicultural Coordinator General will:
- represent and promote the interests of multicultural and multifaith communities
- advise government on how to best deliver government services, policies and grants
- support communities' participation in the social, cultural, economic and political life of Victoria
- consult widely with communities about their needs, experiences and priorities
- support and provide advice on community safety planning activities in relation to multicultural and multifaith communities
- coordinate whole-of-government reporting on action plans to improve government services for multicultural and multifaith Victorians.
Two Deputy Multicultural Coordinators General will be appointed to support the work of the Multicultural Coordinator General. One of the deputies will be from a regional community.
Role of the Multicultural Community Advisory Group
The Bill proposes to establish the Multicultural Community Advisory Group, which will be an independent group of advisors to Multicultural Victoria, including the Multicultural Coordinator General. Advisory group members will actively participate in community events, consultations, and government forums.
Advisory group members will represent diverse communities, faiths, occupations and locations. One member will be a dedicated youth representative.
Other changes in the Bill
The Bill strengthens multiculturalism by recognising language services as essential for accessing government services and recognising the unique status of Victoria’s First Peoples.
It also allows the Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria to direct certain public sector organisations to use VITS LanguageLoop for interpreting and translating services.
Next steps
The Bill will be debated in Parliament over the coming weeks. If it passes through both houses of Parliament, it will commence from 1 October 2026.
Appointments to Multicultural Victoria leadership positions will be made by the Governor in Council.
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