The Victorian Government supports our multicultural communities to find safe and secure housing. To address the unique challenges these communities face, we fund initiatives and programs that improve their housing stability.
The My Tenancy Rights and Responsibilities: Empowering Victorian Renters Project delivered by Tenants Victoria helped multicultural renters understand their rental rights and responsibilities through targeted education.
As part of the project, the Bicultural Community Engagement team also worked with renters with urgent needs. The team linked them into existing support programs, including the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program managed by Consumer Affairs Victoria (DGS: $0.29 million in 2023–24).
In 2023–24, this initiative:
- developed multilingual video resources in Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay
- developed renting factsheets translated into Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Hindi and Punjabi
- held 4 large online forums (in partnership with the Victorian Multicultural Commission) attended by more than 130 people that covered:
- renters’ rights
- rental scams
- hosted 14 interactive small-group sessions for newer migrant and refugee communities that covered:
- renters’ rights and responsibilities, discrimination and supporting renters living with disability
- family violence.
Communities represented included: Afghan, African, Burmese, Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Sudanese, Syrian, Thai, Vietnamese, Turkish, Pakistani, Ethiopian, Russian, Ukrainian, Guinean, Iraqi and Somalian.
In 2023–24 the Minister for Consumer Affairs approved 9 grants under the Rental Stress Support Package. This was an initiative under the Housing Statement. The package increased access to rental support services, such as information and advice, advocacy and legal assistance. It prioritised support for culturally and linguistically diverse communities who needed it the most. Grant recipients included South East Community Links (SECL) in the southern metropolitan region. This region is one of the most culturally diverse areas in Australia. Approximately 70% of its residents speak a language other than English at home. It includes people from more than 170 different cultural backgrounds.
The government provided establishment funding in 2023–24. Service delivery commenced from 1 July 2024 (DGS: $1.28 million in 2023–24).
In response to the October 2022 floods, the Tenancy Stress Victoria Program supported Victorian renters in flood-affected areas of western Melbourne, Loddon and Goulburn.
Tenancy Stress Victoria supported these renters to stay in their homes where possible. It provided integrated legal, social work and financial counselling assistance to help renters negotiate positive outcomes.
In 2023–24, the program supported more than 250 renters, including 49 from a multicultural community (DGS: $0.66 million in 2023–24).
Case study
DFFH funds Pride in Place to provide a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The program helps people find housing and connect with support services. VincentCare Victoria and Drummond Street Services in partnership with Uniting and Family Access Network deliver the program.
Pride in Place supported Amelia, a transgender woman and refugee, to overcome significant challenges. Amelia fled her home country due to discrimination and violence based on her sexuality and gender identity. She arrived in Australia feeling lost. She didn’t know how to navigate housing, employment or community services. Unfortunately, the housing she found wasn’t safe, and she suffered violence and exploitation.
After a referral from a health service, Amelia’s life took a turn for the better. She found Pride in Place, which connected her with safe and welcoming support. A dedicated service navigator at Pride in Place knew just who could help her. They arranged for Amelia to meet with a Family Violence Case Manager at Queerspace, a program specifically designed for LGBTQIA+ people experiencing violence. The program is run by Drummond Street Services.
The case manager used a specialised family violence risk assessment framework to understand Amelia’s situation and the dangers she faced. Together, Amelia, Pride in Place and Queerspace worked as a team. They developed a plan to help Amelia leave her unsafe living situation. This included providing her with emergency accommodation, which was a crucial first step towards a brighter future.
From there, Pride in Place supported Amelia with a successful referral to a brand-new community housing unit, where the Victorian Housing Register offered her a long-term lease. With stable housing in place, Amelia found a counsellor via the Pride in Place Network and began to process her past experiences. Pride in Place also helped her navigate Centrelink and connected her with local LGBTIQA+ groups. This gave her social connection and a sense of belonging.
Today, Amelia thrives in her new home. She has a supportive circle of friends for coffee dates and shared meals. She’s found a job and is saving to bring her mother to Australia for a visit. The fear and instability she once faced have been replaced by a newfound sense of autonomy and peace. In her own words, Amelia credits Pride in Place with saving her life.
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