The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) proudly hosted its biennial Regional Advisory Forum (RAF) on Thursday 26 June 2025, bringing together more than 115 Regional Advisory Council (RAC) members from eight regions across Victoria. The forum served as a powerful platform to collaborate, share regional insights, and amplify community voices in policy conversations.
Held in Melbourne, the forum was attended by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ingrid Stitt and enabled regional leaders to build cross-regional connections, share on-the-ground insights, and directly contribute to shaping the VMC’s strategic advocacy agenda. The forum also helped strengthen connections between multicultural communities and government decision-makers, supporting the development of more inclusive, culturally responsive public policy.
The forum marks the only occasion where all RAC members from across Victoria convene in one place. While members meet regularly in their own regions, the RAF provides a rare and invaluable opportunity to collaborate across regions, share lived experiences, and advocate collectively on issues affecting multicultural communities statewide.
Aligned with the Ministerial Statement of Expectations and the VMC’s strategic priorities, the 2025 RAF centered on six key issues raised by RACs during the current term: racism, mental health, family violence, employment, youth justice, and housing.
The panel sessions were enriched by the insights of RAC members and community leaders from across Victoria, who shared lived experiences and grounded, community-led solutions. These sessions also featured senior representatives from government departments and the community sector, demonstrating a shared commitment to listening, collaboration, and cross-sector engagement. Government and sector leaders included:
- Monica Kelly, Executive Director, Department of Health
- Jodi Henderson PSM, Deputy Secretary, Department of Justice and Community Safety
- Amber Griffiths, Acting Deputy Secretary, Family Safety Victoria
- Lauren Matthews, Director, VEOHRC
- Dannii de Kretser, Deputy CEO, Homes Victoria
- Carmel Guerra OAM, CEO, Centre for Multicultural Youth
- Ylva Carosone, Executive Director, Small Business Victoria and Migration, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
A powerful keynote address was delivered by Ahelee Rahman, a youth advocate and member of the Multicultural Youth Network, who spoke passionately about the importance of uplifting young multicultural voices in shaping an inclusive future.
To ensure long term impact, the VMC has committed to producing a Strategic Summary Report, consolidating insights and community-informed recommendations shared during the forum. These outcomes will inform VMC’s ongoing strategic advocacy work and future policy engagement efforts across departmental partners.