The Victorian Multicultural Commission brought together more than 115 community leaders from across Victoria last week for its 2025 Regional Advisory Forum. It was a rare space for shared purpose, frank conversations and practical collaboration. Held in Melbourne on Thursday 26 June, the event is the only time all eight Regional Advisory Councils meet in one room, making it both symbolic and grounded in real-world policymaking.
The Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ingrid Stitt, joined the gathering, helping connect regional voices with the machinery of government. But the real emphasis was on listening on six complex and recurring issues raised by communities across the state: racism, mental health, family violence, employment, youth justice, and housing.
Each topic was explored through panel discussions shaped by the lived experiences of council members, who represent the state’s rich diversity across its regions. The stories shared formed the bedrock of the VMC’s evolving advocacy strategy.
VMC Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen AM described the forum as a vital moment to “learn from our regional communities,” adding that the forum ensures advocacy remains “informed, representative and aligned with the needs of communities across the state.”
The program didn’t shy away from naming the cracks in current systems. Attendees spoke plainly about the difficulty of finding culturally safe mental health services, or what happens when anti-racism policy sounds right in theory but doesn’t land in practice. The event created room for honesty and solutions.
On the government and institutional side, the forum drew senior representation from several departments. These included Monica Kelly from the Department of Health, Jodi Henderson from the Department of Justice and Community Safety, and Amber Griffiths from Family Safety Victoria. Also attending were leaders from Homes Victoria, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and Small Business Victoria.
One of the most stirring voices came from youth advocate Ahelee Rahman, a member of the Multicultural Youth Network, who urged leaders to elevate young multicultural voices. Her address drew warm applause and set the tone for a session focused on youth justice and employment, areas where systemic gaps hit hardest.
To avoid the forum becoming a once-off event, the VMC will produce a Strategic Summary Report. This document will bring together the ideas, concerns, and proposals raised on the day, and will be used to push for changes within and beyond government departments.
What made the forum feel different was the clarity of purpose. Regional representatives, many of whom deal daily with policy blind spots, were asked to lead the conversation.
And they did.
From Wodonga to Mildura, Gippsland to Ballarat, each region came armed with lived knowledge and used the opportunity to build alliances across geographic and bureaucratic lines. Many remarked how rare it is for multicultural community advocates to speak directly with senior decision-makers in such a focused setting.
There was no illusion that one forum would solve systemic challenges. But there was a shared understanding that shifting policy starts with real stories, and that those who’ve lived the gaps are best placed to shape what comes next.
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