This report fulfils a requirement of the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011, which mandates government departments to report annually to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and to the Victorian Parliament on programs and initiatives to support Victoria’s multicultural population. The report is to be tabled in Parliament at the end of June each year for activities undertaken in the last financial year, that is, 2017-18 for this report.

The report reflects efforts to:

• ensure that services are accessible and responsive to the needs of Victoria’s increasingly diverse communities;
• promote and support Victoria’s multicultural communities and the benefits that diversity brings to Victoria’s economy and society; and
• strengthen social cohesion and encourage all Victorians to access opportunities and participate in and contribute to the social, cultural, economic and political life of the state