More Victorian communities, including those in Yuroke, will be able to showcase and share their diverse cultures, traditions and food with others, thanks to new funding from the Andrews Labor Government.

More than $885,000 in funding will support 476 festivals and events around the state celebrating Victoria’s rich multiculturalism.

The Multicultural Festivals and Events program provides funding annually to hold sporting carnivals, cultural and national day celebrations, conferences and exhibitions.

This year’s funding will support events being held between July and December. In the Yuroke electorate, this includes:

• The Tibetan Buddhist Society’s Buddhist Spring Festival
• The Craigieburn Nepalese Community’s Dashain and Tihar Festivals
• The North Victorian Buddhist Association’s Rainy Season Retreat Festival celebration in Yuroke
• A “Light of Guru Nanak Divine Journey” held by Craigieburn’s Sikh Community
• The Hmong Australia Society of Victoria’s New Year Festival in Craigieburn
• The Craigieburn Nepalese Community’s Annual Teej Women’s Festival in August

This support is in addition to the $350,000 pre-election commitment to fund 11 major multicultural events.

Supporting multicultural events is just one way we embrace our diversity, giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to experience something new and engage with Victorians of a different cultural heritage.

Victoria is one of the most diverse places in the world, with almost every second person either being born overseas or having at least one parent who was born overseas.

Victorians come from more than 200 different countries, speaking more than 260 languages and dialects and following 135 religious faiths.

More than 900 applications were submitted to the 2019/20 program. Applications are assessed against program guidelines and considered by an independent panel, including representatives from the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Creative Victoria and Visit Victoria.

For a full list of successful applicants, visit multicultural.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Member for Yuroke Ros Spence

“It’s wonderful to see local multicultural groups get support to hold events that bring the community together – this is what Victoria is all about.”