ECCV’s 2026–27 Victorian Pre-Budget Submission, shared with the State Government last year, outlines our targeted spending recommendations in key areas to support Victoria’s multicultural communities.
ECCV acknowledges the current fiscal constraints facing the Victorian Government, and has tailored our key recommendations to reflect the times we are in.
Consultations with multicultural communities indicate that persistent cost-of-living pressures are still hurting households and community wellbeing, making grassroots community support more important than ever.
ECCV emphasises the importance of stable and sustainable funding for multicultural community organisations that deliver culturally responsive services from mental health to youth and seniors’ support.
A central priority of the submission is increased investment in programs to combat racism in all forms at a time of rising anti-migrant sentiment, antisemitism and Islamophobia.
ECCV has emphasised the need to adequately fund the Government’s commitments under the Victorian Multicultural Review and Statewide Anti-Racism Strategy, including local anti-racism initiatives and expanded community-based support models.
Funding certainty needed for core services
Long-term, rather than project-to-project funding, for ethno-specific and multicultural organisations is also essential to maintain core services.
We also call for long-term core funding for regional ethnic communities’ councils, recognising their community connections and acknowledging that the delivery of culturally responsive services extends beyond metropolitan Melbourne.
In mental health, we advocate for investment in targeted communication and culturally tailored health promotion to reduce stigma and improve access to Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals.
ECCV also identifies language services, employment and education as key enablers of inclusion and participation. The submission urges recognition of interpreting and translating as essential services through compliance monitoring and workforce investment, alongside planning for the next generation of bicultural workers and sustainable funding for foundational skills and Learn Local programs.
This year, ECCV is consulting diverse communities across the state to develop our in-depth platform for the 2026 State Election to submit to all political parties. A range of community conversations has already commenced and will include our annual member survey.
ECCV CEO Farah Farouque said:
“There’s no doubt our state’s cultural diversity is a fundamental strength, and this requires constant care. We need strategic investment by government in key areas from boosting skills training to building a more responsive mental health system for our multicultural communities. Our Budget submission identifies urgent priorities, including how to address the challenging problem of tackling hate in all its forms‘’.
ECCV Board Chairperson Silva Renda said:
“As the voice of multicultural Victoria, we continue to emphasise how important it is to have stable and sustainable funding from government for multicultural community organisations to continue their essential work at the grassroots level at this particular time.’’
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Email: media@eccv.org.au
Phone: 0431 091 738
