Priority Response to Multicultural Communities during Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Constituency Question

Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (12:38): My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Community Sport and Minister for Youth, the Honourable Ros Spence. The Andrews Labor government’s CALD communities task force is continuing to partner with local communities to make sure they get the support they need throughout the coronavirus pandemic and has now announced the second round of funding of up to $8 million for local groups so they can continue to support multicultural communities with emergency relief, outreach and other projects that add to Victoria’s social and economic recovery. This second phase builds on the success of the first phase of the priority response to multicultural communities program last year, which supported 70,000 Victorians in partnership with more than 160 community organisations. My question to the minister is: can the minister provide me with an update on what the government is doing to ensure that the multicultural communities living in Western Metropolitan Region are aware of this funding round? The program addresses the ongoing need to provide immediate relief to multicultural communities affected by the pandemic and aims to build the capacity of local community networks, organisations and services that do the important support work on the ground.