Multicultural education programs and resources

Victoria is known for its multiculturalism. Victorian citizens come from more than 200 countries, speak 260 languages and follow 135 different faiths. Cultural diversity is one of Victoria’s greatest assets.

Schools play a critical role in strengthening multicultural inclusion in our community by providing an environment where acceptance of diversity, knowledge of other cultures and an understanding of global and local issues can be developed.

Intercultural capability curriculum

The Intercultural capability curriculum enables students to explore their own and others’ cultural practices and cultural diversity in Australian society.

The curriculum promotes mutual respect and social cohesion and helps students to develop vital skills for living and working in a multicultural world.

Curriculum resources

Languages and Multicultural Education Resource Centre (LMERC) is a specialised library for teachers in the areas of:
- EAL
- languages
- cross curriculum priority areas
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
- intercultural capability.
The library also has a wide range of culturally and linguistically diverse resources. LMERC staff can be contacted for advice about resources at LMERC and online.
A range of intercultural capability - teaching resources including:
- Navigating intercultural issues in the classroom - teacher guide
- Primary poster - How do we talk about culture in the classroom?
- Secondary poster - How do we talk about culture in the classroom?

External resources and programs

Addressing racism

Racism is not tolerated in Victorian schools, however, it continues to be a serious and persistent issue across society.

Experiences of racism can have significant detrimental impacts on mental health and contribute to marginalisation and isolation.

While incidents of racism may not always be occurring within school environments, these incidents can have significant impacts on student engagement and wellbeing.

Schools play a key role in preventing, identifying and responding to incidents of racism. By taking a proactive approach, schools can ensure that all students are respected, valued and treated equally.

There is a range of resources and programs available to support schools address racism and strengthen multicultural inclusion, these include:

The Schools standing up to racism resources were developed by the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) to support schools to address racism and strengthen inclusion. The suite of resources include:
- e-learning modules
- factsheets
- lesson plans
- case studies
- action plans
- podcasts
- videos.
This project was funded under the Victorian Anti Bullying and Mental Health Initiative (VABMHI).

External resources

The Australian Human Rights Commission have created a range of resources, including:
- Take a stand against racism a unit of work designed to equip students in years 5 and 6 to take a stand against racism in their schools and communities.
- Tackling racism in Australia a unit of work that encourages students in years 9 and 10 to think about diversity, to affirm and celebrate difference.
- Building belonging: A toolkit for early childhood educators on cultural diversity and responding to prejudice a comprehensive toolkit which includes an eBook, song, educator guide, posters and lesson plans. It is focussed on encouraging respect for cultural diversity and tackling racial prejudice in early childhood settings.

Human rights education

Human rights recognise the inherent value of each person. They are based on principles of dignity, equality and mutual respect. The Australian Human Rights Commission have created the following resources:

Multicultural Inclusion

Victoria is known for its vibrant multicultural identity. Victorian citizens come from more than 200 countries, speak 260 languages, and follow 135 different faiths. Cultural diversity is one of Victoria’s greatest assets.

Fostering multicultural inclusion is essential to ensuring a vibrant and prosperous school community in which everyone is welcomed, feels safe and is supported to participate. Schools play a critical role in strengthening multicultural inclusion in our community by providing an environment where acceptance of diversity, knowledge of other cultures and an understanding of global and local issues can be developed.

All school staff and students are strongly encouraged to be involved in shaping multicultural inclusion in their school community.

Student Leaders for Multicultural Inclusion

The Student Leaders for Multicultural Inclusion: Strengthening multicultural inclusion through student voice, agency and leadership resource aims to support schools to strengthen intercultural capability, foster a positive climate for learning, and empower students to promote multicultural inclusion. It combines practical ideas directly from students, along with examples of best practice from Victorian schools, and input from the Department, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria and Independent Schools Victoria.

Annual events – celebrating cultural diversity

There are key dates and events throughout the year that provide schools with opportunities to celebrate cultural diversity and strengthen multicultural inclusion.

Schools are encouraged to involve their staff, students and communities in activities to raise awareness of these events through the school curriculum, extra-curricular activities and local events. Schools may wish to consider:

sharing books and stories
organising a film screening
holding school assemblies and concerts celebrating the cultural diversity of the local community
organising school poetry or essay competition
exhibitions of student artwork.

Key dates

Cultural Diversity Week: held in March each year, brings Victorians together to recognise the benefits of diversity and to showcase the many cultures that have shaped our Victorian identity.
Harmony Day is held on 21 March each year and celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. Coincides with Cultural Diversity Week.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is held on 21 March each year. It coincides with Cultural Diversity Week.
Refugee Week is held in June each year. The week raises awareness about the issues affecting refugee communities and celebrates the positive contributions made by people from refugee backgrounds to Australian society.
World Refugee Day is held on 20 June each year and coincides with Refugee Week.
Human Rights Day is held on 10 December each year and commemorates the day in 1948 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Professional learning for teachers

Find information about professional learning for teachers in the EAL and multicultural education professional learning calendar.

More information

For more information, email multicultural.education@education.vic.gov.au or read Inclusive Workplaces for the Department's policy and commitment to diversity and inclusion.