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Multicultural Connect
Central Victoria
We are a community of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, together with our friends and allies, building stronger communities in Central Victoria—and having fun while doing it!
Our vision is a Central Victoria where everyone can belong, connect, and contribute. Through our initiatives, we advocate for inclusion and social cohesion, centring the aspirations of newly arrived communities at the heart of Victoria.
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At the core of our work is self-determination, advocacy and placemaking: the shaping of meaningful grassroots connections where newly arrived community members can gather, celebrate, and fully express their identities.
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We work across the six local government areas of the Loddon Campaspe region, which are: Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander.
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In Bendigo, we predominantly work from The Old Church on the Hill, an intercultural community centre managed by Neighbourhood Collective Australia.[collective.org.au]
Our Journey
Regional Victorians of Colour is now
Multicultural Connect Central Victoria!
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Our story began in 2021, when a group of newly arrived community members in Bendigo came together during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when many people felt isolated, we saw the need for safe, welcoming spaces where multicultural communities could connect, support each other and feel a sense of home. ​In our initial year, our activities were primarily focused on Bendigo. However, since then, our reach has expanded to communities across Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon and Mount Alexander LGAs. We’ve become even more focused on place-based, grassroots work—bringing people together, strengthening communities, and supporting members of the newly arrived migrants and refugee communities to feel at home in our region.
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As our work expanded, we realised our name needed to reflect who we are today. So in 2025, we proudly became Multicultural Connect Central Victoria. ​While our name has evolved, with the aspirations of newly arrived community members as the driving force behind everything we do, we remain committed to creating welcoming spaces, strengthening community leadership, and supporting everyone to belong, connect and contribute. Our unique approach of keeping the community at the heart and centre of our work continues to make a real difference.
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We’re proud of our journey and excited for what’s ahead. Multicultural Connect will continue to grow with the communities, supporting a vibrant, inclusive Central Victoria.
Our Values
Our values guide our decisions and actions, and highlight what we stand for:
Connection
Connection is key to building strong, inclusive, welcoming communities. We recognise connection to ourselves, each other, each other’s cultures, histories, communities, land and environments as important to our wellbeing. We believe in the strength of cross-cultural connections and working together to learn, grow, and make positive change.
Self determination
Newly arrived communities are the narrators of our own stories, on our own terms. Our participation in decision-making regarding our communities’ happiness, health and wellbeing is essential. We advocate for greater inclusion of newly arrived community members in leadership and decision-making positions across all sectors of society.
Belonging
Belonging is at the heart of everything we do.
Through our grassroots initiatives and community-led approach, we don't just practice inclusion—we actively support others to create welcoming spaces where everyone's perspectives are valued and their contributions are celebrated. ​
Celebration
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We recognise and celebrate the profound strengths and resilience of newly arrived communities in Central Victoria. We understand the unique journey of being newly arrived—the courage it takes, the contributions made, and the intergenerational wisdom and capacities that enrich our region.