Drawing the strings together

Changing attitudes towards multiculturalism, faith and race will be one challenge for a new group which is charged with maintaining social harmony.
The new Multicultural and Social Cohesion Division will bring together the Community Resilience Unit, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, and the Office of Victorian Multicultural Commission.
The State Government said the move would allow the offices to share information and work closely together in a more co-ordinated way.
The change will reduce service duplication and provide the government and Victorian Multicultural Commission with greater access to streamlined information.
It will also allow the Government to improve the way it shares knowledge, research and intelligence.
It will provide greater clarity about the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s role in the community and help it to inform government policy.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott said: “In Victoria we don’t merely tolerate difference but celebrate it.
“However we must never rest on our laurels and these changes mean we are well placed for the future.
“The new division will ensure that Victoria continues to be a strong, welcoming and vibrant multicultural community.”
A review by former Victorian public servant Warren McCann found that Victoria had a rich multicultural heritage but needed to take a new approach to meet community needs.
The review involved extensive consultation with multicultural leaders, Commonwealth and State officials and staff in the existing branches.