Fifteen years of listening: Victoria’s Regional Advisory Councils gather for their final meetings

For almost 15 years, Victoria’s Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) brought community voices from across the state into government decision making.

RAC members have included community leaders, advocates and service providers from metropolitan suburbs and regional towns across Victoria. Representing the breadth of the state’s multicultural communities, they have brought the experiences, priorities and aspirations of these valued cohorts to the heart of government.

Throughout May and June 2026, the councils gathered for their final round of meetings.

Established under the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011, and coordinated by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), the RACs were a key community engagement mechanism. Spanning eight regions – Southern Metro, North-West Metro, Eastern Metro, Barwon South-West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume and Loddon Mallee – the RACs helped ensure that government information and policy reached and reflected the communities they were intended to serve.

The reach and impact of that work is evident. The RACs informed VMC policy and advocacy across multiple issues affecting Victorian communities. At its biennial Regional Advisory Forum, community‑led priorities were translated by RAC members into evidence‑based advice to government. The 2025 Regional Advisory Forum report, for example, identified systemic issues and reform opportunities across housing, employment, mental health, family violence, youth justice and anti-racism policy, translating community experiences into evidence-based recommendations for government. The report stands as a testament to the power of informed, sustained and genuine community engagement.

The final round of RAC meetings honoured these rich contributions, reflecting the warmth and depth of relationships cultivated over years. VMC Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen AM, Director Kashif Bouns, and Commissioners Sylvia Coombe and Dr Judy Tang attended across the state to thank members in person.

The RAC model concludes following recommendations from Victoria’s 2025 Multicultural Review. Future community engagement will be guided by Multicultural Victoria – a new entity combining the functions of the VMC and Multicultural Affairs branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The VMC is profoundly grateful to the many individuals who have dedicated their time and expertise as RAC members over the years. We thank them sincerely for their invaluable contribution to a strong, cohesive and diverse Victoria.