By Aristidis Tsoulakos
The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at RMIT Storey Hall, bringing together community leaders, sector organisations and government representatives to reflect on a year of significant advocacy during a period marked by global instability and rising local pressures.
The event was attended by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Iwan Walters MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, showing the Victorian Government’s ongoing commitment to multicultural communities.
ECCV CEO Farah Farouque said the past year had highlighted both the resilience of migrant and refugee communities and the complex challenges they continue to face, including cost-of-living pressures, global conflicts, racism, and the increasing reach of misinformation.
Ms Farouque emphasised that maintaining a cohesive and inclusive society requires sustained investment and strong partnerships across government and community.
ECCV’s initiatives in community education, emergency preparedness, inclusion, and service reform have collectively strengthened safety and wellbeing while ensuring multicultural perspectives remain central to statewide policy discussions.
The AGM also marked the election of nine new Board members. The organisation will focus on strengthening social cohesion, countering racism and misinformation, and advocating to ensure reforms in aged care, mental health and disability genuinely reflect the needs and experiences of culturally diverse communities.
“I am honoured to help strengthen multicultural Victoria and represent international students at ECCV,” said Nicolas Ojeda Amador, the organisation’s first Board member of Latino heritage. “I aim to create space for emerging voices from all communities.”
Ms Farouque echoed Victoria’s multicultural success story “did not happen by chance” and reaffirmed ECCV’s commitment to protecting that legacy and ensuring every community has the opportunity to thrive.
With the support of its members and partners, ECCV will continue to champion inclusion, equity and opportunity across Victoria.
