The group met with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and 13 other MPs from all parties at Parliament House on July 30, to discuss regional-specific challenges including access to services, employment and infrastructure.
Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District chief executive Sam Atukorala highlighted the urgent need for reform.
“There is a pressing need for a sustainable, place-based funding model to ensure regional communities are not left behind with what has always been an inequitable funding allocation for multicultural organisations,” he said.
“The current distribution of multicultural funds disproportionately favours entities with broad mandates, such as local governments, public health agencies and community health providers.
“In contrast, specialised multicultural organisations, which are deeply connected to their communities and offer culturally tailored services, receive little to no funding.”
The alliance proposed a needs-based funding model to parliament, including a basic principle funding mechanism of $2.5 million per annum for regional Victoria.
This would help sustain operational costs such as rent, staff and infrastructure for RMA Vic members.
RMA Vic is a partnership of seven regionally governed organisations serving over 120,000 culturally diverse residents across regional Victoria.
The alliance includes organisations from Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Geelong, Shepparton and Gippsland.
