Migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia has welcomed measures announced in the Victorian state budget that support multicultural communities and take pressure off struggling families, including many refugee and migrant families.
The 2026-27 Victorian Budget is investing more than $123.8 million to support multicultural and multifaith families.
This includes $9.1 million to support students from migrant and refugee backgrounds to stay engaged in education through initiatives like homework clubs.
There is also $3.6 million provided to continue the Early Childhood Language Program in Victorian kindergartens.
The budget also invests $61.9 million to support students with English as an Additional Language program and provide interpreting and translating services in schools.
There is a $400 payment for Victorian government school students as part of a $287 million package that will see parents able to choose how they spend the payment on education-related expenses such as uniforms, school camps and excursions.
An $11 billion injection into the state’s healthcare system will also support the health care of many migrant and refugee families.
The budget includes $13.6 million for the Multicultural Affairs portfolio, including $4 million in targeted support for newly arrived migrant and refugee communities as well as asylum seekers and temporary visa holders.
There is $17 million in the budget to expand the delivery of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan as well as more than $10 million for community language schools to help people maintain their cultural identity through language.
Also in the budget is $3.4 million in 2026-27 for community led projects to fight racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.
AMES Australia CEO Melinda Collinson welcomed the measures, saying many migrant and refugee families would benefit from the measures.
“At a time when we are seeing a cost-of-living crisis, measures that support the most vulnerable families are welcome,” Ms Collinson said.
“The budget also includes measures that will help to bolster social cohesion at a time when it is coming under stress.
“As many Victorians are grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, migrant and refugee families will be among the people who will be finding some relief in the budget measures,” she said.