VU has a proud history of working in partnership with a number of organisations to improve local communities. This commitment is demonstrated by our partnerships with the Western Bulldogs, Malthouse Theatre and the Western Jets Football Club in the western region.

We have also extended our engagement with the diverse communities by fostering partnerships with the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD) having both a local and an international influence.

Our expertise is in the following areas relevant to community activity:

• provision of productive interactions with the local Community
• significant refugee issues
• Diversity and Social Inclusion issues
• assistance in identifying and working with you, to access external funding
• provision of limited sponsorship to mutually beneficial community activities
• working with your organisation to build Community Capacity
• working collaboratively on advocacy and information dissemination projects of importance
• offering University facilities for Community use on an appropriate commercial basis.

Community and cultural engagement projects

• Women Creating Harmony
• Family-based Careers Program for Horn of Africa Students in four African Languages
• The Horn of African Communities Network
• Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre
• Australian Vietnamese Women Association
• East Timor and Pacific Islanders Communities
• Newly Arrived Migrants & Refugee Communities
• Indian Community
• JewishAid Australia
• Muslim Women’s Council of Victoria University

Women Creating Harmony

VU worked with the Gathering Place to set up a Multicultural Womens group to work with, and explore youth issues in the western region of Melbourne. The Vietnamese Community, Horn of African Communities, Indian, New Zealanders, Islamic Women Council and Indigenous Australians participated in the project. We played an important role in advocating on behalf of the Indigenous community. The Gathering Place received funding from Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Family-based Careers Program for Horn of Africa Students in four African Languages

We work with the Horn of African Communities Network and Centacare to educate families about career and pathway options for students from the Horn of Africa. We worked in partnership to assist the Horn of Africa community and produce a publication that aims to address community concerns about:

• poor transition into education
• high attrition rates of students undertaking courses 
• lack of role models and limited information or knowledge about career options
• lack of knowledge about workplace culture
• the need to recognise the important place of families in influencing and supporting students' life choices

This project was initiated in 2006 and was the first of its kind in Australia.

The Horn of African Communities Network

VU hosts the Horn of African Communities Network. A VU-African Community Advisory Committee has been formed to discuss and negotiate the education, training and employment needs of the African communities.

 Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre

VU in partnerships with CELAS, developed a targeted Aged Care course for 14 students. Eleven out of fourteen students obtained work in Aged Care services.

Australian Vietnamese Women Association

"Stories on a Plate" was a Living in Harmony project. The project addressed social isolation and promoted the integration of Vietnamese women into the Australian culture by connecting them with Horn of Africa women.  This program established shared activities which is likely to expand to include a 'buddy system'.

East Timor and Pacific Islanders Communities

We worked in partnership with the Australia-East Timor Association and Development Studies Network to convene an international conference. The conference was addressed by The Hon. Mari Alkatiri, the former Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, and explored strategies for supporting people from Timor-Leste achieve independence as a nation. We also hosted the second Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance Conference attended by delegates from across Australia. The conference provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge, stimulate discussion and encourage the development of partnerships between universities and their communities.

Newly Arrived Migrants & Refugee Communities

In partnership with Centacare, VU established an Education Support Program (Prep to 12 years) in Wyndham Council. The program was establish to assist community groups such as the Karen Community which focuses on raising awareness about the Australian education system.

Indian Community

In partnership with Victoria Police and the Indian Communities in the Western Region, we established an Indian Community Reference Group on 21 January 2009. The role of the Reference Group is to identify, implement and monitor projects that can be undertaken to reduce the incidents of violent crime against members of the Indian community.

JewishAid Australia

In partnership with Centacare, the Horn of African Communities Network, Darfur Community Association, and Jewish Aid Australia we obtained funding from Australian Government's Living in Harmony program for a project called Old Hands, Fresh Faces - New Beginnings. This project is about community participation, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Muslim Women's Council of Victoria University

VU accommodates the Australia Islamic Women's Council at St. Albans Campus.  The group offers VU students and community member's appropriate resources including lessons in Arabic and English.