Culture Connects us All: Cultural Diversity Week 2026

Cultural Diversity Week is an opportunity to recognise the people, stories and cultures that shape our communities, and the strength that comes from belonging. This year’s theme, Culture connects us all, reminds us that our differences are what bring us together.

Across Victoria, diversity is part of everyday life. According to the 2021 Census, over half of all 6.5 million Victorians have at least one parent born overseas.

In our state, we also:

• speak 290 languages
• represent 314 different ancestries
• welcome thousands of people each year seeking safety, stability and new opportunities

This rich diversity strengthens our communities and connects us through shared experiences, values and a sense of belonging.

We’re proud to work with people from different cultural backgrounds

At CCV, diversity is at the heart of what we do. In the past year:

• 34% of the people we supported were born overseas
• 164 cultural backgrounds were represented
• 107 languages were were spoken

Behind these numbers are people, families and communities, each bringing unique perspectives that enrich our work and connect us to the communities we serve.

At CCV, our people reflect the rich cultural diversity of the communities we support. Our staff come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and bring valuable perspectives, lived experience and insight into their work every day.

This diversity strengthens the way we support individuals and families, helping us build meaningful connections and deliver services that are culturally safe, inclusive and responsive.

Supporting diverse communities across our services

We support people from culturally diverse backgrounds across all of our services, building strong connections with individuals and families and walking alongside them at every stage of life.

This includes support with:

• building strong social and community connections
• navigating complex systems and accessing essential services
• strengthening family relationships
• improving mental health and wellbeing
• developing skills, confidence and pathways to education and employment

Our diverse workforce plays a vital role in this. By bringing cultural understanding, language skills and lived experience, our staff are able to build trust and deliver support that is tailored, respectful and responsive to each person’s needs.

Supporting people seeking safety and a fresh start

We also provide tailored support for people seeking asylum and those from refugee backgrounds, who often face additional challenges as they establish new lives in Victoria.

Many people we support have experienced significant disruption and hardship, including limited access to healthcare, financial insecurity, social isolation, and the ongoing impacts of trauma and displacement.

Through our services, we support individuals and families to:

• build confidence and independence
• strengthen their wellbeing
• connect with community and support networks
• access education, training and employment opportunities

This support is grounded in respect, dignity and cultural understanding, ensuring people feel seen, heard and supported as they rebuild their lives.