Christmas is a special time of year when many celebrate the birth of Christ, and I encourage all Victorians to join in and celebrate the Christmas season.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today launched a new rose garden and sculpture that pays tribute to the residents of the former Enterprise Migrant Hostel, now the site of Lexington Gardens Retirement Village.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras joined local children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds at a learn-to-swim class at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre today.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras will officially launch the Through a Child’s Eyes exhibition and the Ta Paratragouda – A New Beginning concert performance at the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne tonight.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras said today’s opening of the new VITS LanguageLink offices marked a new era in sophisticated interpreting technology for language services in Victoria.

Seventy-two overseas language assistants who have helped revitalise languages education in more than 70 Victorian schools were farewelled at a special ceremony in Melbourne today.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras last night met with new arrivals in Oakleigh of Burmese background who attended seminars as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Rights and Responsibilities Seminar Program.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today met with new arrivals in Springvale of Burmese and South Sudanese background who attended seminars as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Rights and Responsibilities Seminar Program.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today met with new arrivals in Morwell of Sudanese background who attended seminars as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Rights and Responsibilities Seminar Program.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today launched What Works – an inspirational DVD aimed at providing practical advice to refugees and asylum seekers who are trying to find work.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today met with a group of people in Werribee of Karen background who attended seminars as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Rights and Responsibilities Seminar Program.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today met with a group of people in Footscray of Chin background who attended information seminars as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Rights and Responsibilities Seminar Program.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today met with participants who attended information seminars as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Rights and Responsibilities Seminar Program.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras has announced more than $500,000 in community infrastructure grants to support 13 multicultural community organisations across Victoria.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Nicholas Kotsiras today officially opened the African Australian Community Centre in Footscray.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today called on the Commonwealth Government to provide a clearer and more focused National Settlement Framework.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today announced more than 900 grants in excess of $2.2 million for Victoria's multicultural community organisations through the Community Grants Program.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras today announced 12 grants worth $480,000 to Victoria's multicultural community organisations.

The Victorian Coalition Government today called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to observe a minute of silence at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics to commemorate 40 years since the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Minister Nicholas Kotsiras officially opened the new Victorian School of Languages Centre (VSL) at Croydon Maroondah College today where he also presented achievement awards to VCE students of Chinese.