The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring Vietnamese Victorians can celebrate their heritage and preserve stories of migration and refugee settlement through an Australian-first Vietnamese cultural centre and museum.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence today announced the Vietnamese Museum Australia is being backed with a contribution of $2.3 million towards the construction of the centre in Footscray, building on significant previous support dating to 2016.
The funding will be used to develop a cultural centre and museum that will showcase exhibitions about historical and contemporary aspects of Vietnamese settlement and community.
The new facility, due to open in 2025, will honour Vietnamese migrant journeys to freedom and celebrate the significant contributions of the Vietnamese community to the multicultural fabric of Australia.
Since 2016, the Labor Government has allocated more than $6.8 million to the Vietnamese Museum Australia, with the project also receiving more than 280 artefacts to support its cultural exhibitions.
Victoria is home to more than 120,000 people of Vietnamese heritage, with more than 93,000 community members born in Vietnam – making it the fifth largest overseas born population in Victoria.
Projects such as this ensure communities across Victoria have dedicated, accessible and safe spaces for community connection, to celebrate culture and to promote the sense of belonging that is essential to the wellbeing and unity of our state.
Quote attributable to Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence
“The Vietnamese Museum Australia will do more than record a time in post-war history, it will provide Vietnamese Victorians with an opportunity to share and preserve their stories of migration to Australia.”
Quote attributable to Member for Footscray Katie Hall
“We are proud to support the construction of the Vietnamese Museum Australia to ensure people develop a deeper understanding of the Vietnamese community, their experiences and their significant contributions to Australia.”
Quote attributable to Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Tien Kieu
“The museum will provide valuable dedicated space for the Vietnamese community and for all Victorians to share and learn from Vietnamese culture and traditions.”
Reviewed 29 October 2022