Our Focus

Working with Victoria's multicultural communities

Established in 1983, the Multicultural Advisory Unit (MAU) is the first of its kind in Australia.

Staffed by bilingual/bicultural unsworn and sworn personnel, the MAU is responsible for:

• Advising police on multicultural issues 
• Cross-cultural training for police members
• Providing information on the role of police to Victorians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The MAU is part of the Operations Department and works closely with other proactive areas of the Community and Cultural Division.

Police and Community Multicultural Advisory Committee (PACMAC)

Established in 1985, PACMAC is a joint committee between Victoria Police and the Victorian Multicultural Commission.  It is an advisory service for issues relating to multiculturalism.  Its membership is drawn from relevant sections of Victoria Police and Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The committee works to maintain and promote harmonious relations between police and ethnic communities, based on mutual understanding, respect, tolerance and trust.

PACMAC facilitates consultation with police and members of relevant communities in selected locations across Victoria.

Regional Multicultural Liaison Units (MLU)

This initiative involves the establishment of regional units dedicated to multicultural issues in each of the five regions of Victoria Police.  The MLUs are staffed with full-time Multicultural Liaison Officers (MLO). 

The responsibility of the Multicultural Liaison Officers is to liaise with various community and religious leaders within their region.  The aim is to develop and enhance trust, respect and cooperation between police and culturally and linguistically diverse community groups.

The MLOs are accountable to their Regional Commander, through the Regional Local Priority Policing Inspector.  The MLOs also report to the MAU.

MLU contact information

Police Region 1 - Melbourne
Victoria Police Centre, 637 Flinders Street, Melbourne, 3005
Phone: 9247 5552
Fax: 9247 5539

Police Region 2 - Footscray
Shop 231, Irving Street, Footscray, 3011
Phone: 9689 4630
Fax: 9687 8954

Police Region 3 - Broadmeadows
Broadmeadows Police Station, 15 Dimboola Road, Broadmeadows, 3047
Phone: 9302 8335
Fax: 9302 8334

Police Region 3 - Swan Hill
Swan Hill Police Station, 1-3 McCallum Street, Swan Hill, 3585
Phone: 5036 4444

Police Region 4 - Nunawading
Nunawading Police Station, 401-405 Maroondah Highway, Nunawading, 3131
Phone: 9871 4188
Fax: 9874 4667

Police Region 5 - Dandenong
Dandenong Police Station, 50 Langhorne Street, Dandenong 3175
Phone: 9767 7510
Fax: 9767 7531

Languages Other Than English (LOTE)

The Way Ahead 2008-2013  is available for download in 25 different languages, click here for details and downloads.

Contact us

Multicultural Multicultural Advisory Unit
Victoria Police Centre
637 Flinders Street
PO Box 415, Melbourne, VIC, 3005

Phone: (03) 9247 5233
Fax:       (03) 9247 5237
Email: john.chau@police.vic.gov.au