The Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance (AMWA) was officially launched at the 2025 National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference in Melbourne, marking a major step forward in advancing equality for women from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Minister for Small Business, International Development and Multicultural Affairs, Dr Anne Aly, welcomed the launch, emphasising the Albanese Government’s commitment to ensuring “every Australian has the opportunity to succeed”.
Dr Aly said the new alliance makes one message clear:
“Migrant women, refugee women, ethnic women and women of colour are not a footnote in the equality story. We are, my friends, central to it.”
She described AMWA as core to the government’s Working for Women’s Strategy, noting that the initiative takes an intersectional approach to gender equality.
“Often programs like this are seen as an add-on, but today’s launch makes a clear statement that diverse women belong at the heart of national policymaking.”
The event also featured an inspiring keynote address from Assoc. Prof. Kudzai Kanhutu, Dean at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and a panel discussion with senior leaders including Padma Raman PSM (Office for Women), Violet Roumeliotis AM (SSI), Prof. Zoe Wainer (Department of Health Victoria), and Dr Umber Rind (GP), all of whom warmly welcomed AMWA’s establishment.
Led by Executive Director Malini Raj, the Alliance brings together more than two decades of expertise across diversity, inclusion, financial services, strategy, and community engagement. Raj has previously held key leadership roles at the Commonwealth Bank and is recognised nationally for her advocacy for migrant and refugee women.
AMWA will work collaboratively with community groups, government agencies and civil society to design policies and initiatives that support migrant, refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women to thrive, lead and participate fully in Australian society.
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