Stories of Welcome Strategies and case studies for building a Welcoming City Volume 2
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Stories of
Welcome
Strategies and case
studies for building
Volume 2. April 2021
a Welcoming City
Volume 2
Welcoming Cities acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians and ancestors of this country, and the continuation of their cultural, spiritual and ceremonial practices. We respectfully acknowledge the past and present Traditional Owners of the land, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and respect their culture and identity, which has been a continuum with the land and sea for generations. We have a role to play in achieving a just Australia in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights as First Peoples are recognised and respected. Welcoming Cities also seeks to engage local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as leaders in welcoming activities. Demographic information: The demographic statistics provided for each local government area featured in this volume are taken from the 2016 Australian Census. Cover photo: A family enjoying a community event in the City of Stirling in Perth. Photo courtesy of the City of Stirling. Welcoming Cities 102 Main Street Kangaroo Point Queensland 4169 Australia © Welcoming Cities 2021
Contents
Stories Australia’s first accredited Welcoming City
City of Greater Bendigo, VIC
2
of Welcome The Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan 4
City of Hobart, TAS
Stories of Welcome is a growing
collection of case studies from The Welcoming Plan 6
some of Welcoming Cities’ Paroo Shire Council, QLD
member councils, offering a The Multicultural Framework 8
brief example of some of the City of Stirling, WA
great work that is happening in The Homemade Dinner Series 10
communities across Australia. Tatiara District Council, SA
Knowledge sharing is a key pillar Stories of Strength 12
of the Welcoming Cities network. City of Canterbury Bankstown, NSW
These stories assist our continued
Common Threads 14
learning, and may spark ideas Wagga Wagga City Council, NSW
for work that could be applied
by other councils. The Inclusive Local Jobs Strategy 16
Banyule City Council, VIC
The Business Mentoring Program 18
City of Canning, WA
The International Student Leadership 20
and Ambassador Program
City of Sydney, NSW
The Aqua English Project 22
Brisbane City Council, Logan City
Council and Cairns Regional Council, QLD
The Welcoming Cities Reference Group 24
City of Darebin, VIC
The Intercultural Ambassador Pilot Program 26
City of Greater Bendigo, VIC
The creation of Futsal Park 28
City of Port Adelaide Enfield, SA
The Cultural Artwork Project 30
Townsville City Council, QLD
1
Overcoming Australia’s
first accredited
racism to build Welcoming City
cohesion City of Greater Bendigo, VIC
Approximate population 110,000
7% overseas born
1.7% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
The City of Greater Bendigo’s journey to becoming
“We can now Australia’s first accredited Welcoming City began
in response to a community-level crisis fuelled by
measure whether racism and cultural misperceptions.
The crisis erupted after the City Council approved
our actions are a planning application from the Bendigo Islamic
Association in 2014 to build a community centre and
actually making a mosque in East Bendigo. The decision prompted a
series of public protests that captured widespread
difference... ” media attention.
“It was one of my most challenging times in local
government,” explained Craig Niemann, Greater
Bendigo’s CEO since 2005. “It was pretty scary when
the rallies and protests were happening, both in
the streets and in the council meeting environment
– the place where the elected council makes its
2
decisions had to be shut down because of loud the Council’s workforce and in the wider
and disruptive behaviour by a fairly large number community.
of protesters.” One action in the CDIP was to join the Welcoming
What happened next set Bendigo on the path to Cities network and work towards becoming an
becoming the first local government area (LGA) accredited Welcoming City.
formally accredited under Australia’s Welcoming According to Craig, working closely with Welcoming
Cities Standard. Cities to prepare its accreditation application
Community leaders emerged who wanted to show elevated the Council’s thinking and provided
that the anti-mosque protesters did not reflect the greater clarity about its strengths and areas for
views of most Bendigo residents. The ‘Believe in improvement.
Bendigo’ movement was formed, and the Council In early 2020, specialists from Monash University
and local organisations joined forces to present assessed the City’s policy and practice against all
a unified message that Bendigo residents do not six categories in the Welcoming Cities Standard.
tolerate racism. The assessment involved a combination of desktop
During this tumultuous period, the Council research and interviews with council staff and
identified the need for a community-wide plan to community members. The City achieved the
promote diversity and help address potentially ‘Advanced’ level of accreditation.
divisive cultural issues. Achieving accreditation as a Welcoming City raises
“Our first cultural diversity and inclusion plan was Greater Bendigo’s profile at the state, national
born out of that experience,” said Craig. “It was a and international levels and sets a benchmark for
difficult time for Bendigo, but out of that adversity the City to continue to improve its services and
came really good things; it brought many local welcoming practices.
people and organisations together to make a stand “Working with Welcoming Cities was a really
and demonstrate that Bendigo is actually a very engaging process for our people and made sure
welcoming community.” that we weren’t kidding ourselves and just putting
Many local organisations contributed to the words on paper,” said Craig. “We can now measure
Greater Bendigo Cultural Diversity and Inclusion whether our actions are actually making a difference
Plan 2016–2019 (CDIP) and helped deliver the and have the evidence to back that up.”
actions. Key partners included Bendigo Community Although the Council’s Community Wellbeing
Health Services, Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Directorate manages the CDIP, responsibility
Services, Bendigo Interfaith Council and local for delivering the plan is shared across the entire
sports organisations. organisation and its community partners.
Initiatives included: “The process helped shift our plan from being just
• the Community Harmony Project aimed at another document to being a living piece of work
reducing racism and discrimination towards delivered by people across council and the wider
Muslim residents and supporting their sense community,” added Craig. “That’s where I think we
of belonging are doing great work here in Bendigo, because
no one individual, team or organisation owns this
• a reconciliation plan recognising, and
welcoming work – the whole community owns it.”
responding to the needs of, Greater Bendigo’s
two First Nations clans
• the Greater Bendigo Intercultural Ambassadors
pilot program
• the Karen Connections Project
Photo: City of Greater Bendigo CEO, Craig Niemann after the
• the Building Culturally Inclusive Sporting Welcoming Cities accreditation ceremony in late 2020. Photo
courtesy of the Bendigo Advertiser, 11 November 2020.
Clubs Program
• sponsoring Bendigo Business Council’s annual
Diversity and Inclusion Award, and Contact:
City of Greater Bendigo
• providing cultural awareness training for
bendigo.vic.gov.au
3
Embracing The Aboriginal
Commitment and
the truth of Action Plan
a troubled City of Hobart, TAS
history Approximate population 50,000
24% overseas born
1.4% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
The local council recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
1.1
When the City of Hobart set out to update
as the First Peoples of this Nation and seek to engage local Indigenous
communities in welcoming work. Demonstrated by:
1.11 Actively working towards 1.13 Facilitating opportunities for
reconciliation with Aboriginal and migrant communities to learn about
Torres Strait Islander people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities. culture.
its 17-year-old Aboriginal strategy, it quickly
1.12 Formally acknowledging Traditional
Owners through collaboration with
elders past, present and future in
policies, initiatives and public events.
1.0 became clear that the unique context in Tasmania
The local council partners with diverse stakeholders to promote a
1.2 welcoming culture through advocacy and communication activities
across various platforms. Demonstrated by:
Leadership
1.21 A public resolution declaring the 1.23 Presenting narratives that
local council to be a welcoming communicate positive migrant
community, and an explanation of stories and contributions.
demanded a flexible and highly tailored process.
what this means. 1.24 Supporting and promoting events
1.22 Messaging that communicates the and activities representative of the
community-wide benefit of cultural diversity of the local community.
diversity and inclusion and the
Welcoming Cities seek to engage local benefits of migration and settlement.
Welcoming Cities Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
A responsive approach was needed to support
respectfully acknowledge people as leaders in welcoming
activities.
The local council supports and promotes activities and initiatives that
the past, present and 1.3 nurture connections between migrant and receiving communities.
Welcoming Cities recognise the
emerging traditional importance of cultural diversity and Demonstrated by:
inclusion and seek to advance and
owners, the Aboriginal institutionalise that work through
1.31 Supporting activities and initiatives 1.32 Identifying and facilitating
meaningful engagement and local ownership.
that connect people from migrant opportunities that bring together
and Torres Strait Islander collaboration across council, the local
community and other government
communities and people from representatives from migrant
receiving communities. communities and receiving
peoples, the traditional agencies.
communities to discuss
custodians of this land, Welcoming Cities engage receiving community issues.
communities in understanding who
and respect their culture their new neighbours are and why
The local council incorporates cultural diversity and inclusion in strategic,
and identity which has welcoming work is important. 1.4 business and community plans and monitors their progress.
Community engagement during the early phase of
Demonstrated by:
been a continuum with Welcoming Cities bring together
the voices and experiences of both
the land and sea for receiving and migrant communities 1.41 Engaging diverse stakeholders,
from both migrant communities
1.42 Developing a stakeholder reference
group that reflects the diversity of
in defining a welcoming agenda and
millennia. platform. and receiving communities, in the the community.
development, implementation and
1.43 Assessing the priorities of the local
maintenance of the plans.
the project revealed that the usual Reconciliation
community and using that feedback
to improve the plans.
16 17
Action Plan (RAP) format was not universally
LEADERSHIP accepted. Many members of the local Aboriginal
1.1 The local council recognises Aboriginal community wanted the plan to be a more tailored
and Torres Strait Islander people as the and nuanced document that reflected Hobart’s and
First Peoples of this Nation and seeks to Tasmania’s unique history.
engage local Indigenous communities
in welcoming work.
4
The action plan’s cover features a symbolic
artwork, titled Stepping Forward, by Tasmanian
Aboriginal artist Allan Mansell.
Reconciliation Australia recognised the unique
context in Hobart and agreed to endorse the
document under the RAP framework.
The City of Hobart’s project team was overwhelmed
City of Hobart Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan
by the positive community response to the genuine
Walking together towards reconciliation and respectful engagement process.
January 2020 – January 2022
“There were many face-to-face conversations,
including difficult conversations,” said the City’s
A
Community Development Officer – Aboriginal,
Jessica Quin, who was one of a small number
of Aboriginal employees at the City at the time.
For many years Tasmania had been relatively
“The level of engagement was actually quite
silent about its Aboriginal history, particularly the
overwhelming.”
devastating impacts of colonialism on the state’s
Aboriginal inhabitants. This had contributed to The resulting City of Hobart Aboriginal Commitment
a widespread misconception that there was no and Action Plan: Walking together towards
continuing Tasmanian Aboriginal culture. This reconciliation January 2020 – January 2022, includes
troubled history made the new action plan, and the 20 significant actions for the City to deliver, with the
way in which it was developed, especially important. aim of building relationships; raising the profile of
Aboriginal people, heritage and culture across the
The City of Hobart embraced this feedback
city; and building a culturally safe workplace.
and reframed the document as an Aboriginal
Commitment and Action Plan. The City embarked
on a process that would enable the community
to acknowledge the difficult truths of the past
and deeply consider ways of moving forward
together. The year-long project was guided by
Aboriginal people, City employees and the broader
Hobart community.
The approach reflected the relationship the City
hoped to have with Aboriginal stakeholders
moving forward – one of respect, consideration,
acknowledgement and walking together.
Photo: From left, Harley Mansell, Uncle Dougie Mansell, Lord
Mayor Cr Anna Reynolds, Sina Mansell and Janice Ross celebrate
the launch of the action plan. Photo courtesy City of Hobart.
Contact:
City of Hobart
hobartcity.com.au
5
Preparing a The Welcoming Plan
rural community Paroo Shire Council, QLD
for greater
Approximate population 1,600
12% overseas born
28% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
diversity Welcoming migrants can pose challenges for
receiving communities with relatively low levels
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
of cultural diversity. This is one of the challenges
1.1 The local council recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
as the First Peoples of this Nation and seek to engage local Indigenous
communities in welcoming work. Demonstrated by:
Paroo Shire Council is seeking to address through
its Welcoming Plan.
1.11 Actively working towards 1.13 Facilitating opportunities for
reconciliation with Aboriginal and migrant communities to learn about
Torres Strait Islander people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities. culture.
1.12 Formally acknowledging Traditional
Owners through collaboration with
elders past, present and future in
policies, initiatives and public events.
1.0 1.2 The local council partners with diverse stakeholders to promote a
welcoming culture through advocacy and communication activities
across various platforms. Demonstrated by: The Shire’s population of less than 1,600 residents
Leadership
1.21 A public resolution declaring the 1.23 Presenting narratives that
local council to be a welcoming communicate positive migrant
is spread across almost 50,000 square kilometres
community, and an explanation of stories and contributions.
what this means. 1.24 Supporting and promoting events
1.22 Messaging that communicates the and activities representative of the
community-wide benefit of cultural diversity of the local community.
diversity and inclusion and the
Welcoming Cities seek to engage local benefits of migration and settlement.
Welcoming Cities
in South West Queensland. A declining population
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
respectfully acknowledge people as leaders in welcoming
activities.
The local council supports and promotes activities and initiatives that
the past, present and 1.3 nurture connections between migrant and receiving communities.
Welcoming Cities recognise the
emerging traditional importance of cultural diversity and Demonstrated by:
and the threat of widespread drought continue to
inclusion and seek to advance and
owners, the Aboriginal institutionalise that work through
1.31 Supporting activities and initiatives 1.32 Identifying and facilitating
that connect people from migrant opportunities that bring together
and Torres Strait Islander collaboration across council, the local
community and other government
communities and people from representatives from migrant
receiving communities. communities and receiving
peoples, the traditional agencies.
communities to discuss
custodians of this land, Welcoming Cities engage receiving community issues.
impact services and opportunities for residents.
communities in understanding who
and respect their culture their new neighbours are and why
The local council incorporates cultural diversity and inclusion in strategic,
and identity which has welcoming work is important. 1.4 business and community plans and monitors their progress.
Demonstrated by:
been a continuum with Welcoming Cities bring together
the voices and experiences of both
the land and sea for receiving and migrant communities 1.41 Engaging diverse stakeholders, 1.42 Developing a stakeholder reference
However, the decline also creates job vacancies and
in defining a welcoming agenda and from both migrant communities group that reflects the diversity of
millennia. platform. and receiving communities, in the the community.
development, implementation and
1.43 Assessing the priorities of the local
maintenance of the plans.
community and using that feedback
to improve the plans.
16 17
opportunities in the local area.
LEADERSHIP The Council identified that many migrants
previously lived in rural areas in their homeland
1.4 The local council incorporates cultural
diversity and inclusion in strategic, and therefore may prefer to settle in communities
business and community plans and outside Australia’s major cities. These new arrivals
monitors their progress. can bring significant economic, social and cultural
benefits to rural and regional communities.
6
Initial conversations with community members Developing and implementing a communications
about migration into the region uncovered a variety strategy around the economic and cultural benefits
of concerns about how local towns would fare with of migration.
new arrivals. This highlighted the need to prepare
Promoting a clear and concise message across the
the community for regional migration.
Shire about the aims of the Welcoming Plan.
Paroo’s Welcoming Plan is both outward and inward
Leveraging existing community activities to
looking. It seeks to reach out to new migrants to give
promote the Welcoming Plan and achieve its
them an understanding of the opportunities and
objectives. For example, the local librarian invited
challenges of living in the Outback and encourage
migrants living in the Shire to read a book or share
them to settle in Paroo. The plan also aims to build
a story about their culture or childhood during
the capacity of the receiving community to embrace
regular children’s storytime sessions.
newcomers from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The Council invested significant time and
energy into talking with business owners, the
community sector and Shire residents to clearly
define the language and messages used to
‘Paroo’s
describe migration; communicate the rationale
for and benefits of attracting new arrivals; address
Welcoming Plan …
concerns, stereotypes and misconceptions about
migrants; explore ideas and invite people to be part seeks to reach out
of the journey. The communication process involved
the following steps: to new migrants
Identifying and sharing stories of migrants already
living in the Shire via social media, newsletters and to give them an
news media to improve community perceptions.
Using the correct terminology around migration,
understanding of
and explaining different migration streams
and requirements for being accepted as a the opportunities
skilled migrant.
and challenges of
living in the
Outback…’
Photo: Filming a storytime session inside the Cunnamulla
pharmacy. Photo courtesy of Paroo Shire Council.
Contact:
Paroo Shire Council
paroo.qld.gov.au
7
Providing The Multicultural
Framework
a guiding
framework City of Stirling, WA
Approximate population 220,000
33% overseas born
1% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
The local council recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
1.1 as the First Peoples of this Nation and seek to engage local Indigenous
The City of Stirling Multicultural Framework is a
communities in welcoming work. Demonstrated by:
1.11 Actively working towards 1.13 Facilitating opportunities for
reconciliation with Aboriginal and migrant communities to learn about
Torres Strait Islander people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities. culture.
high-level guiding document that underpins the
1.12 Formally acknowledging Traditional
Owners through collaboration with
elders past, present and future in
policies, initiatives and public events.
1.0
The local council partners with diverse stakeholders to promote a
1.2
City’s strategic vision of achieving an inclusive and
welcoming culture through advocacy and communication activities
across various platforms. Demonstrated by:
Leadership
1.21 A public resolution declaring the 1.23 Presenting narratives that
local council to be a welcoming communicate positive migrant
community, and an explanation of stories and contributions.
what this means.
harmonious community.
1.24 Supporting and promoting events
1.22 Messaging that communicates the and activities representative of the
community-wide benefit of cultural diversity of the local community.
diversity and inclusion and the
Welcoming Cities seek to engage local benefits of migration and settlement.
Welcoming Cities Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
respectfully acknowledge people as leaders in welcoming
activities.
The local council supports and promotes activities and initiatives that
the past, present and 1.3 nurture connections between migrant and receiving communities.
Welcoming Cities recognise the
As one of Western Australia’s most culturally
emerging traditional importance of cultural diversity and Demonstrated by:
inclusion and seek to advance and
owners, the Aboriginal institutionalise that work through
1.31 Supporting activities and initiatives 1.32 Identifying and facilitating
that connect people from migrant opportunities that bring together
and Torres Strait Islander collaboration across council, the local
community and other government
communities and people from representatives from migrant
receiving communities. communities and receiving
peoples, the traditional agencies.
communities to discuss
custodians of this land,
diverse local government areas, City of Stirling has
community issues.
Welcoming Cities engage receiving
communities in understanding who
and respect their culture their new neighbours are and why
The local council incorporates cultural diversity and inclusion in strategic,
and identity which has welcoming work is important. 1.4 business and community plans and monitors their progress.
Demonstrated by:
been a continuum with Welcoming Cities bring together
actively promoted multiculturalism and newcomer
the voices and experiences of both
the land and sea for receiving and migrant communities 1.41 Engaging diverse stakeholders,
from both migrant communities
1.42 Developing a stakeholder reference
group that reflects the diversity of
in defining a welcoming agenda and
millennia. platform. and receiving communities, in the the community.
development, implementation and
1.43 Assessing the priorities of the local
maintenance of the plans.
community and using that feedback
integration for many years. The City established the
to improve the plans.
16 17
Mirrabooka Multicultural Centre, has built strong
LEADERSHIP partnerships with local multicultural communities,
1.4 The local council incorporates cultural and supports programs that provide migrants with
diversity and inclusion in strategic, information and connections to help them settle into
business and community plans and the community.
monitors their progress.
The Multicultural Framework builds on what
has already been achieved and aims to help the
community reap the rewards of cultural diversity.
The framework focuses on three key areas:
8‘By working in
partnership
with community To shape and develop the framework, the City:
organisations, • established a cross-organisational
steering group
local schools •
•
researched local and international best practice
analysed local demographic trends
and other tiers of • consulted with multicultural community leaders
and agencies providing services to migrants
government, the •
and communities, and
held co-design sessions and feedback sessions
City of Stirling with City managers and staff.
The Stirling Multicultural Advisory Network (SMAN)
plays an important was established to monitor the framework’s
implementation and help strengthen its delivery
role in creating and outcomes.
One example of an initiative arising directly
welcoming out of the framework is the City’s Women Only
Swimming Program. This program was developed
environments.’ in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society
of Western Australia to give women from diverse
cultural backgrounds access to a safe and private
Source: City of Stirling Multicultural Framework, p5
space, free from men, in which they could learn
to swim.
The original Multicultural Framework was
• Newcomers – ensuring newcomers to Stirling accompanied by a two-year implementation plan
are informed, connected, engaged and with clear targets, responsibilities and timeframes.
empowered The framework will be reviewed every four years
and implementation plans updated every two years.
• Community – developing a welcoming,
inclusive, enabling and resilient community
• Organisation – council staff and practices are
culturally competent, accessible, responsive
and committed.
It identifies 12 outcomes, many of which are being
pursued in partnership with other stakeholders.
The framework sits alongside the City’s
Reconciliation Action Plan, Access and Inclusion
Plan, and Age Friendly Community Strategy, and
has been developed to specifically deliver on Photo: A family enjoying a community event in Perth’s
City of Stirling. Photo courtesy of City of Stirling.
the ‘Inclusive and Harmonious City’ objective, in
Stirling’s Strategic Community Plan.
Contact:
City of Stirling
stirling.wa.gov.au
9Building The Homemade
Dinner Series
understanding
across the Tatiara District Council, SA
Approximate population 6,500
dinner table 20% overseas born
1.3% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard The Homemade dinner series is harnessing the
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
The local council’s policies and practices actively include and engage both
universal language of food to build acceptance and
2.1
understanding among Tatiara District’s increasingly
receiving and migrant communities. Demonstrated by:
2.11 Collecting and analysing 2.13 Conducting reviews to identify and
demographic data to determine revise any policies or practices that
the cultural, religious and linguistic exclude or disenfranchise migrant
composition of the local community. communities.
Ensuring that the development, Providing accessible information on,
diverse community.
2.12 2.14
implementation and review or referral to, community support
2.0
of council policies, strategies, services and programs.
programs and initiatives are
2.15 Supporting initiatives that empower
compliant with Federal and State
individuals to prevent, and
legislation for racial and religious
respond effectively to, racism and
Social and
nondiscrimination and take into
discrimination.
account the principles of
substantive equality.
More than one quarter of the 2,500 residents in
The local council facilitates diverse cultural expression through a range
Cultural Inclusion
2.2 of activities and observances. Demonstrated by:
2.21 Celebrating community festivals, 2.22 Encouraging programs and
cultural events, and religious initiatives that bring together diverse
observances that represent diversity cultures and support opportunities
Bordertown – Tatiara’s main population centre – are
and encourage dialogue. for cultural expression and
intercultural understanding.
Welcoming Cities facilitate
relationships between 2.3 The local council facilitates language access. Demonstrated by:
migrant and receiving Assessing language needs for Providing accessible information on
migrants. They come from 23 countries and most
2.31 2.35
migrant communities to increase dispute resolution and local by-laws.
communities that address access to services and activities. 2.36 Advocating to other tiers of
racism and promote social 2.32 Engaging accredited translators or
interpreters in council services and
Government and associated
agencies to ensure that essential
cohesion. related events. information and services (such
as emergency management
have moved to the area in recent years to work at
2.33 Providing information on council
Welcoming Cities ensure that all residents information) are accessible
services, and resident information
have equitable access to council services to migrant communities.
guides in community languages.
and cultural assets by removing barriers
to participation in community life.
2.34 Providing accessible Council
feedback and complaints
Welcoming Cities facilitate diverse cultural processes.
the local meatworks operated by the nation’s largest
expression and support residents to
participate in the community.
18 19
meat processing company, JBS Australia.
Tatiara District Council’s Community Development
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INCLUSION
Officer – Migration, Tracey Grosser, said it had
2.2 The local council facilitates diverse become evident that a lot of “parallel living” was
cultural expression through a range happening in the town. Migrants and members of
of activities and observances. the receiving community weren’t mixing and the
level of interaction between the different cultural
groups was also low.
10The flyer for Tatiara’s Afghan
Homemade dinner event.
The Homemade program is centred around the
idea that sharing a homemade meal can facilitate
cultural understanding and foster integration.
Feedback following each of the four dinners has
certainly borne that out.
“The vibrant personalities, resilience and strength of
their hosts really came across to everyone attending
the dinners,” Tracey explained. “The feedback
has been overwhelmingly positive – we now have
our traditional residents telling us how blessed
Bordertown is to have such brave and inspiring
The receiving community needed support and people living in our community ... it’s really helped
opportunities to get to know and embrace their new change people’s perceptions.”
neighbours, while the new arrivals also expressed an
interest in getting to know each other better.
The Council partnered with the local migrant
resource centre and JBS Australia to establish a
Multicultural Group and develop a Multicultural
Action Plan. The idea for the Homemade program
flowed out of these initiatives.
With the Council’s support, Bordertown’s Highway
“Thank you for
Church secured almost $20,000 in federal funding
to pilot the Homemade dinner series. Locals were
a wonderful
able to try Filipino, Malaysian, Afghan and African
cuisines prepared by groups of residents from each evening. You are
a blessing to our
of those cultural backgrounds.
Each group designed the menu for a three-course
meal and a program of activities, which included
cooking demonstrations, storytelling and cultural community.”
dance. The four sold-out dinners were held in the
Written feedback from a long-time resident
church hall. after attending a Homemade dinner
Planning and hosting the dinners helped migrant
participants develop leadership skills, practise
English and establish intercultural friendships. A
number of employment and business opportunities
were also generated, for example, in catering.
Photo: Tatiara’s Malaysian Homemade dinner hosts with their
‘Malaysia House’ pop-up restaurant sign and certificates of
participation. Photo courtesy of Tatiara District Council.
Contact:
Tatiara District Council
tatiara.sa.gov.au
11Stories Stories of Strength
strengthen City of Canterbury Bankstown,
NSW
community Approximate population 346,000
understanding
35% overseas born
0.7% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard Stories of Strength is an innovative oral history
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
project designed to combat negative perceptions
and stereotypes and improve social cohesion
The local council’s policies and practices actively include and engage both
2.1 receiving and migrant communities. Demonstrated by:
2.11 Collecting and analysing 2.13 Conducting reviews to identify and
demographic data to determine revise any policies or practices that
the cultural, religious and linguistic exclude or disenfranchise migrant
composition of the local community. communities.
within a local community.
2.12 Ensuring that the development, 2.14 Providing accessible information on,
implementation and review or referral to, community support
2.0
of council policies, strategies, services and programs.
programs and initiatives are
2.15 Supporting initiatives that empower
compliant with Federal and State
individuals to prevent, and
legislation for racial and religious
respond effectively to, racism and
Social and
nondiscrimination and take into
discrimination.
account the principles of
substantive equality.
Cultural Inclusion
2.2
2.21
The local council facilitates diverse cultural expression through a range
of activities and observances. Demonstrated by:
Celebrating community festivals,
cultural events, and religious
2.22 Encouraging programs and
initiatives that bring together diverse
Initiated in the City of Canterbury Bankstown in
Western Sydney, the project equipped students
observances that represent diversity cultures and support opportunities
and encourage dialogue. for cultural expression and
intercultural understanding.
Welcoming Cities facilitate
relationships between 2.3 The local council facilitates language access. Demonstrated by:
from local high schools with the interviewing and
migrant and receiving 2.31 Assessing language needs for
migrant communities to increase
2.35 Providing accessible information on
dispute resolution and local by-laws.
communities that address access to services and activities. 2.36 Advocating to other tiers of
racism and promote social 2.32 Engaging accredited translators or
interpreters in council services and
Government and associated
agencies to ensure that essential
cohesion. related events. information and services (such
production skills to collect and curate stories from
as emergency management
2.33 Providing information on council
Welcoming Cities ensure that all residents information) are accessible
services, and resident information
have equitable access to council services to migrant communities.
guides in community languages.
and cultural assets by removing barriers
to participation in community life.
2.34 Providing accessible Council
feedback and complaints
inspiring adults in their community.
Welcoming Cities facilitate diverse cultural processes.
expression and support residents to
participate in the community.
18 19
The interviewees came from diverse cultural
backgrounds and included migrants, refugees and
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INCLUSION Aboriginal Elders. The aims were to uncover and
2.1 The local council’s policies and share empowering stories that are seldom heard;
practices include and engage both use the power of storytelling to develop students’
receiving and migrant communities. wellbeing, resilience and understanding of their
community; and inspire community members
to stand united against forces of hate, violence
and fear.
12The project was delivered by Outloud, an Andrew Viller, a social science teacher at Chester
intersectional, CALD-focused social impact arts Hill High School, had this to say about the program:
organisation that creates genuine and meaningful “For me, what this does is not provide us with
opportunities for young people in Western Sydney. more strength, it simply uncovers the strength that
The Council partnered with Outloud because the resides in us.”
non-government organisation had greater flexibility
Describing her experience of participating in the
to explore creative approaches for engaging with
program, student Hope Sankari said: “I learned to
young people and the wider community.
not judge a book by its cover and just to respect
Joyce Conte, a drama teacher at Sir Joseph Banks everyone for who they are.”
High School, said her students really embraced the
The three-year Stories of Strength and Resilience
program. “Their theory was that their family was
Project was funded by Multicultural NSW.
boring, until they started to speak to their parents
and grandparents and uncles and aunties and see The resulting anthology contains oral stories,
that they had these amazing stories that they’d never essays, portraits and illustrations highlighting
shared,” explained Joyce. intergenerational and cross-cultural understanding
and empathy. The collection is a celebration of
the strength and resilience of inspiring individuals
from the Bankstown and greater Western Sydney
area. Some stories were shared through a monthly
Stories of Strength Podcast and via Sydney’s
independent youth broadcaster, FBi Radio’s ‘All the
“I learned to not
Best’ program.
The Stories of Strength program was later delivered
judge a book by its in Lake Macquarie, through a partnership between
Community Activities Lake Macquarie (CALM)
cover and just to
and Outloud, with funding from the Australian
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
respect everyone for
who they are.”
Stories of Strength student participant,
Hope Sankari
Photo: Abdullah Sankari from Sir Joseph Banks High School
interviews Ilona Abou-Zolof as part of the Stories of Strength
project. Photo by Christopher Woe Photography.
Contact:
City of Canterbury Bankstown
cbcity.nsw.gov.au
13Stitching Common Threads
together the Wagga Wagga City Council, NSW
local social
Approximate population 62,500
15% overseas born
5.6% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
fabric Dozens of women from diverse cultural
backgrounds in Wagga Wagga, NSW, have been
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
brought closer together through a project that
2.1
2.11
The local council’s policies and practices actively include and engage both
receiving and migrant communities. Demonstrated by:
Collecting and analysing 2.13 Conducting reviews to identify and
offers them a creative outlet as well as valuable
social and learning opportunities.
demographic data to determine revise any policies or practices that
the cultural, religious and linguistic exclude or disenfranchise migrant
composition of the local community. communities.
2.12 Ensuring that the development, 2.14 Providing accessible information on,
implementation and review or referral to, community support
2.0
of council policies, strategies, services and programs.
programs and initiatives are
2.15 Supporting initiatives that empower
compliant with Federal and State
individuals to prevent, and
legislation for racial and religious
respond effectively to, racism and
Social and The Common Threads project provides a safe
nondiscrimination and take into
discrimination.
account the principles of
substantive equality.
The local council facilitates diverse cultural expression through a range
Cultural Inclusion
2.2 of activities and observances. Demonstrated by:
space for participants to build important social
2.21 Celebrating community festivals, 2.22 Encouraging programs and
cultural events, and religious initiatives that bring together diverse
observances that represent diversity cultures and support opportunities
and encourage dialogue. for cultural expression and
intercultural understanding.
Welcoming Cities facilitate
relationships between
migrant and receiving
communities that address
2.3
2.31
The local council facilitates language access. Demonstrated by:
Assessing language needs for
migrant communities to increase
access to services and activities.
2.35 Providing accessible information on
dispute resolution and local by-laws.
support networks and reduce social isolation, while
2.36 Advocating to other tiers of
developing skills in a variety of textile mediums.
racism and promote social 2.32 Engaging accredited translators or
interpreters in council services and
Government and associated
agencies to ensure that essential
cohesion. related events. information and services (such
as emergency management
2.33 Providing information on council
Welcoming Cities ensure that all residents information) are accessible
services, and resident information
have equitable access to council services to migrant communities.
guides in community languages.
and cultural assets by removing barriers
to participation in community life.
2.34 Providing accessible Council
feedback and complaints
Participants are encouraged to explore
Welcoming Cities facilitate diverse cultural processes.
expression and support residents to
participate in the community.
18 19
opportunities to sell their products at local
markets and establish social enterprises. They
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INCLUSION also participate in public exhibitions and activities
showcasing multicultural arts.
2.2 The local council facilitates diverse
cultural expression through a range of
activities and observances.
14Common Threads is being delivered through a
partnership between the Multicultural Council of
Wagga Wagga (MCWW), Wellways and the NSW
Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of
Torture and Trauma Survivors. Multicultural NSW
provided funding through its Unity grants program
and Wagga Wagga City Council supported
the project through its annual community
grants program.
MCWW Community Development Officer, Thom
“Being part of
Paton, said 71 women from 14 different cultural
backgrounds participated in the weekly sessions the group gave
me confidence
during the first two years of the project (group
activities were paused in 2020 due to COVID-19,
to take the
but there are plans to resume in 2021).
“We had a huge number of participants – within the
opportunity.
first couple of weeks we had up to 26 people turning
up every session,” said Thom. “The popularity and
I applied, went
demand for additional classes was so high, we
started a second weekly class.”
for an interview
The regular Common Threads activities have
helped reduce the social isolation experienced
by new settlers to the Wagga Wagga community
and opened up an avenue to build important
social support networks between individuals from
… and I got it!”
different cultural backgrounds. The groups host Hafiz, Common Threads participant
guest speakers from support agencies and act as a
platform to introduce participants to these services.
Some participants have also picked up work as a
result of the project.
Hakimeh Rahimi, a migrant from Afghanistan, said
it is “a great way to meet new people, share ideas,
learn new skills and have fun while practising English
in a social setting”.
Photo: Participants in Wagga Wagga’s Common Threads project,
Another participant, Hafiz, also from Afghanistan, which is strengthening the city’s social fabric. Photo courtesy of the
Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga.
found work thanks to the connections opened up
by participating in Common Threads. “One of the
teachers we were working with told us about a
position that was being advertised at a local shop,” Contact:
Wagga Wagga City Council
Hafiz explained. “Being part of the group gave me
wagga.nsw.gov.au
confidence to take the opportunity. I applied, went
Project Partner:
for an interview (which included showing what I
Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga
could do) and I got it!” mcww.org.au
15Being a The Inclusive
Local Jobs Strategy
community
role model Banyule City Council, VIC
Approximate population 122,000
30% overseas born
0.6% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
3.1 The local council employs a workforce that is inclusive and diverse.
Demonstrated by:
A central theme running through Banyule City
3.11 Identifying and addressing barriers 3.13 Exploring innovative ways of
and unconscious bias, which may promoting job opportunities to
limit diversity and inclusion in reach a broad and diverse range
employment practices. of potential applicants.
3.12 Highlighting the value of a diverse
Council’s Inclusive Local Jobs Strategy 2020–
workforce and encouraging
3.0
applicants from diverse
backgrounds to apply.
The local council advances local business sourcing and contracting.
3.2
Economic
Demonstrated by:
2025 (the ILJ Strategy) is the Council’s intention
3.21 Addressing the barriers for local 3.22 Reviewing procurement policies
businesses to access council and practice and identifying
Development
tendering and contracting opportunities to engage local
opportunities. suppliers.
to role model the change it wants to see in
3.3 The local council partners with the local business community to identify
strategic opportunities for economic development and to encourage
local jobs for local people, including those from migrant communities.
Demonstrated by:
Welcoming Cities 3.31 Supporting and facilitating 3.33 Supporting and advocating for
networking events, business strategies to monitor and prevent
recognise that economic
local workplaces.
development workshops, mentoring labour exploitation.
growth relies on an and other activities that grow local 3.34 Working with employers, local
skills, knowledge and commerce.
chambers of commerce and
inclusive economy that 3.32 Partnering with employers, local other relevant community based
encourages the active chambers of commerce, financial
institutions, employment services,
organisations to identify and
address barriers to local
participation of all and other relevant community employment.
based organisations to identify
its residents. needs and opportunities.
Welcoming Cities facilitate access, by both
receiving and migrant communities, to
opportunities for employment, business
development and entrepreneurship.
3.4
3.41
The local council supports both receiving and migrant communities
to advance economic development opportunities. Demonstrated by:
Supporting and referring to business 3.42 Supporting and promoting cultural
The ILJ Strategy was developed in partnership
with the local community. It represents a new
Welcoming Cities value the unique incubator, entrepreneurship initiatives and activities that draw
talents and experiences that people programs and other initiatives visitors to the community.
of all backgrounds contribute to their to identify and grow enterprise
communities. opportunities.
22 23
place-based model of community and economic
development for Banyule and galvanises the
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Council’s role in creating local job outcomes for
3.1 The local council employs a workforce local people experiencing barriers to employment.
that is inclusive and diverse.
16and continue to face barriers to full workforce
participation. This places them at greater risk of
economic and social exclusion.
Banyule Mayor, Cr Rick Garotti, said there are some
groups in the Banyule community that do not have
“I feel like I am equal access to employment and the ILJ Strategy
provides a pathway that otherwise might not have
supported and
been available.
“We’re proud of this Strategy and understand the
accepted here.
responsibility of role modelling the change that we
would like to see in our workplaces,” Mayor Garotti
Psychologically,
said. “The Strategy is needed more than ever as we
navigate the employment impacts of COVID-19, and
we are passionate about making sure that all people
I feel that I am in our community have the opportunity to find
employment.”
important, and Banyule’s Inclusive Employment Program is
one example of how a local council is helping
I can do so much local people overcome barriers to employment.
The program offers individuals from targeted
that is of value.” community groups six months of paid employment
in the Council’s workforce, tailored to individual
interests, aspirations and abilities.
One participant, Uzma Rubab, migrated to
Australia from Pakistan with her husband and two
young children, and was shocked to discover how
challenging it was to settle and find work in a new
The Strategy has four focus areas that demonstrate
country so different from her own. She gained
the role local government can play in supporting
valuable experience as a Strategy Development and
vulnerable community groups:
Performance Officer with the Council, which led to
1. Stimulate inclusive local employment her taking on another internal role.
opportunities.
“I feel like I am supported here ... I am accepted
2. Strengthen pathways to employment.
here,” said Uzma. “Psychologically, I feel that I am
3. Grow business ownership and important, and I can do so much that is of value.”
entrepreneurship.
4. Advance inclusive employment practices across
the local government sector and private sector.
Although Banyule City’s overall published
unemployment rate is not significant compared
with other municipalities, there are pockets of high
disadvantage in the local community, located in
Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs, that sit well
below the Victorian average.
For example, First Nation peoples; culturally Photo: Migrant Uzma Rubab was employed through
and linguistically diverse individuals, including Banyule’s Inclusive Employment Program. Photo courtesy
of Banyule City Council.
refugees and asylum seekers; people living with
a disability; and young people aged 16–25 are
underrepresented in the local labour market Contact:
Banyule City Council
banyule.vic.gov.au
17Mentoring The Business
Mentoring Program
future business
leaders City of Canning, WA
Approximate population 90,000
55% overseas born
1% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Alignment with The Welcoming Cities Standard
THE STANDARD THE WELCOMING CITIES STANDARD
3.1 The local council employs a workforce that is inclusive and diverse.
Demonstrated by:
The City of Canning Business Mentoring Program
3.11 Identifying and addressing barriers 3.13 Exploring innovative ways of
and unconscious bias, which may promoting job opportunities to
limit diversity and inclusion in reach a broad and diverse range
employment practices. of potential applicants.
3.12 Highlighting the value of a diverse
encourages everyone from start-up entrepreneurs
workforce and encouraging
3.0
applicants from diverse
backgrounds to apply.
The local council advances local business sourcing and contracting.
3.2
Economic
Demonstrated by:
to seasoned business owners to take a leap outside
3.21 Addressing the barriers for local 3.22 Reviewing procurement policies
businesses to access council and practice and identifying
Development
tendering and contracting opportunities to engage local
opportunities. suppliers.
their comfort zone in a supportive and enabling
3.3 The local council partners with the local business community to identify
strategic opportunities for economic development and to encourage
local jobs for local people, including those from migrant communities.
Demonstrated by:
Welcoming Cities 3.31 Supporting and facilitating 3.33 Supporting and advocating for
networking events, business strategies to monitor and prevent
recognise that economic
environment.
development workshops, mentoring labour exploitation.
growth relies on an and other activities that grow local 3.34 Working with employers, local
skills, knowledge and commerce.
chambers of commerce and
inclusive economy that 3.32 Partnering with employers, local other relevant community based
encourages the active chambers of commerce, financial
institutions, employment services,
organisations to identify and
address barriers to local
participation of all and other relevant community employment.
based organisations to identify
its residents. needs and opportunities.
Welcoming Cities facilitate access, by both
receiving and migrant communities, to
opportunities for employment, business
development and entrepreneurship.
3.4
3.41
The local council supports both receiving and migrant communities
to advance economic development opportunities. Demonstrated by:
Supporting and referring to business 3.42 Supporting and promoting cultural
In 2020, the program sponsored a number of
participants to further develop their business at
Welcoming Cities value the unique incubator, entrepreneurship initiatives and activities that draw
talents and experiences that people programs and other initiatives visitors to the community.
of all backgrounds contribute to their to identify and grow enterprise
communities. opportunities.
22 23
each different stage – Start, Sprint, Surge and
Sustain. The City of Canning sponsored the
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT cost of each successful mentee and facilitated
3.3 The local council partners with the the connection between the applicant and the
local business community to identify mentoring agency, to provide the best mentoring
strategic opportunities for economic opportunity.
development and to encourage local
One of the new programs piloted in 2020 was the
jobs for local people including those
from migrant communities. YoungGems program, delivered in partnership with
Multicultural Futures and Gemstar Technologies.
The City of Canning’s Mayor, Patrick Hall, said
18YoungGems is the main program within the overall
Canning Business Mentoring Program that focuses
on supporting people from diverse backgrounds.
Over six sessions in a safe and nurturing
environment, participants are equipped with
practical skills required to run their businesses.
There were 12 sponsored places in the YoungGems
program in 2020.
One of the participants, Kamel Elnaggar, runs
Mosaic Bites, a food truck offering a diverse range
of Arabic-flavoured dishes. Kamel wanted to learn
practical steps to turn his food truck into a pop-up
shop. “We started as a food truck but now we have
a pop-up shop,” he said. “We’re now basically an
upmarket kebab shop offering retail options such as “Feedback
grab and go.”
Since leaving the program, Kamel has changed
gathered from the
the way he operates. “It made us look at how to
change our revenue stream,” he explained. “We participants shows
now understand the perspective from a start-up
and have more confidence to run a business with that 100% felt
that the program
different offerings.”
At the program’s pitch night, which was the final
gathering, the participants were given feedback
from three industry experts. Cr Hall said overall the improved their
business capability
program was a huge success. “Feedback gathered
from the participants shows that 100% felt that the
program improved their business capability and
know-how,” he said. and know-how.”
The benefits cited by participants included gaining
City of Canning Mayor, Patrick Hall
a wealth of knowledge and wisdom from ‘real-
world’ entrepreneurs, and learning more about the
essential steps required to turn their passions and
ideas into a successful new business.
Photo: YoungGems Program mentee, Kamel Elnaggar, transitioned
his business, Mosaic Bites, from operating as a food truck to an
upmarket pop-up kebab shop. Photo courtesy of City of Canning.
Contact:
City of Canning
canning.wa.gov.au
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