This month we officially launched our city’s first Multicultural Plan.
Our vibrant city came alive as community leaders, service providers, and members of our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community joined hands to celebrate our rich diversity at Mirambeena Community Centre.
The event was filled with delicious food from local Bhutanese, Congolese, and Ukrainian communities. We also enjoyed a captivating cultural dance performed by the Congolese, Filipino, and Indian communities.
This celebration marked a crucial milestone in our journey towards fostering an inclusive city where everyone feels valued and embraced. It was an opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every individual can freely express their cultural, linguistic, and religious traditions, without the shadow of discrimination or fear in our community.
Some of the key priorities in the Multicultural Plan include:
Leadership: Facilitating opportunities for CALD communities to advocate for themselves, and bringing CALD community leaders and service providers together.
Communication and Language: Thinking of alternative ways to communicate and engage to ensure information is received and understood, including providing information in language where appropriate, and facilitating CALD community forums.
Information: Ensuring information on services, community networks and hubs is easily accessible by identifying and removing any barriers.
Employment and Volunteering: Leading the conversation on diversity and inclusion with local employers, including increasing employment opportunities at Council.
Diversity: Ensuring there are opportunities available to celebrate cultural diversity, and offering opportunities for residents to exchange and experience different cultures, such as events and grants programs.
New Refugees and Migrants: Being proactive in supporting the integration of newcomers including participating in programs such as NSW Growing Regions Of Welcome.
Youth: Supporting diversity in youth leadership, sporting activities promoting integration, or multicultural youth programs.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with our local CALD community to implement the actions within the plan. Together, we can build a future where unity, respect, and understanding prevail.
You can view the Multicultural Plan on the AlburyCity website.
Frank Zaknich
AlburyCity CEO
