Empowering diverse communities to represent in local government decision-making

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Glenorchy City Council, Tasmania  Approximate population 51,000  22% overseas born  5.4% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander  As part of a push to ensure elected members of Glenorchy City Council reflect the diversity of the community, Multicultural Council of Tasmania (MCoT) and the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) partnered with the council … Read More

Symposium 2022 – wrap-up and presentations

Sebastian GeersNews

The 2022 Welcoming Australia Symposium was a great success, it was exciting to feel the buzz of ideas and new connections in the room. A packed program featured Dr Alethea Beetson delivering the First Nations keynote, David Pocock (National Keynote), Professor john powell (International keynote) and an exceptional line-up of … Read More

Welcoming Cities Awards for Change 2022

Sebastian GeersArticles, Blog, News

The Welcoming Cities team are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Welcoming Cities Awards for Change. The awards celebrate leading practice and innovation in advancing welcoming and inclusive communities.  The Welcoming Cities Awards celebrate change made in communities by individuals, organisations and local councils. They acknowledge the progress that strengthens social cohesion with newly … Read More

Stories of Welcome – Volume 3

Sebastian GeersCase Studies, News

Strategies and case studies for building a Welcoming City Stories of Welcome is a growing collection of case studies from some of Welcoming Cities’ member councils, offering a brief example of some of the great work that is happening in communities across Australia. Volume 3 shares 14 case studies from … Read More

Nick and Kate Land

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Nick and Kate Land, won the inaugural Welcoming Cities Awards for Change in the individual category. Nick and Kate own the Cunnamulla Bakery located in the Paroo Shire in outback South West Queensland. Over the years they have found it difficult to attract and retain staff. However, a few small … Read More

The Aqua English Project

Sebastian GeersCase Studies

The Aqua English Project won the inaugural Welcoming Cities Awards for Change in the community category. Welcoming Cities spoke with refugee lawyer Sarah Scarce to discuss The Aqua English Project and how important it is to ensure people from diverse backgrounds understand water safety. Sarah and her mother, Julia Dixon, … Read More

Championing for the health of the community

Sebastian GeersCase Studies

Hume City Council, VIC Winner of the Welcoming Cities Awards for Change in the local government category. Approximate population 250,00035% overseas born0.7% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Faced with increased Covid-19 cases and low vaccination rates, Hume City Council used an integrated approach to engage with the community. Hume City … Read More

Empowerment through community-led responses to racism

Sebastian GeersResources

On 17 May 2021, Victoria University (VU), Wyndham City Council (WCC) and Wyndham Community and Education Centre (Wyndham CEC) jointly launched a new local support network. This network was the first of its kind in Australia,set up in close collaboration with communitiesto offer alternative community-based reporting pathways and support services … Read More

Inclusive Communication Toolkit

Sebastian GeersResources

This toolkit identifies leading communications practice and provides examples of how councils can best reach everyone. The Inclusive Communications Toolkit supports councils to strengthen engagement and relationships with diverse communities. It provides advice and information for councils on how to speak to everyone, no matter where they’re from, or what … Read More

City of Unley and City of Manningham share joint honour

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Welcoming Cities celebrates the Cities of Unley and Manningham becoming the first local governments in Australia to be accredited as an Established ‘Welcoming City’. Successful accreditation acknowledges the significant work of these councils to make their municipalities more welcoming and inclusive.   Mayor of the City of Unley, Michael Hewitson AM, says the City is seeing the benefits … Read More

Symposium 2021 – wrap-up and presentations

Sebastian GeersBlog

The 2021 Welcoming Cities Symposium was a great success, the first in-person Symposium in two years, it was exciting to feel the buzz of ideas and new connections in the room. A packed program featured Professor Megan Davis delivering the First Nations keynote, Tim Dixon (International keynote), George Megalogenis (National … Read More

Putting out the Welcome Mat

Sebastian GeersResources

Bringing The Standard to life by celebrating and sharing a snapshot of the exceptional work delivered by local councils and their communities Putting out the welcome mat supports you to develop successful plans, initiatives, policy documents, partnerships and ideas that will advance welcoming work in your local council and community. … Read More

Stories of Welcome – Volume 2

AdminCase Studies

Strategies and case studies for building a Welcoming City Stories of Welcome is a growing collection of case studies from some of Welcoming Cities’ member councils, offering a brief example of some of the great work that is happening in communities across Australia. Volume 2 shares 15 case studies across … Read More

City of Greater Bendigo becomes the first accredited Welcoming City

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Welcoming Cities celebrates the City of Greater Bendigo as the first local government in Australia to achieve accreditation as a ‘Welcoming City’. Successful accreditation acknowledges the significant work of Council to make the City more welcoming and inclusive.   The City of Greater Bendigo’s application was externally assessed by Monash University who considered the City’s policy and practice against all six categories of the Welcoming Cities Standard.   Steven Abbott, Manager, Community Partnerships at the City of Greater … Read More

Stronger together: 50th Local Council joins Welcoming Cities

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Network now represents more than 30 per cent of Australia’s population South Australia’s City of Playford has joined the national Welcoming Cities network, making it the 50th local Council to sign on. As COVID-19 puts pressure on communities, this growing group is leveraging multiculturalism and migration to keep everyone together. Welcoming … Read More

Help Your Neighbour

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The City of Greater Bendigo, VicApproximate population 116,000. 7% overseas born. 1.7% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The ‘Help Your Neighbour’ campaign is a community led response to help vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the Covid-19 pandemic, staff at The City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Foodshare saw … Read More

Virtual Welcoming Cities Symposium 2020

Sebastian GeersArticles, Blog, NewsLeave a Comment

Due to COVID-19, Welcoming Cities hosted a virtual Symposium. The virtual symposium will consist of weekly webinars sharing all of the presentations from the original Symposium program. The “Virtual” Welcoming Cities Symposium features all of the presenters, from the cancelled Symposium in weekly sessions. The Welcoming Cities Symposium brings together … Read More

Stories of Welcome – Volume 1

AdminCase Studies

Strategies and case studies for building a Welcoming City Stories of Welcome is a collection of nine case studies, from some of Welcoming Cities’ member councils, showcasing a small sample of the great work that is happening in communities across Australia. Our members recognise the value of diversity to the … Read More