The City of Greater Bendigo has been accredited as the first Mentoring Welcoming City, marking another milestone in its decade-long leadership in building welcoming, inclusive communities. Since joining the Welcoming Cities network in 2016, Greater Bendigo has consistently demonstrated what it means to create a community where everyone belongs, thrives … Read More
Understanding Accreditation: Insights from the team behind the Standard
Understanding Accreditation: Insights from the team behind the Standard What does accreditation actually mean? How does it work? Does accreditation mean an organisation has everything figured out? (Quick spoiler alert: it doesn’t!) What does it tell us about an organisation’s commitment to welcoming and belonging, and what does the process look like … Read More
Celebrating communities of welcome in action
Welcoming Cities Awards for Change 2026 At the Welcoming Australia Symposium in Adelaide on Tuesday 19 May, community leaders from across Australia were recognised for their exceptional contribution to building a welcoming Australia where everyone can belong, contribute and thrive. Now in its fifth year, The Welcoming Cities Awards for … Read More
2025 Year in Review
2025 was a terrific year for Welcoming Cities, we were joined in the network by 11 new members, continued to connect with our international partners, including setting up peer to peer connections. 1. Membership Growth: 2. Network support: Welcoming Cities run many significant events throughout the year including: 3. Accreditation: … Read More
Community leaders awarded for advancing a welcoming Australia
At the Opening Reception for the 2025 Welcoming Australia Symposium in Western Sydney on Tuesday 6 May, community leaders from across Australia were awarded for their exceptional contribution to building a welcoming Australia where everyone can belong, contribute and thrive: 2025 is the fourth year of the Welcoming Cities Awards … Read More
2024 Year in review
2024 was a terrific year for Welcoming Cities, we were joined in the network by 10 new members, continued to connect with our international partners, including setting up peer to peer connections. released two publications, 1. Membership Growth: 2. Network support: 3. Accreditation: City of Darebin (VIC) became the first … Read More
‘Belonging is our next step’: Reflections from rural leaders on building welcoming communities in the U.S. & Australia
Around the world, immigrants and refugees come to different countries searching for education, employment, safety, and ultimately, to be part of a thriving community. Many newcomers follow the steady employment, reasonable cost of living, and opportunities for social cohesion that can be found in smaller cities and rural areas. As … Read More
Welcoming Cities Awards for Change 2024
The Welcoming Cities Awards for Change recognise the progress that strengthens social cohesion with newly arrived and receiving communities to ensure everyone has a chance to participate, belong and thrive. These awards celebrate leading practice and innovation in advancing welcoming and inclusive communities. There are three categories: Local Government – Wollongong City Council Wollongong City Council recognises … Read More
Welcoming Australia Symposium 2023
The Welcoming Australia Symposium 2023 was our most successful yet. With over 250 people in person and over 70 online attendees. Over two days, the Welcoming Australia Symposium featured inspiring speakers on the power of place based organisation to increase belonging in Australia.participants were challenged, motivated and energised to return … Read More
Welcoming Cities Standard launched for public consultation
After an extensive revision process the Welcoming Cities Standard 2.8 is open for public consultation until 30 June. Feedback can be sent to Standard@welcomingcities.org.au. Revision Process In line with leading practice in standard setting, we made a commitment when creating the 2018 version of the Welcoming Cities Standard to review … Read More
Welcoming Cities Award – Ken Dachi
Sarah Janali and Ken Dachi share the inaugural Welcoming Cities Award, given to outstanding individuals in the sector. This award recognises those who go above and beyond to cultivate a culture of welcome and inclusivity in their communities. Ken Dachi, Multicultural Affairs Advisor and Program Coordinator at Leeton Shire Council … Read More
The Welcoming Cities Award – Sarah Janali
Sarah Janali and Ken Dachi share the inaugural Welcoming Cities Award, given to outstanding individuals in the sector. This award recognises those who go above and beyond to cultivate a culture of welcome and inclusivity in their communities. Sarah Janali Sarah Janali is a community development practitioner with more than … Read More
Rural Welcoming Communities Exchange Program 2023.
From the 25 – 30 April eight Australian representatives from rural councils across the country will join colleagues from rural councils across America for the Rural Welcoming Communities Exchange Program (RWCE). The exchange experience will be based in California and the group will attend conference sessions discussing different perspectives on … Read More
Welcoming Cities Awards for Change 2022
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
City of Unley and City of Manningham share joint honour
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
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
City of Greater Bendigo becomes the first accredited Welcoming City
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
First things first: effective leadership in local government
Effective leaders should pose and seek to answer the question “‘who do we want to be?” Of all tiers of government, none have a better understanding of the complexity and nuances of their community than local councils. Engaging directly with local businesses, residents and service providers, they are well-placed, as facilitators … Read More
Stronger together: 50th Local Council joins Welcoming Cities
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
Virtual Welcoming Cities Symposium 2020
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