Welcoming Australia Symposium 2023

Sebastian GeersBlog, NewsLeave a Comment

Group photo of the attendees at the 2023 Welcoming Australia Symposium outside the event venue

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 Awards for Change 2023

Sebastian GeersNewsLeave a Comment

The awards, in their second year, have grown in both quantity and quality. Thank you to all the people and organisation who took the time to apply, you made the judging panel’s life exceedingly difficult! The Welcoming Cities Awards for Change recognise the progress that strengthens social cohesion with newly arrived and … Read More

Stories of Welcome – Volume 4

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 4 shares 10 case studies from … Read More

Welcoming Cities Award – Ken Dachi

Sebastian GeersBlog, NewsLeave a Comment

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

Sebastian GeersArticles, Blog, News1 Comment

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.

Sebastian GeersArticles, Blog, NewsLeave a Comment

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

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

Nick and Kate Land

Sebastian GeersCase Studies, NewsLeave a Comment

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

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

City of Unley and City of Manningham share joint honour

Sebastian GeersBlog, NewsLeave a Comment

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

City of Greater Bendigo becomes the first accredited Welcoming City

Sebastian GeersBlog, NewsLeave a Comment

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

AdminBlog, News

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

Sebastian GeersCase Studies, NewsLeave a Comment

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

Cancellation of the 2020 Welcoming Cities Symposium due to COVID-19

AdminNews

We have made the extremely difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Welcoming Cities Symposium. We have been actively monitoring the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic; and, after conversations with our event partners – Scanlon Foundation, ACT Government and Department of Home Affairs – we believe this is the correct course … Read More

Planning for Welcoming & Inclusive Communities

AdminNews, Resources

Guidelines for regional growth Regional councils looking to attract, retain and support migrants and refugees to thrive in their communities now have a resource to help them plan and assess their readiness with the launch of Planning for Welcoming and Inclusive Communities: Guidelines for Regional Growth. The Guidelines, funded by the … Read More

Australian Migration and Settlement Awards

Sebastian GeersBlog, NewsLeave a Comment

Congratulation to the shortlisted councils in the Welcoming Communities Award for Excellence in Local Government. We are proud that all of the shortlisted candidates are members of the Welcoming Cities Network. Winner City of Stirling City of Stirling Multicultural Framework The City of Stirling developed its Multicultural Framework to build on what … Read More