Darebin Council has officially joined the Welcoming Cities Network to reaffirm and build on its long and proud history of promoting inclusiveness and equality.

The City joins a growing national network of local councils who are committed to fostering a sense of community belonging and socioeconomic participation and equality for all people, including newly arrived migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.

Darebin Mayor Cr Kim Le Cerf, said joining Welcoming Cities complements Darebin’s equity and diversity policy work.

“We are committed to building a future based on equity, respect and acceptance for all,” the Mayor said.

“Welcoming Cities will help us achieve this goal by introducing a systemic and organisational approach to respond to the needs and challenges faced by Darebin’s culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse community,” she said.

Launched in March 2016, Welcoming Cities is an initiative of the Scanlon Foundation which aspires to see Australia advance as a welcoming and cohesive nation with a strong focus on the transition of migrants into Society.

Welcoming Cities’ Victorian State Manager, Elizabeth Young, said that having Darebin join the Network is an excellent way for them to build on and grow the great welcoming work they are already doing and will enable them to benchmark their successes.

“Welcoming Cities provides local governments with opportunities to connect and learn from each other’s best practices that improve the quality of life and potential of immigrants and all others in the community.”