The City of Whittlesea’s Multicultural Action Plan 2014-2018 is an affirmation of our ongoing commitment to the multicultural community we serve. Our commitment that flows from the plan is to provide leadership in local multicultural issues and to foster inclusiveness and engagement with our diverse community.

Today, the City of Whittlesea has a rapidly growing resident population due to reach 333,700 by 2036 of which more than 42% are born overseas. We are also home to the second largest Aboriginal population in metropolitan Melbourne and so the City of Whittlesea recognises the rich Aboriginal heritage of the country and acknowledge the Wurundjeri Willum clan as the traditional owners of this place.

We have a range of policies and strategies that support our work to make Whittlesea welcoming and supportive of diversity. For example as well as our Multicultural Action Plan we have a Reconciliation Plan, an Asylum Seeker policy and an Anti-Racism Strategy. These all aim to celebrate our diversity, prevent discrimination and racism and support the successful settlement of new arrivals including refugees and asylum seekers.

Joining Welcoming Cities builds on Council’s history of achievement in multicultural affairs and will assist Council in accessing best practice, in advocating, in supporting our service delivery agencies, in engagement across all parts of Council and in our collaboration efforts with others to make sure Whittlesea is a Welcoming place to live, work, play or study.