The statement ensures a coordinated ‘whole of Council’ approach for how the City of Melbourne supports the evolving needs of our culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse community.
With over 50% of our residents born overseas and speaking a language other than English at home, City of Melbourne is the second most diverse local government area in Victoria behind the City of Greater Dandenong.
The City of Melbourne:
- acknowledges the contribution that refugees and asylum seekers make to our community
- celebrates cultural diversity in all its forms through a range of public programs and initiatives that continue to promote community harmony
- says ‘No to Racism’ and does not tolerate discrimination
- supports processes that encourage citizenship amongst people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- funds and delivers a range of culturally specific services, programs and events
- seeks to reflect the cultural diversity of the community we serve.
Download the Cultural Diversity Statement:
Refugee Welcome Zone
The City of Melbourne is a Refugee Welcome Zone which is a commitment in spirit to welcoming refugees into our community, upholding the human rights of refugees, demonstrating compassion for refugees and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in our community.
Council originally signed the Refugee Welcome Zone Declaration in June 2002. This commitment was reviewed in 2014 which lead to the development of the Refugee Welcome Zone Action Plan in 2015. The action plan – a first of its kind for the City of Melbourne- has provided Council with a structured framework and a coordinated ‘whole of Council’ approach for how the City of Melbourne supports people from a refugee background an people seeking asylum living in our community.
Victoria has the largest refugee intake and highest numbers of asylum seekers in Australia.
The City of Melbourne has a small settlement rate of people arriving through the
Humanitarian program, however many people visit the city to access services like the Red Cross and Department of Social Services during their settlement program.
Download the Refugee Welcome Zone Action Plan:
Settlement numbers in City of Melbourne 2012 - 2017
2012
| 46
| 664
| 2206 |
2916 |
|---|
2013
| 43 | 636 | 2308 |
2987 |
|---|
2014
| 28 | 707 | 2779 |
3514 |
|---|
2015
| 32 | 662 | 3395
|
4089 |
|---|
2016
| 25 | 555 | 3890 |
4470 |
|---|
2017
| 46
| 248 | 2969 |
3263 |
|---|
Total
| 220
|
3472 |
17,547 |
21,239 |
|---|
Source: Australian Government Department of Social Services: Calendar Year of Arrival by Migration Stream for arrivals between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017 with a Local Government Area of Melbourne (C)
The City of Melbourne also supports the following initiatives:
We have established the
African Australian Partnership Project which supports African Australian communities with employment, health and wellbeing and community initiatives.
We offer a wide range of
grants and sponsorships to individuals, community organisations and businesses in the arts, recreation, events and business sectors.
We support the
Multicultural Hub, Victoria’s largest local provider of multicultural support services. The Hub, which is managed by AMES Australia, provides a place where people from Melbourne's many different cultures can meet and learn in a supportive environment. Activities for individuals and community groups are offered throughout the year. It is also a low-cost venue, with rooms in various sizes available for hire.
We encourage intercultural sharing and learning by supporting festivals and events which support that promote respect and understanding of different faiths and cultures and assist communities to work together, including:
-
Cultural Diversity Week is a state-wide celebration of Victoria’s cultural, linguistic and religious diversity. The week-long event is held to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March.
-
Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity on 21 March. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. It is a day for all Australians to embrace cultural diversity and to share what we have in common.
-
Victorian Multicultural Festival at Federation Square celebrates and showcases our state’s rich and vibrant cultural traditions. The festival features a unique program of food, free music and cultural performances, market stalls and workshops to immerse you in the best of our community.
-
Refugee Week, which coincides with World Refugee Day, celebrated internationally on 20 June.
- We support the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Anti-Hate campaign that gives people a way of reporting what has happened to them if they experience discrimination such as racism, homophobia or sexism.
If you would like more information about services available for people who are seeking asylum or for tailored services to meet the needs of refugee communities please see the following resources: