The local area multicultural partnership program is an initiative which is funded by the State Government and employs a Community Relations Officer to oversee the program The aim of this program is to ensure Council information is relevant for all cultural groups, and policies are formulated to reflect the needs of new citizens.
Almost nine per cent of Mackay’s 78,000 residents were born overseas. The City has a large Maltese community who settled in the area to grow sugar. Some six per cent of the community are Indigenous Australians, with a similar number of people being of Australian South Sea Islander descent.
Council has developed a multicultural policy and has recently established a draft community relations plan to ensure that Council remains responsive and inclusive of the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse residents.
Mackay City Council acknowledges and embraces its cultural diversity and aims to make all residents feel valued without prejudice or discrimination. By fostering tolerance and understanding of diversity, and increasing awareness of rights, responsibilities and opportunities for citizenship, Council is building an inclusive, harmonious and cohesive society.
A recent Council newsletter to residents described multiculturalism in the following way.
Multiculturalism encourages everyone to express, share and value one another’s cultural heritage, and aims at ensuring equality of opportunity to benefit from and contribute to all aspects of life without prejudice or discrimination. Multiculturalism means that we have needs and desires, we have likes and dislikes. We are different but there is nothing wrong or threatening in that difference. We are all seeking a better life for ourselves and future generations.
How can you be involved in promoting multiculturalism? Support events such as Refugee Week and Harmony Day or any multicultural festivals that are happening in your area.
