Response to the new state multicultural policy has been positive with key community organisations singing its praises.
The peak body for Queensland’s ethnic communities, refugees and migrants, the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ), the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) and other community organisations contributed to the policy.
ECCQ chairperson Agnes Whiten says the policy is “a significant step forward in recognising and guaranteeing multiculturalism as a key feature of Queensland’s future”.
ECCQ executive manager Ian Muil says “Queensland is shaped every day by the contribution of migrants and refugees from all walks of life, and this new policy ...
will help to ensure that multiculturalism continues to benefit our state and the wellbeing of all who call Queensland home”.
QCOSS president Karyn Walsh says it is encouraging that the policy includes a whole-of-government multicultural action plan.
“This renewed commitment to multiculturalism is important — as is the increase in funding to community groups and the move to recognise multicultural Queenslanders through specific legislation,” she says.
“The move to address issues of access to interpreters is also welcome and is critical for community services to meet the needs of multicultural communities.”
The Queensland multicultural policy outlines priorities for the Queensland Government, under the key themes of:
- multicultural recognition legislation
- language, information and communication
- improving service delivery
- regional and emerging communities
- skills, jobs and enterprise, and
- inclusive communities.
Download the new policy at www.communities.qld.gov.au/multicultural.
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