Released 05/11/2021
Canberra has stepped up and attained ‘Established’ accreditation as a Welcoming City, a key step in the ACT Government’s commitment to work towards attaining ‘Advanced’ accreditation.
Welcoming Cities, an initiative of Welcoming Australia, is a national network of cities, shires, towns and municipalities who are committed to an Australia where everyone can belong, contribute and thrive.
Assessment and accreditation as a Welcoming City allows jurisdictions to benchmark progress and identify gaps in their welcoming and inclusion practice, through four levels – Established, Advanced, Excelling, and Mentoring.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Tara Cheyne said this achievement highlights our city’s initiatives and policies that are fostering economic, social and cultural inclusion.
“Canberra has always been a city that has welcomed and embraced diversity and we are now the fourth location in the nation to be ‘Established’ as a Welcoming City,” Minister Cheyne said.
“We are committed to completing accreditation at the ‘Advanced’ level next, being measured against the first three levels of the Welcoming Cities Standard: Leadership, Social and Cultural Inclusion, and Economic Development.”
Welcoming Australia CEO, Aleem Ali, congratulated the ACT on the accomplishment.
“Canberra has demonstrated what can be achieved by being welcoming and developing strong partnerships with diverse communities.
“Leadership is the primary focus of the ‘Established’ level of the Welcoming Cities standard, and successful accreditation confirms that the ACT Government is a leader amongst their peers both in Australia and internationally,” said Mr Ali.
Canberra will officially celebrate this achievement at the Welcoming Australia Symposium, to be held in the ACT for the first time across 10 and 11 May 2022, at the National Gallery of Australia.
The Symposium will bring together international, national and local practitioners, policymakers, researchers, business innovators and civic leaders to share and discuss the challenges, benefits and opportunities of migration, settlement, cultural diversity and inclusion.
Working towards attaining ‘Advanced’ accreditation is an ACT Government commitment outlined in the 10th Parliamentary and Governing Agreement.
For more information on Welcoming Cities, visit: https://welcomingcities.org.au/.
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Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases