STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF $700,000 FOR MULTICULTURAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS

Queensland Government grants worth $700,000 have been given to community groups for projects and events that celebrate diversity and promote cohesion and harmony in the state’s culturally diverse society.

Minister for Multiculturalism Lindy Nelson-Carr today announced the 77 Multicultural Assistance Program grants recipients – 35 organisations in the Brisbane area and 41 in regional Queensland.

“The Multicultural Assistance Program encourages the community to celebrate our state’s diversity and contributes to our mutual respect and understanding of different cultures and religions,” she said.

Ms Nelson-Carr said that as part of Multicultural Affairs Queensland’s $700,000 grants program, five state-wide focused projects and events would share in $100,000, and six major, established festivals would also share in $100,000 which is the final instalment of a three-year Beattie Government funding commitment.

The major festivals are: the Paniyiri Greek Festival in South Brisbane, the Mount Isa Multicultural Festival, Cultural Fest in Townsville, the Australian Italian Festival in Ingham, the Multi Media and Music Workshops at Central Queensland University’s Multicultural Fair and the Folklines Multicultural Program at the Woodford Folk Festival.

“All these projects and events encourage community development and give Queenslanders a chance to participate in a range of cultural activities,” she said.

Organisations in Brisbane with a state-wide focus to receive funding:

• Ethnic Communities' Council of Queensland received $29,994 for the ECCQ Training Unit Establishment Project for community organisations and government departments to increase the cultural responsiveness of mainstream services;
• St Vincent de Paul Society received $30,000 for the VoRTCS – 2007 World Refugee Day Community Event to develop a series of workshops involving young refugees in musical performances that 'tell' their story and foster community involvement;
• Local Government Association of Qld received $27,500 for the Impact on Skilled Migration in Rural and Regional Queensland Research Project to collect and review data on skilled migration in Queensland focusing on the social and community relations impact of this influx of workers;
• Queensland Museum received $7000 for the Journey of Understanding – Refugee Education Program to develop learning materials that share refugee stories and artefacts and encourage discussion on refugee issues; and
• Queensland Writers' Centre Association received $6800 for the Migrant Communities Writing Pilot Project to provide skills and knowledge to migrant communities to capture their culture and history in writing.

For more information visit: www.multicultural.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004