Projects share $1 million to celebrate multicultural Queensland

More than $1 million will be shared by 17 projects celebrating Queensland’s multiculturalism with a focus on young people and economic and social participation.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Leanne Linard said she was delighted to announce the successful recipients of the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland’s project funding round, which attracted nearly 180 applications including over 60 first-time applicants.

“The response to this year’s funding round was amazing, reflecting the huge appetite of community groups and organisations wanting to celebrate and embrace multiculturalism by building a united, harmonious and inclusive Queensland,” Ms Linard said.

“A total of 17 projects will receive $1.075 million to boost social connection and cohesion and support young people from culturally diverse backgrounds throughout the state.”

"Nine projects will share almost $300,000 to create pathways to boost the economic and social participation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Successful projects in this category include a water safety and swimming program in Cairns, a refugee health partnership in Toowoomba, and a project supporting 75 vulnerable young people from African backgrounds and their families in South East Queensland.

Eight projects will receive more than $755,000 to help break down barriers facing culturally diverse young people and increase their access to, and inclusion within the community.

Successful youth-related projects include helping young women break the cycle of domestic and family violence in South East Queensland, empowering regional youth leaders from CALD and refugee backgrounds in Townsville, and a project supporting around 500 disengaged and at-risk Pasifika young people in the Logan area to encourage community connection through story-telling.

“The range of projects being funded in this year’s program will support hundreds of culturally diverse Queenslanders and their families to feel more connected and participate and contribute to their own communities and beyond,” Ms Linard said.

"My hope is that all Queenslanders, regardless of where they were born, what language they speak or their religion, will feel like this is their home where they are safe and supported.”

The Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program has an annual budget of $2 million that supports two funding rounds – Multicultural Projects and Multicultural Events, and one-off funding to three regional councils through the Regional Partnerships Projects.

For more information about the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program and successful applicants: www.cyjma.qld.gov.au/cmq-program.

ENDS

Media contact: Bernadette Condren 0417 296 116