“Peace involves staying in the room with people where you’d much rather walk out. Peace involves saying things to people that you usually say about them when they’re not there. Peace involves taking the risk of opening your imagination to think of a shared future where you and your political other share in a democratic process together. It feels like compromise, and it’s painful, and often you’re hurt by your own, not just ‘the other’. Peace and reconciliation are exhausting and brilliant and changing, but they require a lot of work.”

Pádraig talks about the possibility of relationship while recognising that it can take as long for a conflict to de-escalate as it takes to escalate. He observes that after more than 200 years of dispossession for First Peoples, ‘sorry’ (justice and truth) might require another 200 years, not just a day, week or year. It’s a sobering thought, especially given the year 2024 has been and we continue to witness.

It has also given me pause to consider the role of Welcoming Australia in an increasingly polarised world. Our work has never been more important, but cohesion and belonging should not be reduced to ‘being polite’ or maintaining the status quo. They require an ongoing commitment to a shared future and a lot of work.

Amid the grief of diaspora communities, the pursuit of certainty for people living in limbo, and advocacy for more inclusive government policy, there have been many vital conversations, the development of life-saving resources, beautiful moments, and inspiring stories. This is the work. A daily resolve to include rather than exclude, to take people on a journey and support people of all backgrounds to have a seat at the table.

We’ve shared a small snapshot of some of these activities below. I hope you enjoy them because you share in their success.

Thank you for your support in 2024 and for all you do to make your street, workplace, and community more welcoming, kind, and generous.

On behalf of the Welcoming Australia team, I wish you a safe, refreshing, and peaceful festive season. We will return in 2025 to continue the work of advancing communities where everyone can belong.

Aleem Ali

CEO, Welcoming Australia

The inaugural Welcoming Universities Summit, held on October 22, 2024, at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), brought together 50 key stakeholders to discuss inclusive practices in higher education. The theme for this inaugural summit was From Small Beginnings – building welcoming in Australian universities, and the program featured insightful talks, panel discussions, and roundtable sessions designed to foster meaningful conversations and explore initiatives to support diversity and inclusion in Australian universities.

Read more here

A Welcoming Week to remember!

In September, community members all over Australia embraced the Welcoming Week theme of #WhatBringsUsTogether, celebrating the work of advancing a welcoming Australia.

With over 70 events hosted across Australia, we joined eight countries taking part, with an amazing 2,006 events hosted globally! Welcoming Week is about more than the events and connections during this week alone. It’s a time to showcase the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including migrants, refugees, people seeking asylum, international students, and the entire community, as well as the work that happens in your communities every single day.

Read the full 2024 wrap-up here.

The City of Darebin was awarded the first Excelling Accreditation in the Welcoming Cities network.   This successful accreditation acknowledges the significant work of Council and the Darebin community to make the City more welcoming and inclusive.

“Darebin has a long-term approach to this work. They understand that welcoming and inclusion are about continuous engagement and learning, and we congratulate them on their success. Becoming the first council in Australia to be accredited at the Excelling level underlines their role as a leader in welcoming work in Australia.” 

Read more here

2024 was a terrific year for Welcoming Cities

We were joined in the network by 10 new members, continued to connect with our international partners, including setting up peer to peer connections, released two publications, celebrated the City of Darebin achieving Accreditation at the Excelling level and there is strong interest in accreditation in 2025.

Read the full re-cap here

Inclusion Guidelines for Public Aquatic Facilities

These guidelines were developed by Welcoming Australia and The Aqua English Project Ltd, with input from local governments, contractors, aquatic participants and those yet to access a swimming program.

While developed for aquatic facilities, it’s also a blueprint for broader inclusion in our communities – we encourage you to download the guide, share it, examine how you can implement the ideas, strategies and examples shared within.
Genuine change requires work, investment and the right intent. Facilities won’t become more inclusive and welcoming overnight, but it will happen through small increments and culture shifts. Read more and download the guidelines here

A fantastic way to celebrate Welcoming Week 2024, we hosted an incredible event with the award-winning Bloodlines to Country podcast, produced by Jenae Tien and Karina Hogan, featuring Yuggera Elder, Aunty Kerry Charlton. 

In this in-conversation event Aunty Kerry, Karina and Jenae shared the background to making this podcast, more details about the incredible stories it contains, and the impact this podcast has had on both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.  

It was a beautiful event, and the generosity of Aunty Kerry her family’s stories and history, was deeply profound.  

Early in 2024 our Welcoming Cities team in Queensland began working with the newly formed Darling Downs African Communities Council (DDACC), providing support and solidarity as they built their profile and their vision for what the council would focus on. 

Together, DDACC, Ethnic Communities Council Queensland (ECCQ) and Welcoming Australia are now co-hosting a conversation series about racism in schools. The first of these sessions was held in mid-November and began with a presentation by John Bosco of ECCQ on his recent research on this topic, and then a panel discussion with key people working in this space. It was an excellent introductory session, and the first in a conversation series that will continue through 2025, engaging more widely to collaboratively develop effective responses to this issue. 

The Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific was a huge milestone in bringing together 20 Local Government Areas concerned about reforms in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. Of note too are the other valuable relationships established with the NSW Office of the Antislavery Commissioner; alongside consultations the Alliance has had with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. Our Advocacy efforts are envisaged to grow into 2025, particularly working across respective Departments administering PALM, with the objective of deriving wins for the workers, host communities and businesses.  

Pictured: Welcoming Workplaces Manager Ken Dachi and Campaigns and Communications Manager Kate Leaney with Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Hon Pat Conroy MP

Find out more about the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific here

We’re delighted to work with the newly formed Welcoming Universities Student Advisory Committee, recognising that a key critical element of advancing welcoming univerisities is a supported, and championed student voice.  

To acknowledge the depth of lived and living experience and expertise, elected students for the committee receive a small yearly stipend to compensate them for time spent on their committee duties, and are also invited to engage a mentor from across the Welcoming Australia network to provide mentoring and advice in their career and life pursuits.  

The committee is still very new, but the experience so far has been hugely positive, with students sharing incredible insights and knowledge with Welcoming Universities to ensure that the initiative is reflective of student voice, and students benefitting from being included in wide-ranging conversations and programs. 

This year marked another adventurous, challenging, and rewarding chapter for the Welcoming Clubs team. Initially, we anticipated the conclusion of both the Welcome to the Game and Active Inclusion Club Mentor Projects in Melbourne, but due to its success and community value, the team has been successful in securing crucial funding to continue this important program with more programs and education workshops in 2025.

Alongside an exciting reactivation of Welcoming Clubs work and impact in Queensland this year, we’re also looking forward to launching two place-based, community-led programs as part of the Play Our Way program to promote equitable opportunities for women and girls to benefit from sport at all levels and locations.

Read the full Welcoming Clubs 2024 wrap-up here

The project will enhance employer and community readiness through data-informed analysis and workforce mapping, promote cultural safety, and improve work visa architecture. By identifying strengths and gaps, the initiative aims to create a network of ’employers of choice’ and publicly celebrate innovative practices in inclusivity. 

“Everyone benefits when employers create workplaces that promote retention, upskilling, inclusive employment practices, and build community partnerships,” said Aleem Ali, CEO of Welcoming Australia. 

“Local businesses are essential stakeholders in a whole-of-community approach to economic participation and social cohesion.”  

If you are a business, job seeker, or job service provider interested in getting involved in this project, please contact Welcoming Australia at wrrp@welcoming.org.au to discuss how the team can support you. 

The Workplace Regional Readiness Pilot is funded by the Workforce Connect Fund, supported by the Queensland Government’s Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032. 

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For more information, please contact: 
wrrp@welcoming.org.au
(07) 3160 3793
www.welcoming.org.au

For media enquiries, please contact: 
Kate Leaney 
Campaigns & Communications Manager 
kate@welcoming.org.au  
0411 712 930 

This exciting event is an opportunity for diverse audiences to learn about Yuggera language, heritage, identity, and belonging from respected Yuggera Elder, Aunty Kerry Charlton, and esteemed media makers Karina Hogan and Jenae Tien, who developed and produced the award-winning Bloodlines to Country podcast. 

This event brings together people from diverse backgrounds to reflect on the history of this place, the importance of truth telling and cultural understanding, to create connection and shared understanding.  

Taking place at the Queensland Museum – Kurilpa, at South Bank, a place where significant cultural and historic artefacts are held. This conversation will bring the past into the present, exploring the enduring legacy of language, of country, and of bloodlines in shaping identity. This important conversation is about knowing the story and the history of the place we now call home. 

“We felt so honoured to work with Aunty Kerry on this podcast, and love sharing it with new audiences and communities” explains Jenae Tien. “At a time when our nation is grappling with questions of identity and belonging, ‘Bloodlines to Country’ offers an opportunity to listen, learn, and reflect on the history of this place, and importance of reckoning with the past, telling the truth, and knowing the story of the place where you live”. 

The event reflects the 2024 Welcoming Week theme of #WhatBringsUsTogether, where guests are invited in a time of escalating global uncertainty and division to intentionally carve out moments to explore “What Brings Us Together”- over delicious food from FigJam & Co, shared conversation and deep listening and learning.  

This event will also include a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers. Media representatives are encouraged to attend for exclusive interview opportunities and to capture these compelling moments. 

Key Facts:

Welcoming Australia is thrilled to host the “Bloodlines to Country: In Conversation” event on Wednesday 11 September at the Queensland Museum, South Bank, Brisbane. 

This event will officially launch Welcoming Week in Queensland for 2024.

About us:

Welcoming Australia is a non-partisan movement and organisation committed to cultivating a culture of welcome and advancing an Australia where people of all backgrounds have equal opportunity to  belong, contribute and thrive.

Welcoming Week 2024: 13- 22 September
Through Welcoming Week, organisations and communities bring together neighbours of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of building welcoming and inclusive communities – for our shared future.

The 2024 Welcoming Week theme, #WhatBringsUsTogether, is a moment to consider and celebrate the work of advancing a welcoming Australia that happens in communities across the country every single day.

In a time of escalating global uncertainty and division, we believe it’s crucial to intentionally carve out moments to share “What Brings Us Together”.

Whether through shared meals, the camaraderie of sports, vibrant music celebrations, thought-provoking art exhibitions, intimate storytelling circles, enriching cultural exchanges, or meaningful community service projects, we look forward to seeing the creative ways you and your communities celebrate Welcoming Week.  

Let’s embark on a journey of exploration, focusing on what unites rather than divides us as we strive to build a more inclusive and compassionate world for all.

By bringing us together to celebrate our shared humanity, we can advance a more inclusive and welcoming Australia where everyone can belong, contribute, and thrive.

Learn more about Welcoming Cities at www.welcomingcities.org.au/. 

Learn more about Welcoming Week here: www.welcomingweek.org.au 

Learn more about Bloodlines to Country here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/bloodlines-to-country/id1697438861  

Contact details:

For further comment, to arrange a media pass for the event, or further information contact: 
 
Cate Gilpin 
Coordinator (Qld), Welcoming Cities 
Coordinator, Welcoming Universities 
Welcoming Australia 
0411 562 103 
cate@welcoming.org.au  

 
Kate Leaney 
Campaigns & Communications Manager 
Welcoming Australia 
kate@welcoming.org.au | 0411 712 930 
 
Aleem Ali 
CEO 
Welcoming Australia 
aleem@welcoming.org.au | 0400 917 756 

This week, the City of Darebin was awarded the first Excelling Accreditation in the Welcoming Cities network.   

Welcoming Cities accreditation recognises the commitment local government organisations make to advancing inclusion in their community. The recognition of accreditation at the Excelling level highlights Council’s reputation as a sector leader in welcoming and inclusion practice, programs and initiatives. 

The City of Darebin has made that commitment to inclusion through:  

• becoming a member of Welcoming Cities in 2017  

• Key actions and contributions across all of council 

• benchmarking this process and becoming an accredited Welcoming City at the Excelling level, with an overall score of 4.7 out of a possible 5.   
   

This successful accreditation acknowledges the significant work of Council and the Darebin community to make the City more welcoming and inclusive. Achieving Excelling level both reflects and builds on the City’s commitments to being a welcoming city to all. These commitments include equitable access to services and facilities, safe and inclusive neighbourhoods, economic development opportunities, and respect for human rights for all people who live in and visit the city. It also provides an opportunity to plan for further improvement and change. 

Welcoming Australia’s CEO, Aleem Ali, congratulated Darebin City Council, the first to be awarded accreditation at the Excelling level. He said, 

“Darebin has a long-term approach to this work. They understand that welcoming and inclusion are about continuous engagement and learning, and we congratulate them on their success. Becoming the first council in Australia to be accredited at the Excelling level underlines their role as a leader in welcoming work in Australia.” 

Responding to the accreditation, City of Darebin Mayor, Councillor Susanne Newton, said, 

“I am so proud that Darebin is the first Council in Australia to be awarded ‘Excelling’ status in our Welcoming Cities accreditation. This reflects what I see every day in our community: a place where everyone can find their people, a place to call home and connect with community, whatever their background. This award acknowledges the commitment and significant work of Council and the Darebin community to build a truly inclusive and equitable City.  

We are fortunate in Darebin to be home to people from over 112 countries who speak more than 88 languages, and we are always striving to be a city where everyone feels welcome, respected and empowered to contribute to our wonderful community.” 

Welcoming Cities is a national network of cities, shires, towns and municipalities who are committed to an Australia where everyone can belong and participate in social, cultural, economic and civic life. Currently, 87 Local Councils are members of the Welcoming Cities network across Australia, representing almost 50% of Australia’s population.   

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Learn more about Welcoming Cities at www.welcomingcities.org.au/. 

Learn more about Welcoming Cities Accreditation here:  www.welcomingcities.org.au/accreditation/  

For further comment or information contact: 
 
Shannon Reid 
Corporate Communications Officer 
City of Darebin  
Shannon.Reid@darebin.vic.gov.au l 03 8470 8888  
 
Kate Leaney 
Campaigns & Communications Manager 
Welcoming Australia 
kate@welcoming.org.au | 0411 712 930 
 
Aleem Ali 
CEO 
Welcoming Australia 
aleem@welcoming.org.au | 0400 917 756 

As the Welcoming Universities network reaches 11 members across four states, we are also pleased to announce the official launch of the Welcoming Universities Standard, marking a significant milestone in its mission to foster inclusivity and belonging within the higher education sector. Alongside this achievement, Welcoming Universities proudly welcomes four new members over the last six months: the University of Wollongong, Bond University, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and Curtin University. 

The Welcoming Universities Standard represents a comprehensive framework designed to guide universities in creating welcoming, inclusive, and supportive campuses for all students and staff. It sets benchmarks and best practices across various aspects of university life, including admissions, curriculum, student support services, and community engagement. 

“We are thrilled to launch the Welcoming Universities Standard and to welcome our newest members,” said Welcoming Australia CEO Aleem Ali. “These universities have demonstrated a commitment to fostering a culture of inclusivity and belonging, and we are excited to collaborate with them to further enhance belonging in Australian universities.” 

Welcoming Universities now boasts a network of 11 member institutions committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. The collective efforts of these universities through the Welcoming Universities initiative are poised to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape, ensuring that every student and staff member feels valued and supported. On recently joining Welcoming Universities, Jo Tilly (Director, UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion) shared that.  

“UTS are proud to join Welcoming Universities! Joining with like-minded colleagues offers a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our efforts in enhancing cultural diversity and anti-racism in our campus community.” 

 
Dr Elaine Laforteza (Cultural Diversity Project Officer, UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion) added, “Consulting on the Welcoming Universities Standard has already proved very helpful for shaping our thinking for our Cultural Diversity and Anti-Racism Action Plan, which is currently under development.” 

In conjunction with the launch, Welcoming Universities also announces the inaugural Welcoming Universities Summit, scheduled for October 22 at the University of Technology Sydney. This summit will bring together the higher education sector to engage in meaningful discussions about creating welcoming environments, promoting diversity, and enhancing community engagement within universities. 

“The Welcoming Universities Summit will provide a platform for universities to share insights, strategies, and innovations in fostering inclusive campuses,” added Cate Gilpin. “We look forward to productive conversations that will drive positive change and promote a sense of belonging for all”, said Cate Gilpin, Coordinator of Welcoming Universities. 

For more information about Welcoming Universities, the Welcoming Universities Standard, or the upcoming Welcoming Universities Summit, please visit www.welcominguniversities.org.au.  

About Welcoming Universities: Welcoming Universities is a collaborative initiative promoting inclusivity and belonging in higher education. By setting standards and fostering collaboration among member institutions, Welcoming Universities aims to create supportive environments where all students and staff thrive. 

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For further comment or information contact: 

 
Kate Leaney 
Campaigns & Communications Manager 
Welcoming Australia 
kate@welcoming.org.au | 0411 712 930 

 
Aleem Ali 
CEO 
Welcoming Australia 
aleem@welcoming.org.au | 0400 917 756 

Panda Wong is a poet who uses humour to dissect the emotional fallout of life and loss. Her poetry is informed by the performance of online life, found poetry (think Gumtree ads, Lana Del Rey posts and her mum’s Facebook posts) and the absurd that can be seen in the direst of situations.

Achut Thuc is a Sudanese/South Sudanese writer and storyteller. Her work has been featured in the Fringe, the Melbourne Spoken Word Festival and at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival. She writes on a range of issues such as identity, racism, mental illness, relationships and healing.

Sammaneh Poursh is a Queer, genderfluid Muslim who arrived in Australia as a refugee after the Iranian Revolution. Sammaneh’s work plays with identity, ritual, the body, diaspora, Middle Eastern and Western histories, and comedy as a way to address trauma.

This conversation is based on Welcoming Australia’s Campfire Stories event series, funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Premier and Cabinet. 

Supported by:

In this podcast, Sista Zai Zanda explores a love story between First Nations and Hungarian cultures. Paola and Anthony Balla explain how they met, how they learnt from each other and how culture and family influences how they live and love today.

Paola Balla is a Wemba-Wemba & Gunditjmara woman & also of Italian & Chinese bloodlines. She is a visual artist, curator, writer, lecturer & has her Doctorate from Victoria University & lectures with Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Centre. Her art & research focuses on Black women’s art & activism. Paola works in community arts & is a regular guest speaker & published writer. Paola has a Bachelor of Education-Nyerna Studies-Indigenous Major, VU, Post Grad Dip & Masters Community Cultural Development Praxis.

Anthony Balla acknowledges his privilege as a white settler and son of a Hungarian refugee. He is an educator at Victoria University & lectures pre-service teachers in education, technologies and creative practices. Anthony was a public programs officer at Melbourne Museum for 19 years, including producing programs, shows and events in the Children’s Museum and Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Anthony has a Bachelor of Arts Kyinandoo, and a Grad Diploma in Education. He’s currently completing his Masters of Education.

This conversation is based on Welcoming Australia’s Campfire Stories event series, funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Premier and Cabinet. 

Supported by:

In this podcast, Sista Zai Zanda talks to three inspiring women about culture, food and their connections to Country. Listen in as they exchange cooking ideas, their love of native ingredients, and heart-warming tales of how to bring family and friends together through food.

Jennifer Tran is a performance designer, community engagement worker and project coordinator of Chinese heritage. She uses conversations around cooking, food and recipes to create bonds between women seniors, their families and communities. Seeking to rectify the loneliness of Covid-19 experienced by seniors accustomed to the company of their family and friends,  Jennifer embarked on Teta’s Kitchen, a series of videos that share stories about recipes and cooking methods. Jennifer is also creating a sculptural garden at Westvale Community Garden and a Mama’s Kitchen program with parents at Deer Park North Primary School. These communal events become in themselves, their story. 

Fipe Preuss is a Samoan entrepreneur and Marine/Environmental Activist.  Co-founder of Living Koko an eco-friendly, no waste cacao manufacturing space that supports rural economic opportunities in her homelands. Phoebe advocates for culturally appropriate foods and food sovereignty sharing the importance of understanding what is fuelling our bodies and spirit. 

Nornie Bero is the executive chef and business owner of Mabu Mabu, a cafe, catering and retail food business celebrating First Nations food in Australia. Nornie is a Meriam woman from Mer Island, her style of cooking is all about generosity and flavour and she is currently on a mission to make Indigenous produce a part of everyone’s kitchen pantry. 

This conversation is based on Welcoming Australia’s Campfire Stories event series, funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Premier and Cabinet. 

Supported by:

The Planning for Welcoming and Inclusive Communities: Guidelines for Regional Growth was developed by Welcoming Cities and the Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre (MMIC).

Mr Hinchliffe said the resource would be invaluable to councils.

“I know there has been growing interest, particularly from our councils, around how to make regional communities more welcoming for new arrivals and to have the infrastructure in place to cater for growth,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“These guidelines will better inform all local governments and other stakeholders about ways to plan for greater regional settlement in order to enrich and revitalise their communities.

“We have already helped three councils through Regional Partnerships Projects in developing strategies around welcoming new residents into their communities.

“Balonne, Bulloo and Paroo shire councils have been supported with $900,000 across three years to consult, plan and commence initiatives.

“We all know that we are lucky to call Queensland home and that regional areas are wonderful places to live, work and to raise a family.

“There is also no doubt that a welcoming community that makes new arrivals want to come and stay, can also benefit through the economic boost generated by population growth and new labour and skills.”

Welcoming Australia Chief Executive Aleem Ali said helping local governments was key to successful regional settlement.

“Of all tiers of government, local councils understand the complexity and nuance of their community and are best placed to facilitate a whole-of-community approach to advancing welcoming and inclusive communities,” Mr Ali said.

“These guidelines will assist regional, rural and remote councils to plan for growth.”

For more information, visit www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au/welcoming-communities

Media: 0417 296 116

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