Programs
On this page
Government programs respond to Australia's cultural diversity, in partnership with governments and community organisations, seeking to meet the challenges, maximise the benefits and promote unity for all Australians.
Diverse Australia Program
The Diverse Australia Program is primarily a community-based educational initiative for all Australians and aims to address issues of cultural, racial and religious intolerance by promoting respect, fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone.
The Diverse Australia Program is implemented through four key elements, including three funding schemes and a public information strategy, which includes Harmony Day on 21 March.
See: Diverse Australia Program
Access and Equity Strategy
The Australian Government aims to achieve fairer and more accessible government services and programs through its Access and Equity Strategy. The strategy seeks to promote fairness and responsiveness in the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of government services in a culturally diverse society.
Access and equity reporting is an important part of the Access and Equity Strategy. Reports on agencies’ access and equity performance have been tabled in both houses of parliament since 1993, in accordance with the government-endorsed Recommendation 30 of the 1992 Access and Equity Evaluation Report.
See: Access and Equity Reports
See also: Access and Equity Resources
Local government
Local government plays an important role in responding to diversity in local communities. This web page has case studies on local government initiatives.
See: Local Government
Links with communities
The Australian Government is committed to building and maintaining effective linkages with our diverse communities to encourage community harmony, social cohesion and participation by all in community life. The government engages closely with community and government organisations across Australia to foster connections and to identify and manage community relations issues.
Community Liaison Officers (CLOs), based in all the department’s state and territory offices, maintain contact with numerous community organisations and representatives. CLOs identify key issues within communities and facilitate productive two-way communication between the government and Australia’s diverse ethnic communities. Community information sourced through CLO activities is used to support and refine cultural diversity policy development and implementation and enhance government programs.
Community liaison and engagement is also pursued through the government’s relationship with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA). FECCA is funded to provide advice on Australia’s diverse communities.
The Community Information Summaries describe overseas-born Australians by birthplace, and their descendants who are living in Australia.
See: Community Information Summaries
National Action Plan
The National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security (NAP) is a coordinated government and community approach aimed at addressing increased global, religious and political extremism threatening Australia's national security and social cohesion.
See: A National Action Plan
See also:
Settlement Grants Program
Whole-of-Government Approach