Cardinia Shire Council recently adopted its second Cultural Diversity Plan in recognition of Cardinia Shire’s expanding culturally and linguistically diverse community.
Council’s first Cultural Diversity Plan, adopted in 2015, set out to create a welcoming, inclusive and accessible community for all, by ensuring Council’s services and programs were accessible, responsive and sensitive to the varied needs of the shire’s culturally diverse population.
The new Cultural Diversity Plan 2019–23 builds on the achievements of its predecessor and guides Council’s work in this area for the next four years.
The plan has been informed by and developed through extensive consultation via the shire’s first Multicultural Forum held in November 2018, as well as engagement with the Cardinia Shire Council Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Advisory Committee, Cardinia Shire’s interfaith Network, the CALD Network, and community members and groups at various consultation sessions and in an online survey.
Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jeff Springfield said the Cultural Diversity Plan ensures Council remains responsive to local needs and strives to enhance the richness of Cardinia Shire’s culturally diverse community.
“This plan is demonstrative of Council’s continued commitment to supporting our growing culturally diverse community, with an aim to promote and facilitate good multicultural practice and leadership within our community,” Cr Springfield said.
“Identifying four strategic priorities, Welcoming diversity, Building connections, Promoting participation, and Sharing outcomes, this plan will focus our attention on ways we can continue to build strong and healthy communities that celebrate and nurture our cultural diversity.”
