SSI welcomes establishment of Multicultural Affairs Office

Leading refugee resettlement and multicultural services provider SSI has welcomed the establishment of an Office of Multicultural Affairs, saying it is a strong signal the Albanese government is committed to strengthening support for a stronger multicultural Australia.

Australia is now more diverse – ethnically, linguistically, culturally – than ever with the 2021 Census reporting that just under half the population are migrants or have a parent born overseas, and 5.5 million people (1 in 4 households) speak a language other than English in the home.

A Federal Office of Multicultural Affairs overseen by a cabinet Minister is a logical step to address this demographic reality and the specialised responses needed to meet future challenges.

Working in partnership with community service organisations like SSI, the Office will play a vital role in delivering specialised services to newcomers and ensuring that policy and program settings are fit-for-purpose, co-designed and responsive to specific needs and local contexts.

SSI General Manager Newcomers, Settlement and Integration Yamamah Agha said the multicultural and community sector as a whole had called for a dedicated office in its joint submission signed by more than 80 organisations, including SSI, to the Multicultural Framework Review commissioned by the Labor government in its last term.

Ms Agha said the Office of Multicultural Affairs would help ensure a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to multicultural policy and programs, while driving cross-portfolio change and leading the development of a unified commitment with state and territory governments.

“The Multicultural Framework Review report offers an excellent opportunity to reset and advance a stronger multicultural Australia. There is a real window of opportunity to drive systems reform by implementing all 29 recommendations and SSI looks forward to working with the Federal Government, Minister Aly, our communities and peers to implement the Review’s progressive vision,” Ms Agha said.

Governments need to ensure the financial viability of specialised multicultural non-government organisations – small, medium and large – as they are an essential element of the social infrastructure to build a more inclusive multicultural Australia