Welcoming Australia Secures Multicultural Peak Body Project Funding
Melbourne, 15 July 2025 — Welcoming Australia is excited to announce its recent success in securing a Multicultural Peak Body Project Funding (MPBPF) grant from the Australian Government. This partnership marks a significant step in the organisation's mission to connect and advance institutions and communities nationwide, where people of all backgrounds have equal opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.
Although Welcoming Australia has not traditionally been recognised as a peak body, the organisation remains committed to complementing and partnering with established peaks, such as the Settlement Council, Diversity Council, Refugee Council, and Ethnic Communities Council.
Welcoming Australia already leads and facilitates an active community network through its member councils, sports codes & clubs, universities and workplaces. Over the next four years, the organisation will also undertake several key activities aimed at empowering communities across the country, including:
- Facilitating Communities of Practice
- Delivering capacity and capability training
- Mapping the challenges and opportunities for grassroots multicultural organisations
- Undertaking stakeholder consultation and providing advice to the Government on priority matters, such as multicultural policy and program design
Welcoming Australia recently hosted its 10th National Symposium, bringing together international, national, and local practitioners, policy-makers, researchers, business innovators, and civic leaders to share and discuss the challenges, benefits, and opportunities of migration, settlement, cultural diversity, and inclusion.
Featuring keynote presentations from Pat Anderson AO, Dr James O'Donnell, and Pádraig Ó Tuama, the two-day event in Western Sydney considered the broad theme "where everyone can belong" and what it might require for Australian institutions and communities to address population and economic challenges in an increasingly polarised world.
Quote from the CEO of the Settlement Council of Australia, Maria Dimopoulos AM: "The Settlement Council has supported the work of Welcoming Australia since the launch of Welcoming Cities in 2016 and recognises the vital role of receiving communities in ensuring settlement success. Local councils, community sports clubs, universities, and employers all play a crucial part in creating welcoming environments, and Welcoming Australia has actively led that work with vision and impact."
Quote from the Mayor of Mount Isa City Council, Peta MacRae:
"As a member of the Welcoming Cities initiative and Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific, we proudly support Welcoming Australia's successful peak body funding, which reflects their commitment to fostering inclusive communities where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to thrive. In Mount Isa, we celebrate our diversity and recognise that embracing different cultures enriches our community and strengthens our social fabric."
Quote from the Welcoming Australia CEO, Aleem Ali: "We are excited by the possibilities of this partnership with the Australian Government. Building on the amazing work that happens in communities each and every day, we are committed to ensuring that all Australians, regardless of their background, have a voice in shaping and contributing to our society. Together, we can build a more inclusive future."
Quote from the Welcoming Australia Chair, Dr Sonja Hood AM: "This funding underscores the pivotal role of Welcoming Australia in fostering collaboration across sectors and communities. We are dedicated to supporting the country's rich diversity and involving people from all backgrounds and geographies in the conversation about our collective identity."
