Key Facts:
- The Welcoming Cities Awards for Change, now in its fifth year, recognised local governments, organisations and individuals across Australia for their work in building inclusive communities, with the 2026 ceremony held in Adelaide on 19th May.
- The City of Greater Bendigo won the Local Government award for redesigning council systems to improve accessibility for multicultural communities, introducing multilingual resources, simplified communications and diversified grants panels.
- Hume Central Dallas Basketball Club received the Organisation award for creating affordable, culturally inclusive pathways into sport for diverse young people in Melbourne's north, growing to 22 teams with 87 per cent of participants never having previously played organised sport.
- Madly Bodin of Waverley Council won the Individual award for embedding diversity and inclusion into everyday council practice through community engagement, storytelling and initiatives such as the Perfect Strangers and Culture Waves programs.
- The 2026 Welcoming Australia Medal was awarded to Sarah Scarce, whose Aqua English Project has taught more than 44,000 people from over 44 cultural backgrounds to swim, and Nader Ibrahim, co-founder of One Culture and co-developer of Football Life, a grassroots youth programme bringing together more than 200 young people from diverse backgrounds in Adelaide.
- The awards were presented by the Hon Hieu Van Le, a long-time supporter of Welcoming Australia.
At the Welcoming Australia Symposium Opening Reception, local governments, organisations and community leaders across Australia were recognised for their work in creating more inclusive and connected communities, with the Welcoming Cities Awards for Change and Welcoming Australia Medals presented by the Hon Hieu Van Le AC.
The evening commenced with a stirring Welcome to Country from Jack Buckskin and Kuma Kaaru, followed by an incredible address from Hon Hieu Van Le AC, marking the 15 year anniversary of Welcoming Australia.
In its fifth year in 2026, the Welcoming Cities Awards for Change celebrate practical and community-led approaches that strengthen participation, belonging, and social cohesion.
The 2026 Welcoming Cities Award for Change – Local Government category was awarded to the City of Greater Bendigo, Victoria, for redesigning council systems to improve accessibility and participation for multicultural communities.
The council recognised that while its internal systems were designed with good intentions, many processes had evolved over time to unintentionally favour people who were fluent in English, familiar with Western administrative systems, and confident engaging with government. This meant that some community members, particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, encountered barriers that prevented them from participating fully or benefiting equally from council services. What emerged was a clear need for systems change: a deliberate shift from processes built around assumed familiarity to ones purposely designed for equity. In response, it introduced multilingual resources, simplified communications, diversified grants panels, and strengthened staff capability around inclusion and lived experience.
The change has not only improved access and participation for multicultural communities, but also demonstrated that when systems are designed for people facing the greatest barriers, they work better for everyone.
The 2026 Welcoming Cities Award for Change – Organisation category was awarded to Hume Central Dallas Basketball Club, Victoria, for creating accessible pathways into organised sport for culturally diverse young people and families in Melbourne's north.
The club developed a community-led model focused on affordability, cultural inclusion, and relationship-building. In less than two years, it has grown to 22 teams, with 87 per cent of participants having never previously played organised sport.
The club worked directly with local young people to design a model that reflected the aspirations and realities of the community itself. Through youth-led design, culturally inclusive practices, affordable participation and intentional relationship-building, the club created an environment where families felt welcomed, safe and connected from the moment they joined.
The judges recognised the club's innovative and community-led approach to belonging, inclusion and participation, and its extraordinary impact in creating pathways for young people and families to thrive through sport.
The 2026 Welcoming Cities Award – Individual was awarded to Madly Bodin, Waverley Council, NSW, for embedding diversity and inclusion into everyday council practice through community engagement, storytelling and systems change initiatives.
Through initiatives such as the Perfect Strangers program and the Culture Waves youth program, Madly has created opportunities for connection, empathy and participation across diverse communities. Her approach prioritises listening, responding to community feedback, and building trust through small but meaningful actions that help people feel heard, included and empowered to contribute.
The judges recognised Madly's thoughtful and innovative approach to inclusion, her commitment to embedding equity into organisational culture, and her ability to foster belonging through empathy, storytelling and community-led practice.
Welcoming Australia also awarded the 2026 Welcoming Australia Medal to Sarah Scarce and Nadar Ibrahim for their longstanding contributions to cultivating a welcoming Australia where everyone belongs, thrives and shapes their shared future.
The Welcoming Australia Medal recognises individuals who have played a significant and often unassuming role in developing Welcoming Australia as a movement and organisation. Since 2018, it has been awarded to individuals who have been instrumental in shaping Welcoming Australia and whose legacy deserves to be honoured.
Sarah Scarce is the Director of The Aqua English Project. Co-founded with her mother as a drowning prevention program for refugees, migrants and new arrivals to Australia, the program has evolved into a nationally recognised initiative focused on aquatics education, social inclusion and empowerment. More than 44,000 people from over 44 different cultural backgrounds have learned to swim through the program.
Sarah has worked tirelessly to break down barriers facing refugees, migrants and new arrivals, while advocating for culturally inclusive aquatic environments and stronger pathways to employment, participation and belonging. Her work has demonstrated that swimming and aquatic participation are not simply about safety, but about connection, confidence, opportunity and inclusion in Australian life.
Through initiatives including the co-development of Inclusion Guidelines for Public Aquatic Facilities and new community-led aquatic projects, Sarah continues to advocate for accessible and welcoming public spaces that reflect Australia's changing communities.
The Welcoming Australia Medal recognises Sarah's decades-long commitment to inclusion for migrant and multicultural communities.
Nader Ibrahim is a co-founder of One Culture and a passionate community leader whose work has brought young people from diverse backgrounds together in meaningful and lasting ways. Originally from Egypt, Nader migrated to Australia in 2009 as an international student and has since become a trusted and active leader across South Australia's multicultural communities.
With extensive experience across youth services, mental health, disability and settlement support, Nader has dedicated his career to strengthening inclusion and belonging for young people and families. He is perhaps best known for co-developing Football Life, one of Adelaide's most successful grassroots youth programs, which brought together more than 200 young people from diverse cultural backgrounds through sport.
Nader's work has consistently demonstrated the power of football and community connection to break down barriers, foster friendships, build confidence and create meaningful opportunities for participation and belonging.
The Welcoming Australia Medal recognises Nader's ongoing contribution to social cohesion, his leadership within multicultural communities, and his deep commitment to supporting young people to feel welcomed and connected.
The awards were presented at the 2026 Welcoming Australia Symposium in Adelaide on Tuesday 19th May
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.
