Whittlesea is home to migrants from more than 140 countries, making it one of the state’s most culturally diverse municipalities.
And last week the council launched its third Multicultural Action Plan (MAP) for accessible and culturally appropriate programs and services over the next four years.
Whittlesea’s community leader and network chairwoman Chantal Kabamba, guest speaker at the launch, encouraged people to come together and “be part of the whole society”.
“Regardless of where you’re from, all you need in life is peace, harmony, love and your health,” Ms Kabamba said. “You can’t [achieve] all that by yourself; you need others.”
The 2014-18 MAP is designed to work in conjunction with existing council strategies and is linked to Shaping Our Future, the community’s vision to the year 2030.
The plan’s focus is on creating a workplace at the council that’s free of racial discrimination, that conducts events celebrating and promoting multiculturalism, develops networks and partnerships with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and evaluates and monitors the plan’s progress with CALD communities.
Council data revealed more than 40 per cent of residents spoke a language other than English at home and 30 per cent didn’t speak English at all.
Ms Kabamba said it was important for CALD communities to band together and individuals to seek help when required.
“I like to compare [leaving your country] to a branch that has been cut off from the tree,” she said. “That branch needs to be replanted, so it can blossom and provide shade. And you fertilise by networking.”
