Page 88 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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Another key program which showcases the ACT government’s ongoing commitment to supporting and strengthening our city’s multicultural community is the annual ACT participation multicultural grants program. Each year under the program, $260,000 is shared amongst dozens of multicultural community organisations. These grants enable communities to both participate in and celebrate at the annual National Multicultural Festival, as well as to organise a vast range of celebrations to host and mark various national days and cultural events.
Over the past four years, our government has delivered funding of more than $1 million to support initiatives such as a Japanese autumn festival, the purchase of resources for a Mandarin language radio program, a Holi celebration for the Indian community, an Asian women’s community newsletter, royal blind society brochures in languages other than English, mosque open days, Sri Lankan new year festivities, Diwali celebrations, and Swiss language radio broadcasting. There are so many initiatives to highlight. This is just a small number of the many hundreds of community-led events and programs the ACT government continues to invest in for the enjoyment and participation of all Canberrans.
The key policy driver underpinning the funding guidelines of the ACT participation multicultural grants program is for applicants to demonstrate a focus on projects, activities or initiatives which contribute to strengthening, supporting and promoting our multicultural community and increasing social inclusion.
I stand proudly with my ACT government colleagues today as we look to the annual National Multicultural Festival this weekend, knowing that we actively support and promote a city which not only embraces its language and cultural diversity but also derives many benefits from it on both a local and a global scale.
Discussion concluded.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Gentleman) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Focus ACT
MS LEE (Kurrajong) (4.21): It does seem like a lifetime ago, but this afternoon I rise to reflect on the Focus ACT Christmas party which I had the pleasure of attending in December last year. Focus ACT is a disability service provider which works with clients to provide flexible and workable plans for supported independent living, shared and supported housing and even dietary plans for people with a disability. Their Christmas party showed how clients of Focus ACT are not just a number on a spreadsheet but are a real family. In accepting my invite, it was like being invited to a family Christmas dinner.
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