Our Multicultural Community

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Mildura Rural City Council is a vibrant multicultural community with 79 different nationalities officially recognised. Council has a range of services to support residents born overseas and who speak languages other than English. This includes new citizens, migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees.

Refugee Welcome Zone

Mildura Rural City Council was declared a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2002. This declaration is a public commitment in spirit to:

  • Welcoming refugees into our community
  • Upholding the human rights of refugees
  • Demonstrating compassion for refugees
  • Enhancing cultural and religious diversity in our community

Find out more about what it means to be a Refugee Welcome Zone here.

Council works closely with local service providers that provide settlement support to refugees and asylum seekers. This includes hosting regular “welcome” morning teas to welcome people newly arrived in our community.

Council is also a proud signatory of the Racism - It Stops with Me campaign, and a member of Welcoming Cities

Anti-Racism Strategy

In April 2022, Council hosted an Anti-Racism Yarning Circle community conversation facilitated by Stan Grant. Having started this important conversation, Council is now in developing a community Anti-Racism Strategy.

In late 2022 the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) facilitated some group consultation sessions with community members in Mildura. The consultation report, developed by VEOHRC assisted Council to understand racism issues experienced within our community. An Anti-Racism Strategy is now being developed, with actions that address the issues experienced by our community members. The Anti-Racism Strategy will then be implemented; more information about this is coming.

Citizenship

Are you thinking about becoming an Australian Citizen? Council conducts Citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Australian Government every two months. These ceremonies give new residents the opportunity to celebrate their decision to become an Australia citizen. You can find out more and download application forms here.

Language Services

If you need help when speaking to Council, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Mildura Rural City Council on 03 5018 8100.

You can also request an interpreter when you visit Council Service Centres. Council is open 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. 

Council has been initiating the publishing of information on languages other than English, or in plain English language for CALD communities.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) storyboards

We have developed some great tools to help everyone in our community understand how Council, and our community, works. 

CALD COM storyboards help explain complex issues clearly using pictures and illustrations in simple English. The storyboards were developed by Moreland City Council and adapted by our Council with simple modifications to suit the needs of our community. To find out more view our current storyboards below under the Related Information heading below.

Additional storyboards in relation to hazards and emergencies are available on the Community Preparedness page of this website.

Support available

Within Council’s Community Wellbeing team, Council has a staff member that can help support CALD community members if they are having difficulty accessing Council services. They can also assist CALD community groups with events and projects that promote inclusion and wellbeing within our community. Contact Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Officer on (03) 5018 8545 if you would like further information.