The City of Greater Bendigo has been recognised for its ongoing commitment and efforts to being a welcoming and inclusive City by winning the Local Government award at the 2023 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence.
Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said staff from the City’s Community Inclusion unit attended and accepted the award at Government House last night.
"The City is delighted to receive this acknowledgement of its commitment and achievements since becoming the first local government in Australia to become an accredited Welcoming City in 2020," Cr Metcalf said.
"It’s great recognition of the work that has and continues to take place across the Greater Bendigo organisation and also through the strong partnerships that have been formed with other community organisations.
"Greater Bendigo’s ethnic and cultural diversity has increased over the last two decades.
"With this increasing diversity, the City has worked hard to ensure equitable access, social inclusion and respect for human rights for all people who live and visit the municipality through a number of City policies and strategic plans including the Council Plan, Mir wimbul, Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 and the Social Justice Framework 2022-2032.
"The City's strategic plans, which were developed in consultation with the community, include a range of activities and initiatives that promote and sustain social, cultural and economic inclusion.
"Greater Bendigo has earnt a reputation of being a great place to live and work and I’m very proud of the partnerships between business, cultural and faith groups and the City’s services to increase the ability for culturally diverse people to contribute to the wider community and the life of the City which ensures greater social cohesion for everyone."