Purpose: Developing an Intercultural Maribyrnong Strategy
Stimulus/Rationale:
In October 2018 Maribyrnong City Council officially started the process towards full membership of the Intercultural Cities Programme, an initiative of the Council of Europe. Since, the City Council has engaged in the development of the Australasia Intercultural Cities Network, which provides an additional context to the Council of Europe Framework. In December of 2019 the City Council endorsed its first Intercultural Cities Policy, going on to develop an Intercultural Maribyrnong Strategy.
Process:
Working with its multicultural communities in an intercultural way to be an Intercultural City is a whole of organisation commitment for Maribyrnong. Its Intercultural policy endorses the following key elements of intercultural practice:
- Builds on the foundations of multiculturalism.
- Respects differences.
- Acts at every opportunity to bring together people of different cultural, language and faith backgrounds.
- Reduces risks and opportunities for divisive politics.
- Building skills not just about engagement but also relationship building.
- By promoting and enabling contact with cultural diversity, the City Council encourages all cultures to thrive.
- Migrant, refugee and Aboriginal communities are an asset and integral part of the diverse social, cultural and economic fabric of contemporary Maribyrnong.
- First Peoples’ perspectives must be included in cross-cultural dialogue.
The Intercultural Maribyrnong Policy Statement sits within a wider Intercultural Maribyrnong Strategy that has been developed starting from stakeholder workshops from 2020-2021.
A Draft Intercultural Maribyrnong Strategy was endorsed for engagement by the Council in June 2023. The draft Strategy identifies three key themes:
- Intercultural capacity and capability;
- Active participation and citizenship;
- Partnerships, advocacy and collaborations.
There are eleven objectives that fall under these themes. The draft Strategy is supported by an action plan that details eight proposed actions to achieve some of the objectives within the first year.
Community feedback was gathered between August and October 2023. Feedback is currently being incorporated and the Council will consider the Strategy for adoption in December 2023.
Key reference documents: Draft Intercultural Maribyrnong Strategy 2023-2026
