From Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 June 2023 we celebrated Refugee Week with the theme of ‘Finding Freedom’.
Refugee Week provides a platform where positive images of refugees can be promoted in order to create a culture of welcome throughout the country. The ultimate aim of the celebration is to create better understanding between different communities and to encourage successful integration enabling refugees to live in safety and to continue making a valuable contribution to Australia.
more information here : Home - Refugee Week
Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background.
To get involved, visit Harmony week - Everyone belongs.
Watch this space for more details on events coming in March 2024
Citizenship ceremonies
On behalf of the Department of Home Affairs, Sutherland Shire Council hosts regular citizenship ceremonies to welcome new Australians into our community.
Translated COVID-19 Resources
- Translated COVID-19 resources by Multicultural NSW
- How to monitor your COVID-19 symptoms factsheet
- COVID-19 Symptom Checker downloadable graphics
- Decision aid (16+ years): Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Multicultural Health Connect - the first national helpline to help people in multicultural communities get health information and advice. The helpline is free and confidential, and run by workers with multicultural backgrounds.
In-language help is available by calling 1800 186 815, where callers speak with a trained worker who understands and respects their culture, needs and concerns, either in the preferred language of the caller or with the help of an interpreter.
Through this helpline callers can:
- get free health advice from a nurse
- find doctors, hospitals, support, and community health centres
- find nearby support services
learn about COVID-19, including how to get a vaccination, protect yourself and your family and manage your symptoms if you get COVID-19.
Multicultural Reference Group (MRG)
Sutherland Shire’s Multicultural Reference Group - PDF - 301 KB (MRG) is comprised of people from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background. The MRG provides a forum for residents from diverse backgrounds to address and advance multicultural issues.
The MRG advises Council to help with relevant and strategic decision making. MRG members also help to deliver Council initiatives, and advocate for additional or improved services for CALD and migrant communities.
If you are interested in joining the MRG, please contact communities@ssc.nsw.gov.au.
Sutherland Shire is a Refugee Welcome Zone. This means we are committed to:
- welcoming refugees into the community
- upholding the human rights of refugees
- demonstrating compassion for refugees
- enhancing cultural and religious diversity in the community.
Sutherland Shire diversity
- the four largest ancestries in 2021 were English, Australian, Irish and Italian
- 44 401 people (19.3%) were born overseas
- 14% of people speak another language
- Catholic, Anglican and Greek orthodox religions were the major religions.
(Source id.informed decisions)