Intro
The Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS) acknowledges the Aboriginal people throughout Western Australia as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands, waters, and communities in which we operate. CITS is committed to developing strong working relationships with Aboriginal people and is proud to celebrate the cultural diversity, strength and resilience of Aboriginal people, and is deeply grateful for the contributions they make to the state of Western Australia. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal people and their cultures, and to Elders past and present.
activities for locals and visitors to the state.
This publication is current at March 2026
© State of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
Western Australia is one of the most culturally diverse places on Earth, with people from all over the globe choosing to call this great State home. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and it is reflected in the cultural and linguistic richness of our communities and our workforce.
As the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS), we are proud to bring together portfolios that celebrate creativity, culture, sport, recreation, and tourism. These areas work hand in hand to showcase Western Australia’s unique identity and foster a vibrant, inclusive community.
I am pleased to present CITS’ first Multicultural Plan 2026–29.
This plan sets out our commitment to building an inclusive, equitable and harmonious Western Australia — where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging and has the opportunity to participate and contribute. It builds on the achievements of previous multicultural initiatives and takes us further toward ensuring our operations, services and programs are accessible and welcoming to all.
For the plan to succeed, it is essential that everyone at CITS understands its objectives and actively contributes to its implementation. Multiculturalism, inclusion, participation and diversity are foundational to our work, and I look forward to collaborating with our talented team, industry partners and communities to bring these principles to life.
As the home of the Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI), CITS has a proud history of supporting cultural diversity through initiatives such as the Community Languages Program, which strengthens language schools and teacher development; the Community Language Teacher of the Year Award, celebrating excellence in language and culture education; and the Inclusive Participation Grants Program, promoting diversity and inclusion in sport and recreation.
This plan also reflects our commitment within our own organisation. In 2025, more than a quarter of our staff reported being born overseas, representing 53 different countries of origin, with nearly one in five employees born in a country where English is not the primary language. This diversity enriches our workplace and strengthens our ability to serve the community.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the development of this inaugural CITS Multicultural Plan, including the young artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds whose artwork throughout this document expresses their hopes and visions for the future of our State.
I look forward to sharing our progress and successes as we continue to build an inclusive and welcoming Western Australia — an extraordinary place to live, work, play, explore and create.
Director General
Western Australia is an extraordinary place to live, work, play, create and explore — where imagination shapes our future.
To deliver exceptional experiences and services that make Western Australia vibrant, healthy, connected and prosperous.
Accountable — We deliver on our commitments, act resourcefully and strive for continuous improvement.
Inclusive — We embrace diversity, engage with respect and value authentic connections.
Collaborative — We work together and leverage our strengths, talent and perspectives.
Innovative — We are bold and reimagine possibilities through curiosity, creativity and adaptability.
From 1 July 2025, as part of WA Government’s Public Sector Reform (PSR), the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries became CITS, reflecting its new focus on Creative Industries, Tourism, Sport and Recreation, and Multicultural Interests. As part of PSR, the responsibilities for Local Government and Racing, Gaming and Liquor moved to the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety. Additionally, Tourism WA and the Tourism Investment Delivery Division were transferred from the former Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to CITS, strengthening alignment between tourism and cultural portfolios.
CITS acknowledges that Aboriginal peoples, as First Peoples of Australia, have a unique place in society. Through Aboriginal History WA, CITS provides research services to support Aboriginal people in accessing personal and family records. CITS also contributes to cross-government initiatives to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cultural development.
Beyond program delivery, CITS leads the planning, funding, and maintenance of major cultural and sporting infrastructure, oversees the State Records Office, and has spearheaded the development of the Aboriginal Cultural Centre. All CITS’ functions are supported by a strong internal framework of corporate and strategic and executive services, ensuring effective and efficient delivery across our portfolios.
Throughout this plan, you will find case studies that showcase the work undertaken by CITS to support and empower CaLD communities. These examples highlight practical initiatives, collaborative approaches, and successful outcomes that demonstrate our commitment to fostering inclusion, building capacity, and encouraging active participation across diverse cultural groups. By reflecting on these achievements, we aim to provide inspiration and guidance for future actions that continue to strengthen engagement and equity.
CITS plays a pivotal role in supporting regional communities across Western Australia, through a strong commitment to place based services, active community participation grants and co-design. Approximately 10% of regional residents come from a multicultural background. While there is no single piece of legislation in Western Australia that mandates migrants to settle in regional areas, various government policies encourage and support it, particularly for skilled migrants. Programs such as WA Skilled Migrant Job Connect and Regional Settlement Services are likely to contribute to a growing number of multicultural families settling in regional communities.
CITS provides a vital service to regional communities across the state. Our 10 offices across 9 regions play an important role in the coordination of CITS activities in regional Western Australia. This is achieved through people and organisational development projects, local partnerships and funding support for facilities and programs.
Through tourism initiatives, CITS not only fosters cultural inclusion but also strengthens local communities by supporting employment in the tourism hospitality sectors.
CITS also provides services to the Indian Ocean Territories under arrangements with the Australian Government.
CITS has a place-based focus on collaborative, long-term approaches to build thriving communities. This is particularly apparent in the grant programs that CITS administers, to increase opportunities for regional people to participate in the community across the State’s diverse regions. We pursue ongoing engagement with regional stakeholders to create strong partnerships with community government and not-for-profit organisations.
These integrated efforts reflect CITS’ commitment to fostering inclusion and opportunity, which is essential as Western Australia continues to evolve as a diverse and multicultural state.
Figure 1. CITS locations across Western Australia
Social cohesion is considered the key ingredient to addressing common challenges, such as social stability and environmental sustainability, and the health and wellbeing of members of a community.
The most significant piece of work in Australia on measuring social cohesion is conducted by the Scanlon Foundation. The Scanlon Index of Social Cohesion (SMI) has been used to measure social cohesion in Australia since 2007.
Figure 2.Social Cohesions Domain
Multiculturalism can refer respectively to our ethnic composition as a society, to our policies concerning citizenship and the integration of immigrants, and the values that shape our everyday cultural interactions (Australian Human Rights Commission 2014).
As stated in the WA Charter of Multiculturalism, multiculturalism is about the recognition of difference through enablement of equal opportunities, equitable participation and mutual respect (Government of Western Australia 2004). Research suggests that the integration of diversity in everyday life can lead to positive interactions between people, therefore increasing social cohesion (Harell and Stolle 2015).
At the announcement of the Western Australia Multicultural Awards 2025, the Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA, Minister for Multicultural Interests, stated that “the WA Government recognises cultural diversity as a cornerstone of our society. The WA Government remains committed to ensuring that every Western Australian can participate equitably in all aspects of civic, social, economic and cultural life (Government of Western Australia, 2024).
Consistent with this understanding of multiculturalism, the Western Australia Multicultural Policy Framework seeks to strengthen social cohesion through the creation of an inclusive and harmonious society where everyone has a strong sense of belonging, can participate and contribute fully to all aspects of life and can achieve their goals (Office of Multicultural Interests 2020).
Within CITS, OMI is focused on advocating for the needs and aspirations of Western Australians from CaLD backgrounds. The OMI Strategic Plan 2023-2026 sets out how CITS will work across sectors to ensure policies, programs and services are equitable, inclusive and informed by the community.
Western Australia continues to experience significant population growth, driven by migration and cultural diversity, shaping the State’s demographic landscape.
In 2024, Western Australian’s resident population reached just over 3 million people and had the fastest growth rate at 2.4% compared to the national growth of 1.8% (Government of Western Australia 2025).
By March 2025, Western Australia’s population was approximately 3.03 million people (Government of Western Australia 2025). While State-specific data on overseas-born residents is not yet available, national figures indicate 31.5% of the Australian population was born overseas (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2024), suggesting a similar trend for Western Australia if not higher. As of 30 June 2025, 27.4% of CITS staff reported being born overseas (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport 2025).
These population trends highlight the importance of inclusive policies and programs, as well as workplace practices within CITS, that reflect the evolving cultural and linguistic diversity of the community.
Historical Census data shows how country-of-birth patterns in Western Australia have changed over time (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022). In 2025, CITS staff demonstrated remarkable cultural diversity, representing 53 countries of origin (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport 2025). This diversity closely mirrors the broader Western Australian’s population, as shown in the comparison in figure 3 below of the top 5 countries of birth for people born overseas for Western Australia and CITS in 2025 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2024; CITS 2025).
The term CaLD is applied to groups and individuals who differ according to religion, language, and ethnicity and whose ancestry is other than Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Celtic (Office of Multicultural Interests 2023).
Western Australians speak more than 295 different languages and dialects, including Aboriginal languages and sign language (Government of Western Australia 2021).
Almost a fifth of Western Australians speak a language other than English at home. Most of this group reported their English language proficiency as moderate.
Households from non-English speaking birthplaces is concentrated in metropolitan Perth, accounting for over 90% of Western Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds (Office of Multicultural Interests 2022).
The top 3 languages spoken at home by Western Australians, other than English, are Mandarin, Italian and Vietnamese (Government of Western Australia 2021).
The State’s CaLD suburbs show that 91.2% of people from CaLD backgrounds live in Perth metropolitan compared to 79% of all Western Australia (Office of Multicultural Interests 2022).
As of June 2025, almost 21% of CITS staff proudly identified as coming from a CaLD background. This is a positive starting point and presents valuable opportunity to enhance diversity in line with the broader Western Australian Public Sector Census, which reported 26% CaLD representation in 2023.
Within CITS, the range of languages and dialects spoken at home has increased from 24 different languages and dialects in 2021 to 42 in 2025, indicating increasing linguistic diversity and cultural richness within the organisation.
Figure: CITS workforce: languages and dialects spoken at home (2021–2025)
In 2025, the top languages spoken by CITS staff at home, other than English, are Hindi, Gaelic and German.
Just under 17% of CITS employees self-reported as coming from non-English speaking birthplaces, representing 53 different non-English speaking countries of origin.
These statistics demonstrate that CITS not only reflects Western Australia’s CaLD community, but is also steadily expanding its own global representation, creating a richer, more inclusive workplace for the future.
Figure: CITS workforce, country of origin
Religious affiliation in Western Australia reflects a rich and evolving diversity, shaped by broader national trends and shifting societal values.
Western Australian residents record representation across more than 100 different systems of belief. The 2021 Australian Census highlights that between 2016 and 2021, the number and proportion of people affiliated with non-Christian religions in Australia increased across all denominations. While Christianity is still the most common religion reported across Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has confirmed ‘for the first time, those identifying with no religion or secular beliefs outnumbered those affiliated with Christianity’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022).
While CITS does not currently collect this data systematically, anecdotal evidence suggests our workforce mirrors this diversity, underscoring the importance of inclusive practices that respect varied beliefs.
CITS supports the development of a vibrant, healthy and cohesive Western Australian community with a strong focus on strengthening social cohesion across the State. This approach aligns with the broader community aspirations for Western Australia to create more jobs and build a stronger, more diversified economy that attracts more visitors to the State.
The Western Australian Multicultural Policy Framework was released in February 2020. It articulates policy priorities and strategies for the Western Australian public sector agencies to create inclusive and welcoming communities, develop culturally responsive services, policies and create opportunities for everyone to participate equitably in all aspects of Western Australian civic, political, social, economic and cultural life.
The framework is based on the principles outlined in the WA Charter of Multiculturalism (Office of Multicultural Interests 2020) and was developed in response to the State’s growing diversity:
Principle 1 — Civic values: the equality of respect, mutual respect, individual freedom and dignity for all members of society subject to the acceptance of the rule of law, social, political and legal institutions and constitutional structures
Principle 2 — Fairness: the pursuit of public policies free of prejudice, discrimination and exclusion based on characteristics such as origins, perceived ‘race’, culture, religion, ethnicity and nationality.
Principle 3 — Equality: equality of opportunity for all members of society to achieve their full potential in a free and democratic society where every individual is equal before, and under, the law.
Principle 4 — Participation: the full and equitable participation in society of individuals and communities, irrespective of origins, culture, religion, ethnicity and nationality.
The framework turns the ideas in the WA Charter of Multiculturalism into real actions, showing the WA Government’s commitment to supporting multicultural communities.
To implement the framework, Western Australian public sector agencies, including CITS, are required to develop multicultural plans and report on the implementation of these plans each year. The framework requires each agency’s multicultural plan to focus on addressing 3 policy priority areas, being:.
This plan aligns with these priorities and embeds measurable actions and strategies across CITS to ensure inclusiveness and impact.
The plan builds on our strong foundation of delivering inclusive and accessible services and programs that reflect and respect the diversity of our community. It celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of Western Australia, recognising that embracing multiculturalism fosters social cohesion, strengthens community resilience, and enhances the vibrancy of our State. By continuing to champion cultural inclusion, the plan positions Western Australia as the best place to live, work, play, create and explore — where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute.
The development of the plan involved a comprehensive process that included analysing best-practice multicultural plans alongside key literature and statistical data, reviewing lessons learned and areas for improvement from the previous DLGSC Multicultural Plan, and undertaking extensive consultation and collaboration. This engagement was facilitated through workshops and cross-agency discussions.
CITS is committed to continuous improvement to ensure inclusiveness across all programs and services. The plan embeds measurable actions and strategies across CITS, aligns with the agency’s strategic direction, and includes initiatives that are community-focused while supporting staff throughout its lifecycle.
This plan has been structured according to the 3 policy priorities outlined in the Western Australian Multicultural Policy Framework. Under each policy priority, the plan identifies a range of actions and associated deliverables, timeframes and business leads responsible for delivery. Where relevant, the plan also includes targets to be met in relation to the actions.
A monitoring framework will be used to track the implementation of actions throughout the life of the plan, as well as the outputs and outcomes of these actions.
Annual progress reports will be included in CITS’ annual report and provided to the Minister for Multicultural Interests.
Lead: Strategy and Performance Accountability (Strategy and Transformation)
Support: Corporate Communications, Creative Industries, Office of Multicultural Interests, Sport and Recreation
Create an event to launch and celebrate CITS Multicultural Plan include promotion of the artwork.
Timeframe: April 2026
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Develop and implement a communications strategy to promote the CITS Multicultural Plan’s release, facilitate ongoing engagement and outline CITS’ commitment through visible leadership.
Provide opportunities for CITS staff to share and experience different traditions, foods, music and art to foster a greater appreciation and understanding of cultural diversity.
Timeframe: December 2026, then annually
Highlight the support and funding provided to organisations and community groups that work to support CaLD communities and promote cultural diversity and inclusion, through CITS Annual Report and other communication channels.
Timeframe: September 2026, then annually
In partnership with Community Languages Western Australia, deliver the annual Community Language Teacher of the Year Award to celebrate the excellence in teaching language and culture.
Lead: Corporate Communications
Support: Corporate Services (Human Resources)
Champion the ‘Racism. It Stops with Me’ campaign, ensuring its impact is widespread across the department.
Timeframe: June 2026, then annually
Highlight the cultural diversity within CITS by featuring staff profiles in the internal staff newsletter, showcasing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our team members.
Timeframe: December 2026
Celebrate and promote the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by facilitating events for CITS staff.
Timeframe: March 2026, then annually
Continue to include questions on cultural competency and cultural safety in the biannual CITS staff survey and implement strategies to increase cultural competency and cultural safety, as required.
Timeframe: June 2027, then every 2 years
Develop anti-racism and anti-discrimination strategies following best practice models.
Timeframe: June 2026
Review and update recruitment training to ensure the implementation of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) principles.
Ensure that CITS staff chairing recruitment panels have completed EEO training.
Develop a timeline to include EEO training as a mandatory training module for all staff.
Ensure a minimum of 85% of CITS staff have completed the following training modules:
Timeframe: June 2027
Support: Corporate Communications, Corporate Services (Human Resources — Employee Wellbeing)
Lead: State Records Office
Support: Corporate Communications
Devise a methodology to identify collections within the State archive collection that relate to CaLD communities.
Using the methodology (above), identify archives relating to CaLD communities and promote on CITS’ communication and social media channels.
Timeframe: July 2026, then annually
Support: Creative Industries, Sport and Recreation, Child Safeguarding Implementation Unit
Include multicultural events and significant dates in the existing CITS hub calendar, and associated communications to promote significant events and dates, including, but not limited to: Buddhist New Year, Waitangi Day, Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Tet, Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Vesak Day (Buddha Day)
Promote CITS funded events and festivals that are designed to celebrate multiculturalism on CITS’ communication and social media channels.
Timeframe: Quarterly reports March, June, September and December annually
Fund a minimum of 12 multicultural events throughout Western Australia.
Explore opportunities to support CaLD sporting groups in the celebration of Harmony Week.
Timeframe: October 2026, then annually
Develop targeted messaging and materials to promote Children’s Week and promote to children and young people from CaLD backgrounds, their families and communities.
Tourism WA (Events) to investigate multicultural event experiences associated with sponsored events that involve the international community (see further action below).
Lead: Aboriginal History Western Australia
Aboriginal truth-telling projects and related resources are promoted to people from CaLD backgrounds through the Office of Multicultural Interests’ newsletter and on CITS’ communication and social media channels.
Tourism WA to encourage event holders and directly engage with CaLD communities to facilitate the hosting of ancillary events and engagement of multicultural audiences around the hosting of major international events in WA.
Timeframe: August 2026
Promote the WAMPF through quarterly newsletters and alerts to public sector agencies, at interagency network meetings and relevant forums, such as the Public Sector Leadership Council.
Provide feedback and comments on Cabinet submissions and State Government strategies, policies and plans, to ensure they align with WAMPF requirements.
Collate and analyse Agency WAMPF progress reports, with results included in an annual report submitted to the Minister for Multicultural Interests for tabling in Parliament.
Lead: Corporate Services (Human Resources)
Support: Strategy and Performance Accountability (Governance and Risk)
Continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at preventing discrimination within CITS.
Develop a proposal for a WA Multicultural Act, on behalf of the WA Government, to formalise and strengthen existing multicultural principles, policies and advisory bodies.
The development of this Act will include extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the multicultural sector and WA public sector agencies, as well as parliamentary and regulatory bodies as part of Cabinet submission processes.
Timeframe: July 2026
Ensure creative organisations enable engagement with audiences which reflects the diversity of Western Australians and promote the outcomes of this work.
Celebrate and represent Western Australia’s diversity through culturally diverse content and practices and promote the outcomes of this work.
Actively promote and maintain KidSport to ensure it remains accessible to refugees, asylum seekers and humanitarian entrants, providing them with valuable opportunities for participation and inclusion.
Provide Community Capital Works fund support to CaLD communities in Western Australia to carry out capital works projects to improve facilities and enhance services to the community.
Ensure CITS’ Sport and Recreation funding programs enable CaLD organisations to create inclusive, accessible, safe and welcoming environments, and support increased participation opportunities for CaLD community members.
Monitor the grant processes of CITS Creative Industries funding programs to ensure they are accessible to CaLD individuals and organisations.
Lead: Office of Multicultural Interests
Support: Creative Industries, Sport and Recreation
Organise comprehensive workshops aimed at enhancing the capacity of CaLD organisations and equipping participants with the skills and knowledge to navigate and apply for future funding opportunities.
Distribute resources to help members of CaLD communities participate in the National Redress Scheme.
Develop factsheets and similar resources on child safeguarding topics in different languages to reflect the diversity of the Western Australian community.
Include access to interpreters for CITS’ child friendly complaints processes.
Timeframe: December 2028
Support: Strategy and Performance Accountability (Strategy and Transformation), Creative Industries, Office of Multicultural Interests, Sport and Recreation, Major Projects, Strategic Policy Program and Asset Management
Review and update CITS’ online content — including funding programs, forms, complaints and feedback processes — is accessible to people who are unable to communicate in written and/or spoken Standard Australian English, provide interpreter access and relevant translated material to reduce barriers.
Promote CITS’ ongoing activities to ensure programs are more inclusive and accessible to people from CaLD backgrounds on our agency’s communication and social media channels.
Timeframe: July 2027, then annually
Trial and evaluate automated translation tools and identify a preferred method for future use across CITS’ online platforms.
Timeframe: December 2027
Expand and enhance multilingual access to westernaustralia.com by maintaining and evolving content availability in existing 6 website translations — Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, German, Japanese, French and Indonesian, and investigate additional language translations in the future.
To be aware of culturally sensitive content adaptation and providing feedback mechanisms which remove language barriers in accessing information and lodging complaints.
Develop a consistent CaLD data collection methodology to be used across CITS to support decision-making in service delivery.
Develop guidelines that ensure CaLD cultural considerations are identified at an early stage of the design process in all infrastructure projects. This will enable appropriate consultation with diverse stakeholders, ensuring perspectives and needs are integrated into the project from the outset.
Review translation options for infrastructure signage to ensure clear and inclusive messaging.
Timeframe: January 2027
Develop and implement a recruitment and attraction plan to increase the number of CaLD employees by:
Actively promote the availability of the Diverse WA training through newsletters and forums to peak sporting and recreation bodies, State sporting associations and Creative Industries sector, with the aim of increasing uptake of training by 50%
Promote CaLD opportunities through the Careers Guide and associated resources and in partnership with StudyPerth.
Support: Corporate Communications, Office of Multicultural Interests
Ensure diversity is reflected and celebrated across all CITS’ publications, communications and social media channels, including the ‘Careers at CITS’ page.
Publish quarterly messages in the staff newsletter that recognise and celebrate multiculturalism within CITS.
Timeframe: June 2026, then quarterly
Promote and support the placement of Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) CaLD students across CITS, fostering their professional growth and enhancing the diversity of CITS.
Promote the support provided by CITS to the CaLD AMEP student placements and their achievements as part of the CITS annual report.
Provide recommendations to Corporate Executive for designated spaces for cultural needs (for instance, prayer rooms).
Create a pilot program, working with the Department of Planning Land and Heritage, which provides additional development opportunities for staff from CaLD backgrounds.
Develop customised CITS mentoring and career advancement initiatives that support staff from CaLD backgrounds.
Encourage CITS staff from CaLD backgrounds to apply for and progress to level 7 and above positions.
Provide Corporate Executive report on Public Sector Quarterly Entity Profile and PSC Diversity Dashboard.
Identify and implement key mechanisms and methods to ensure effective engagement with CaLD communities across CITS portfolios.
Foster a new generation of committed leaders for CaLD communities by offering the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities Leadership Scholarship, which aims to support senior leaders currently employed by Western Australian not-for-profit organisations working to benefit CaLD communities.
Provide the Leadership and Governance Program to empower individuals from CaLD backgrounds ensuring equitable representation on boards and committees in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. This program provides essential skills and guidance for excelling in leadership roles, including offering comprehensive board governance training and a 12-month mentoring program.
Timeframe: November 2026, then annually
Review CITS’ boards and committees to assess the representation of people from CaLD backgrounds.
Timeframe: September 2026
Recommend strategies to promote a diverse and inclusive environment within CITS’ leadership structures through equitable CaLD representation on CITS boards and committees.
Host CaLD Community Stakeholder Forums across 2 weekends in 2026, as an opportunity for CaLD community organisations to participate in a series of informative and networking events featuring the Minister for Multicultural Interests and MMAC members. There will be presentations from WA Government agencies regarding issues relevant to CaLD communities, as well as presentations from emerging and established CaLD community associations.
Timeframe: May 2026
Lead: Creative Industries
Support: Sport and Recreation, Office of Multicultural Interests
Collaborate and champion the development of international partnerships that foster meaningful engagement with Western Australia’s CaLD communities and businesses.
Enhance cultural exchange and drive economic growth by supporting Western Australia’s CaLD communities to build international partnerships and contribute to Western Australia’s economic development via the Global Connections through Local Events program.
Promote CITS’ engagement and collaboration with Asia, in line with Western Australia’s Asian Engagement Strategy 2019-2030 — Our future with Asia, to ensure Western Australia’s CaLD communities and businesses are aware of the available opportunities.
Advance the Asian Engagement Grants Program, which provides financial support to State sporting associations to engage with Asian sporting organisations and promote Western Australia as an offshore base for training and competitions. This program helps to further build important cross-cultural connections with Western Australia’s Asian neighbours and contributes to creating a more inclusive and welcoming Western Australia for CaLD communities.
Leverage the insights and lived experiences of locally engaged and contracted CaLD staff across Tourism WA’s 13 global markets to inform international marketing campaigns for cultural relevance and resonance with diverse audiences.
This approach will strengthen global connections, foster deeper engagement with Western Australia’s CaLD communities and businesses, and drive increased visitation through culturally attuned storytelling and market specific strategies.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022, Religious affiliation in Australia, ABS, Canberra, https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/religious-affiliation-australia
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022, Australia’s population by country of birth: estimated resident population, country of birth, state and territory, 1996–2021, data set, ABS, Canberra, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/australias-population-country-birth/2022/34090DO001_2022.xlsx
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2024, Australia’s population by country of birth, ABS, Canberra, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/australias-population-country-birth/latest-release
CITS Corporate Services, Human Resources 2025, Employee diversity survey results: Ascender system intake between 2021 and 2025, data set, Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, Government of Western Australia.
Government of Western Australia 2004, WA Charter of Multiculturalism, Government of Western Australia, Perth, https://www.omi.wa.gov.au/docs/librariesprovider2/default-document-library/wa-charter-of-multiculturalism.pdf? sfvrsn=ce885dcd_2
Government of Western Australia 2021, Census 2021: WA’s linguistic diversity, Government of Western Australia, Perth, https://www.omi.wa.gov.au/docs/librariesprovider2/2021-census/WAs-linguistic-diversity708970098a51485ea4fb0e120029c649.pdf
Government of Western Australia 2024, Nominations for the WA Multicultural Awards 2025 are now open, media statement, 9 December, Government of Western Australia, https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook-Labor-Government/Nominations-for-the-WA-Multicultural-Awards-2025-are-now-open-20241209
Government of Western Australia 2025, Summary of Western Australia’s population updated quarterly, Department of Treasury and Finance, Government of Western Australia, Perth, https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-treasury-and-finance/population
Harell, A and Stolle, D 2015, ‘Diversity and social cohesion’, in Routledge international handbook of diversity studies, Routledge, London, p. 296.
Office of Multicultural Interests 2020, Western Australian multicultural policy framework, Government of Western Australia, Perth, https://www.omi.wa.gov.au/docs/librariesprovider2/default-document-library/WA-multicultural-policy-framework.pdf
Office of Multicultural Interests 2022, Census of Population and Housing: cultural diversity data summary, data set, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/cultural-diversity-census/2021
Office of Multicultural Interests 2023, CaLD definition factsheet, Government of Western Australia, Perth, https://www.omi.wa.gov.au/home/news/2023/08/21/cald-definition
Scanlon Foundation Research Institute 2024, Mapping social cohesion 2024, Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, Melbourne, https://scanloninstitute.org.au/mapping-social-cohesion-2024/
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