CITY of Belmont’s multicultural action plan will be the starting point to help the community connect and grow together, according to Cultural Diversity Focus Group (CDFG) member Kathy Warren.
Ms Warren, who is an English teacher at Belmont City College, said the City’s cultural makeup had changed dramatically in recent years.
She said the college had students from 70 different nationalities and the diversity was accepted as normal and celebrated by everyone.
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READ NOW“The kids love it, it’s natural for them, they’re growing up not with it being abnormal and being wary of different cultures and races,” Ms Warren said.
“They are their best friends, they learn from each other, they grow with each other.”
Ms Warren said she used to work with who had humanitarian visas and helped settle them into the area and welcomed the City’s initiative.
“It’s brought me a lot of joy knowing that the voices of the children and their families at the college have got an opportunity to be heard by the council,” she said.
“And their needs have now got an opportunity to be recognised and met.”
Another CDFG member, Hana Byambadash, said the most important part of cultures were hidden.
“We all need to interact with each other and discover our cultures,” Ms Byambadash said.
“We need to learn the differences then celebrate and grow together.”
Belmont MLA Glenys Godfrey attended the launch, representing Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan.
Ms Godfrey said the State Government “strongly supported” initiatives that deepened respect and understanding between cultures.
“WA’s rich cultural diversity is a source of many benefits for everyone and it enriches our entire society,” she said.
“Our state prides itself on providing an opportunity for all people to make a peaceful and productive future for themselves and their families regardless of cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.”
She said the residents of Belmont were creating a society based on opportunity and prosperity by empowering people from all over the world and bringing them together economically, socially and culturally.