Australia Establishes Office for Multicultural Affairs in Home Affairs Department

Australia is establishing a new Office for Multicultural Affairs within the Department of Home Affairs, led by Minister Anne Aly, who has been elevated to Cabinet for the first time in history. The office will consolidate key functions such as settlement support, the Adult Migrant English Program, interpreting services, and community grants to promote a cohesive national multicultural strategy. It aims to provide leadership across all government levels and ensure policies and programs are accessible and equitable, reflecting Australia's diverse population, where over 31% of residents were born overseas. This initiative responds to concerns from a recent multicultural framework review, which found that multicultural affairs lacked influence within Home Affairs and called for a standalone department to better support communities. Although this new office falls short of that recommendation, experts see it as a significant step forward, providing the ear of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to multicultural interests. The office is expected to begin operations before the new parliament sits in late July, marking a milestone in Australia's ongoing commitment to multiculturalism as integral to its national identity.