Multicultural Policy and Action Plan

'Our story, our future' is the Queensland Government's Multicultural Policy (PDF, 3 MB) promoting an inclusive, harmonious and united Queensland.

The Multicultural Policy focuses the Queensland Government's commitment for people from culturally diverse backgrounds and for Queensland as a whole across three priorities:

1. achieving culturally responsive government
2. supporting inclusive, harmonious and united communities
3. improving economic opportunities.

By focusing on these priorities, the Queensland Government will support equality of opportunity for all Queenslanders and harness the remarkable benefits cultural diversity offers.

The Minister for Multicultural Affairs Queensland is required to release a Multicultural Action Plan as required by Sections 20 and 21 of the Multicultural Recognition Act 2016.

Released in 2024, the fourth Queensland Multicultural Action Plan (PDF, 2.1 MB) Queensland Multicultural Action Plan (DOCX, 5.3 MB) presents the actions the Queensland Government will take from 2024-25 to 2026-27 to achieve the multicultural policy priorities and ensure government services are fully accessible to people who have difficulty communicating in English. The Action Plan sets out a vision for the Queensland Government to be a leader in cultural diversity and inclusion by 2032, by focusing on delivering culturally responsive services, driving diversity and inclusion across the public sector, strengthening our economy and promoting social cohesion.

Public reporting on action plan

The Multicultural Recognition Act 2016 requires all government agencies to report publicly on their actions in the plan and provide a summary of their progress every year. This allows the community to track how the government is achieving positive change, and provides a picture of where we need to make changes to investment or services.

Agencies have prepared annual reports for the 2023-24 reporting year. Links to former government agencies' reports on the third Multicultural Action Plan are listed below.

1. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
2. Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services (PDF, 403 KB)
3. Department of Education
4. Department of Employment, Small Business and Training
5. Department of Energy and Climate
6. Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
7. Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works
8. Department of Justice and Attorney-General
9. Department of Premier and Cabinet
10. Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
11. Department of Resources
12. Department of State Development and Infrastructure
13. Department of Tourism and Sport
14. Department of Transport and Main Roads
15. Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts
16. Department of Youth Justice
17. Electoral Commission Queensland
18. Legal Aid Queensland
19. Public Sector Commission
20. Queensland Corrective Services
21. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
22. Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service
23. Queensland Human Rights Commission
24. Queensland Mental Health Commission
25. Queensland Police Service
26. Queensland Treasury
27. Residential Tenancies Authority
28. TAFE QLD
29. Trade Investment Queensland

Progress under previous Action Plans

• The first Multicultural Action Plan (PDF, 390 KB) spanned 2016–17 to 2018–19.
• The First Progress Report on the Queensland Multicultural Policy (PDF, 4.7 MB) was tabled in Parliament in August 2019. It presents key outcomes achieved across Government through actions in the first Multicultural Action Plan, and discusses future opportunities for action.
• The second Multicultural Action Plan (PDF, 501 KB), which spanned 2019–20 to 2021–22, built on outcomes achieved under the first Multicultural Action Plan. Read about the broad actions and related sub-actions in the second Multicultural Action Plan.
• The Second Progress Report on the Queensland Multicultural Policy (PDF, 1.8 MB) which focuses on outcomes achieved under the second Multicultural Action Plan, was tabled in Parliament in September 2023.
• The third Queensland Multicultural Action Plan (PDF, 3.4 MB) which spanned 2022–23 to 2023–24 builds on outcomes achieved under the first and second Multicultural Action Plans. This plan focused on six actions to build the economy and community, provide better access to interpreters, and improve cultural diversity data to enhance service delivery.