Our story

25 years of creating welcome

As Australia’s longest serving contracted settlement provider, we are proud of the difference we have made in the lives of refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, international students and the wider community in Queensland.
1998 2

1998

Initially funded as a three year Multicultural Advocacy Project by the Queensland Government, Multicultural Development Australia (MDA) is founded and incorporated in Queensland.
1998 2
1999

1999

Launch of our Migrant Service Agency, with settlement services being provided to independent migrants under the Community Settlement Scheme.
1999
2002

2002

Introduction of employment and training services for refugees and migrants.
2002
2006

2006

Recognised as Queensland’s largest refugee and migrant service provider.
2006
2007 2 (1)

2007

Our first candle light walk through Southbank, now known as LUMINOUS, took place, drawing public attention to the lived experiences and contributions of refugee individuals and communities. 
2007 2 (1)
2008

2008

Delivery of Complex Case Support Services for clients with complex needs begins.
2008
2009

2009

Our inaugural World Refugee Day Festival is held in Greenslopes.
2009
2011

2011

Services under the Humanitarian Settlement Scheme are rolled out. Offices in Toowoomba and Rockhampton are opened as humanitarian entrants settled into regional Queensland.
2011
2012

2012

Services are extended to young, unaccompanied minors under the Refugee Youth Support Pilot. Our regional footprint grows with direct outreach services in Cairns, Toowoomba, and Gatton, as well as Townsville through the Townsville Multicultural Support Group.
2012
2013 3 (1)

2013

Welcome Hubs are created in partnership with community organisations across the south-east, offering spaces and activities to encourage cultural sharing and connection.
2013 3 (1)
2014

2014

The Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors program is launched.
2014
2015

2015

Connect Settlement Services with AMES Australia is established to assist the government of Nauru with refugee resettlement.
2015
2016

2016

Work-readiness support is provided to the broader Rockhampton community through the ParentsNext program.
2016
2017 2 (1)

2017

The Migrant Youth Vision Project is launched with key community partners, linking young people to education, training, employment and sport. The Brisbane Student Hub is launched, Queensland’s first support centre for international students, with Study Qld, Study Brisbane and the State Library of Queensland. The inaugural MOSAIC Multicultural Festival is held at Roma St Parklands.
2017 2 (1)
2018

2018

The Redbank Plains Community Centre opens.
2018
2019 2 (1)

2019

Multicultural Development Australia becomes Multicultural Australia.
2019 2 (1)
2020

2020

Multicultural Australia welcomes the first five Community Support Program entrants in Queensland. Launch of our Migrant Service Agency, with settlement services being provided to independent migrants under the Community Settlement Scheme.
2020
Our Strategic Pillars

2021

Multicultural Australia partners with the Cohesive Communities Coalition and launches the ‘Be Heard’ Campaign, to contribute lived experience and stories to inform the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into Serious Vilification and Hate Crimes.
Our Strategic Pillars
2022

2022

The MOSAIC Choir is launched at Multicultural Australia’s MOSAIC Festival. In partnership with the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the choir is our first initiative of our Connecting Through Arts program.
2022
2023

2023

Culturability Accreditation, Australia’s first accreditation framework for cultural diversity in the workplace, is launched.
2023
Recognising the value of cultural differences
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We who have come from many places acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land which always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island land. We pay our respects to their Elders throughout all time. We walk together in solidarity of the pain of the past and the shared hope for the future.

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