Multicultural Action Plan 2020-21

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    Background

    • ‘Our story, our future’ is the Queensland Government’s Multicultural Policy (PDF, 2.75MB) promoting an inclusive, harmonious and united community for Queensland.
    • The policy focuses Queensland Government action on three policy priorities for culturally diverse communities and Queensland as a whole:
    1. achieving culturally responsive government
    2. supporting inclusive, harmonious and united communities
    3. improving economic opportunities.
    • The Queensland Multicultural Action Plan 2019-20 to 2021-22 (PDF, 398KB)—(the Action Plan) is the second Multicultural Action Plan released under the Multicultural Recognition Act 2016 (the Act). It builds on outcomes achieved under the first Multicultural Action Plan (PDF, 306KB) and will continue to drive Queensland Government action to support an environment of opportunity and achieve improved social and economic outcomes for people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
    • The Policy and Action Plan are a requirement of the Act and represent one of three key provisions of the Act, together with establishment of the Multicultural Queensland Charter and Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council.
    • Section 24 of the Act requires entities with actions in the Action Plan to report publicly on an annual basis. The report below fulfils this requirement for 2020-21 for Legal Aid Queensland.

    Notes:

    • The Policy and Action Plan support priorities set out in the Government’s objectives for the community, Our Future State: Advancing Queensland’s Priorities. These priorities are:
      • Be a responsive government
      • Keep Queenslanders healthy
      • Create jobs in a strong economy
      • Give all our children a great start

    2020-21 report

    Priority area 1: Culturally responsive government

    Outcomes:

    • Improve knowledge about customers’ diversity
    • Culturally capable services and programs
    • A productive, culturally capable and diverse workforce

     

    Action

    Advancing Queensland's Priorities (AQP)

    Responsible agency

    Timeframe

    Progress status for 2020-21

    Legend:
    On track
    Completed
    Yet to commence

    Achievements and outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities

    Develop and promote specific resources to improve access for customers from culturally diverse backgrounds.

    (Supports the Queensland Government Multicultural Policy and Action Plan)

    Be a responsive government

     

     

    LAQ and DJAG

     

    2019–22

     

    Publish relevant resources including factsheets and guides in languages other than English.

    Be a responsive government

     

    LAQ

    2019–22

    Completed

    LAQ’s website content, containing publications and legal information, is available in about 100 languages through a translation tool, ‘Browsealoud’.

    LAQ distributes translated legal information to people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

    Provide access to legal information via the agency’s website, which can be translated into 100 different languages and has the option for audio translation.

    Be a responsive government

     

    LAQ

    2019–22

    Completed

    See above.

    Provide free interpreter services to clients for the provision of legal information and advice services.

    Be a responsive government

     

    LAQ

    2019–22

    Completed

    LAQ provides interpreter services for clients in accordance with the Queensland Government’s ‘Language Services Policy’.

    Participate in community events and provide community legal education (CLE) when requested.

    Be a responsive government

     

    LAQ

    2019–22

    Completed

    LAQ delivers CLE sessions on common legal topics to people from migrant and refugee communities in a TAFE and settlement support setting.

    Increase cultural understanding and capability of staff by providing access to events, training and development opportunities.

    (Supports the Queensland Government Multicultural Policy and Action Plan)

     

    Be a responsive government

     

    All agencies

    2019–22

     

    Promote opportunities for staff to build cultural capability when working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds through implementation of the agency’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

    Be a responsive government

    LAQ

    2019–22

    On track

    LAQ provides access to cultural competency and cultural awareness training to all LAQ employees.

    Commit to increasing all forms of diversity on Queensland Government boards.

    Be a responsive government

    All agencies

    2019–22

    N/A

    LAQ does not appoint its own Board members however the current Board includes a Board member that identifies as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (20%) and also has 40% women.

    Insert case studies or good news stories to highlight achievements relevant to Priority area 1: NIL

    Priority area 2: Inclusive, harmonious and united communities

    Outcomes:

    • Recognition and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and culture
    • Queenslanders celebrate our multicultural identity
    • Connected and resilient communities
    • A respectful and inclusive narrative about diversity

    Action

    Advancing Queensland Priorities (AQP)

    Responsible agency

    Timeframe

    Progress status for 2020-21

    Legend:
    On track
    Completed
    Yet to commence

    Achievements and outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities

    Promote the Multicultural Queensland Charter to government agency staff and consider its principles when developing policies or providing services.

    (Supports the Queensland Government Multicultural Policy and Action Plan)

    Be a responsive Government

    All agencies

    2019–22

     

    Raise awareness of the Multicultural Queensland Charter by continually updating the agency’s website to include action plan items from the Queensland Multicultural Action Plan 2019–20 to 2021–22 and providing information on the agency’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

    Be a responsive Government

     

     

    LAQ

    2019–22

    On track/completed

    LAQ publishes its Multicultural Action Plan on its website and also externally publishes its First Nations Strategic Plan. LAQ also publishes its approach to diversity and inclusion in the new employee guide on the ‘Work for us’ web page.

    Consider the Multicultural Queensland Charter when planning and developing service delivery models and policies.

    Be a responsive Government

    LAQ

    2019–22

    On track/completed

    LAQ has published the Charter on its intranet for all employees to access and LAQ is committed to considering the Charter as part of policy planning and developing service delivery models and policies.

    Embed Multicultural Queensland Charter principles in the agency’s human resources policy and procedures as they are reviewed.

    (Supports the Queensland Government Multicultural Policy and Action Plan)

    Be a responsive Government

    LAQ

    2019–22

    On track

    LAQ is committed to ensuring the Charter is a part of human resource policy and procedure reviews.

    Sign up and participate in the Australian Human Rights Commission Racism. It stops with me campaign.

     

    Be a responsive Government

    All agencies

    2019–22

    On track

    LAQ has committed to the Australian Human Rights Commission Racism. It stops with me campaign and has commenced this campaign in 2020-21 with it continuing into 2021-22.

    Insert case studies or good news stories to highlight achievements relevant to Priority area 2: NIL

    Priority area 3: Economic opportunities

    Outcomes:

    • Queensland gets the most benefit from our diversity and global connections
    • Individuals supported to participate in the economy

     

    Action

    Advancing Queensland's Priorities (AQP)

    Responsible agency

    Timeframe

    Progress status for 2020-21

    Legend:

    On track
    Completed
    Yet to commence

    Achievements and outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities

    Provide pathways to employment in the Queensland Public Sector for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum, such as through work experience, internships or targeted recruitment.

    Be a responsive Government

    Create jobs in a strong economy

    Keep Queenslanders healthy

    Multiple agencies, including LAQ

    2019–22

    On track

    LAQ has commenced a work experience program for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum in partnership with Multicultural Australia.

    Insert case studies or good news stories to highlight achievements relevant to Priority area 3: NIL

    Last updated 7 October 2022