Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities include people from more than 200 countries who now live, work and study in Western Australia.
 
Local Governments have a significant role to play in ensuring that all refugees and new migrants feel  welcomed and included; understand their rights and responsibilities;  participate in our democracy and are supported with appropriate services in the local community.
 

Citizenship Ceremonies

Since the early 1950s successive Commonwealth Governments have accorded Local Government a significant role in Australian Citizenship through the conferral of Australian Citizenship at Citizenship Ceremonies. Citizenship Ceremonies provide councils with an opportunity to welcome new citizens as formal members of the Australian community and in particular, as members of their local community.

WALGA supports those Local Governments who choose to confer citizenship on new citizens in accordance with the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code (2011) and advocates to the State and Commonwealth Government for additional resources where required to support growth area needs.