Our ethnic, religious and cultural diversity is an integral part of our city’s identity and intrinsic to our vitality as a place and society.
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Multiculturalism is in the interest of all residents and citizens as it expresses our sense of fairness and inclusion. It enhances respect and support for cultural, religious and linguistic expression.
Sometimes members of the multicultural community, especially those who have fled devastating wars with very little, need a hand starting life anew. Enter Newcastle City Council and our wonderful partners who do a marvelous job strengthening the social fabric of our city, an official refugee welcome zone.
Syrian refugees and other members of Newcastle's multicultural community will receive free skills training to help them establish their own businesses as part of a project run by Council with local partners. The Multicultural Small Business Program will see around 12 refugees and immigrants attend workshops over a 10-week program from February 2017 to help them set up and run small businesses in Newcastle and the Hunter. The workshops will help build capacity to establish and run small businesses and provide ongoing support. With partners the Newcastle Business Centre, Navitas, Northern Settlement Services and volunteer mentors, Council will run two parallel courses for refugees and migrants with strong English skills and another in Arabic.