Warrnambool | A City for Living

Goal: 1
People

Warrnambool is a welcoming and inclusive city

An inclusive community that embraces all residents and visitors, Warrnambool welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and ensures people of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds are respected and can participate fully in the community.

Warrnambool acknowledges respects and celebrates the diverse cultures, beliefs and history which makes up our community.

2040 Outcome

All residents are respectful, accepting and welcoming to people of all ages, abilities, cultures, races, ethnicities, sexual orientation and faiths.

The changes we want by 2026

  • The majority of W2040 Partners have workplace diversity, disability access and inclusion policies.
  • Warrnambool is recognised as an ‘established’ member of the Welcoming Cities Network.
  • The Warrnambool community hosts regular events to welcome new residents and celebrate diversity.
  • Proportion of residents born overseas has increased since 2016 (Census).
  • More residents say that multiculturalism definitely makes life better (44%, 2017)
  • More residents say that people in Warrnambool are accepting of people of different ethnic cultures; religious backgrounds and sexual orientation (51%, 2017)*
  • A majority of residents who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) say that Warrnambool people accept and welcome them.
  • The number of cultures represented in local cafes/ restaurants has increased.
  • Warrnambool has achieved action to support the World Health Organisation’s Age-Friendly Cities and Unicef’s Child-Friendly Cities Frameworks
  • Residents with a disability say that Warrnambool is more accessible than in 2017.

Short Term Initiatives

  • Take and support action to make Warrnambool a more Child Friendly, Age Friendly, Welcoming and Compassionate City (using accepted standards and frameworks).
  • Develop, endorse and implement diversity, disability access, gender equity and inclusion policies, plans and strategies to increase inclusion across the City’s facilities and services.
  • Offer regular workplace learning opportunities & training to raise awareness of diversity, inclusion, disability access issues to build cultural competency of staff/ members/etc.
  • Publish information and conduct community /stakeholder engagement activities in languages other than English.
  • Ensure interpreter and translation services are accessible to ensure non-English speaking residents and residents with a disability can access services and participate in community life.
  • Support/attend/host ‘Welcome to Warrnambool’ events for new residents, new staff and community members to celebrate differences in our community.
  • Support LGBTIQA+ people and communities by building understanding in your workplace, including celebrating the ‘International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Inter-sexism & Transphobia’. (IDAHOBIT)
  • Actively seek to employ people of different cultures, ages and abilities.
  • Implement strategies to improve employment and participation opportunities for people with disabilities.
  • Council will implement its Disability Action Plan 2017-2026.