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Our story

25 years of creating welcome

As Queensland’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

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

1999

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

2002

Introduction of employment and training services for refugees and migrants.

2006

Recognised as Queensland’s largest refugee and migrant service provider.

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.

2008

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

2009

Our inaugural World Refugee Day Festival is held in Greenslopes.

2011

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

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.

2013

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

2014

The Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors program is launched.

2015

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

2016

Work-readiness support is provided to the broader Rockhampton community through the ParentsNext program.

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.

2018

The Redbank Plains Community Centre opens.

2019

Multicultural Development Australia becomes Multicultural Australia.

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.

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.

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.