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Multicultural Action Plan Annual Reporting for 2019-20

Current report

2020-21

Previous reports

2016-17 to 2018-19

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:

achieving culturally responsive government
supporting inclusive, harmonious and united communities
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 2019-20 for Legal Aid Queensland.

Notes:

The list of Government entities covered under ‘All agencies’ is provided on page 11 of the Queensland Multicultural Action Plan 2019-20 to 2021-22(PDF, 398KB)
Actions supporting the Queensland Government Multicultural Policy and Action Plan (broad actions with related agency sub-actions) can be viewed online at www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au:
1. click on ‘Multicultural Affairs’
2. click on ‘Queensland Government Multicultural Policy and Action Plan’.
All sub-actions, where relevant, for Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) have been listed in this template for ease of reporting.

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

2019-20 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 2019-20 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, including publications (factsheets and guides) is available in approximately 99 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	LAQ’s website content, including legal information, is available in approximately 99 languages through a translation tool, ‘Browsealoud’.
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 free 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. LAQ also regularly participates in community events.
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 members of its Board. Board appointments are made by the Queensland Government. Currently 20% membership of the LAQ Board identifies as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander and 60% of the Board are 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 2019-20 Legend: On track Completed Yet to commence	Achievements and outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities P
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 our Multicultural Action Plan on our website and also externally publishes our First Nations Strategic plan. LAQ also publishes our approach to diversity and inclusion in our ‘Work for us’ pages in our Employee guide.
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 our 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 will continue implementation in 2020-21.
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 2019-20 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 committed to undertaking a refugee and asylum seeker work experience program.
Insert case studies or good news stories to highlight achievements relevant to Priority area 3: NIL

Action

Advancing Queensland's Priorities (AQP)

Responsible agency

Timeframe

Progress status for 2019-20

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 committed to undertaking a refugee and asylum seeker work experience program.

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

Last updated 14 October 2021