Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program

The Celebrating Multicultural Queensland (CMQ) program is an annual program that provides funding towards multicultural events and projects that engage people from culturally diverse backgrounds and the wider community, to contribute to building an inclusive, harmonious and united Queensland.

The term CALD generally refers to Queensland’s non-Indigenous cultural groups other than the English-speaking Anglo-Saxon majority. This program has a focus on social and economic inclusion for Queenslanders from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, as well as distinct cultural groups such as Australian South Sea Islanders.

Program objective

The Celebrating Multicultural Queensland (CMQ) program aligns with the Multicultural Queensland Charter and promotes:

  • Queensland's multicultural identity
  • intercultural connections and community participation
  • increased understanding between diverse cultural groups
  • increased community capacity to address emerging issues and foster access to services
  • increased engagement of general community groups in connecting and welcoming people from culturally diverse backgrounds into a wide range of community activities.

Funding rounds in 2021-22

In 2021-22, the CMQ program will deliver two funding rounds:

  • Multicultural Events — This funding round for events to be delivered in 2022 (calendar year) closed on 12 September 2021.
  • Multicultural Projects — This funding round for projects to be delivered from 1 July 2022 is currently open and will close on 10 December 2021.

In 2021-22, the CMQ program will also support:

  • Regional Partnerships Demonstration Projects
    Targeted one-off funding of $100,000 per annum over three years has been approved each for Balonne, Bulloo and Paroo Shire Councils to deliver demonstration projects, with community-based delivery partners and local communities, that implement strategies that strengthen welcome and inclusion in these regional locations.

Multicultural events

Examples of the types of event the program supports are:

  • A festival that showcases the culture and traditions of multiple cultural groups to enhance appreciation and recognition of the diverse cultures in Queensland and promote community awareness about the benefits of multiculturalism.
  • A cultural event that celebrates the traditions of people from a particular cultural group or community, together with the wider community, usually held on a particular date of cultural significance or as a celebration of cultural heritage.

Multicultural projects

Examples of the types of project the program supports are:

  • community based activities (such as workshops, training, skills development, knowledge and awareness raising, fostering social connections) to address an identified issue, which are conducted over a period of time with key deliverables/milestones and specified anticipated outcomes;
  • benefits at an individual level, such as increased community participation, economic independence, inclusion or access to opportunities within the local community.

2022 Multicultural events

The successful applicants under the 2021-22 multicultural events funding round have been announced.

Eligible applicants could apply for one-off funding of up to $20,000 per event, to be delivered in the 2022 calendar year.

Total funding of $830,000 has been allocated to 101 events to be delivered across Queensland in 2022 that promote intercultural connections and inclusion and will build capacity to promote and celebrate the benefits of multiculturalism, supporting inclusive, harmonious and united communities.

Find out more about the 2021-22 successful grant applicants (PDF, 185 KB) 2021-22 successful grant applicants (DOCX, 290 KB) for multicultural events.

2022 will also feature additional events that were postponed from 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This means over 142 multicultural celebrations will take place throughout the year. 

View the events calendar for additional information on upcoming events, festivals and celebrations.

It is anticipated that the next funding round for multicultural events, to be delivered in the 2023 calendar year, will open in the middle of 2022. 

2021 Multicultural projects

The 2021-22 multicultural projects funding round is now open for funding applications and will close on 10 December 2021.

Eligible applicants can apply for funding under two categories:

Category 1 – Economic and Social Participation Projects

  • Innovative projects based on identified need that create pathways to participation for people from culturally diverse backgrounds in the economic, social and cultural life of Queensland.
  • One-off funding up to $40,000 available for projects to be delivered from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Category 2 – Youth and Community Connection Projects

  • For innovative projects that can assist with breaking down the barriers facing young people from culturally diverse backgrounds that can result in feelings of disengagement or disconnection with the community, and to increase their access to, and inclusion within the community.
  • Projects receiving funding under this category are to ensure young people from culturally diverse backgrounds are leading in identifying the barrier/need to be addressed, as well as the planning, design, delivery and evaluation.
  • One-off funding of between $5,000 to $120,000 is available. Project implementation timeframe can be up to two years. Projects are to be delivered between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2024.

For further information, refer to the 2021-22 Funding Guidelines for Multicultural Projects (PDF, 423 KB) 2021-22 Funding Guidelines for Multicultural Projects (DOCX, 544 KB) for information about the funding priorities and mandatory funding criteria for each category.

Please note, due to the high demand for funding, only one application per category for an organisation will be accepted.

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Not-for-profit/charitable legal entities established under the:
    • Associations Incorporation Act 1981 (Qld),
    • Corporations Act 2001 (Cwlth),
    • Cooperatives Act 1997 (Qld),
    • Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cwlth).
  • Local Government bodies constituted under the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld) or the City of Brisbane Act 2010 (Qld).
  • P&C Associations established under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld).
  • Charitable institutions granted letters patent under the Religious Educational and Charitable Institutions Act 1861 (Qld).
  • Queensland Universities established under a university Act.

Eligible organisations and associations must:

  • have a registered and current Australian Business Number (ABN) that is not for a commercial entity or individual; or hold an exemption from registration;
  • hold public liability insurance to the value of not less than $10 million, or provide evidence of plans to obtain insurance to the value of not less than $10 million to cover the proposed event or project;
  • have no overdue reports, or service delivery or performance issues for funding previously or currently provided by the Department.

If you are not incorporated or do not have an active ABN, you can ask an eligible organisation to auspice your event. If successful in receiving funding, the auspicing organisation will be required to enter into a funding agreement, to receive the funds and to submit report/s.

How to apply

Late applications, including submissions of supporting documentation, are not accepted, and requests for extensions will not be considered.

Help with applying

If after reading the guidelines you still have questions, or you require further information about the program, you can contact the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs by emailing MAfunding@cyjma.qld.gov.au.

If you need advice in developing your funding application, or if you require information about other funding sources, you can contact the Community Funding Access Advisor at Multicultural Australia Ltd (formerly MDA Ltd) on (07) 3337 5400 or email amelias@multiculturalaustralia.org.au.

Multicultural Australia Ltd is a non-government organisation and is independent of the grant assessment process.

For more information about applying online, you can read the SmartyGrants – Help Guide for Applicants. If you are having difficulties with your SmartyGrants user account or accessing your application, you can contact SmartyGrants directly:

Successful applicants

All applicants successful in receiving funding will be required to:

Planning an event

There are a number of resources that are available to assist event organisers to successfully plan and manage an event including:

  • Events in Queensland, Best Practice Guidelines for event delivery in Queensland;
  • Queensland Events Guide.

Community Facilities and Venues for Hire

There are a number of venue options that are available in your local area to host a meeting or event. A list has been compiled to help locate venues for hire in your community.

Events calendar

Funded events are automatically included in the Events calendar.

You can also use our event registration form to seek approval to promote other eligible events and project activities on the calendar.

Previous successful applications

* Due to social distancing restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many of the 2020 and 2021 funded events were postponed. The Events calendar will be updated with information on new dates when they are known.

Previous funding guidelines

Guidelines from the previous funding rounds are listed below for information only. Funding guidelines are subject to change between each funding round:

More information

If you would like to receive future email communications about multicultural topics, including the opening of future funding rounds, complete the online registration form and select 'Government funding' under Areas of Interest.

The Community Funding Program managed by Multicultural Australia Ltd, a non-government organisation, provides more information about other funding options available.