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, including people who arrived in Australia as migrants or refugees, people seeking asylum, members of diverse cultural groups and the wider community, to contribute to building an inclusive, harmonious and united Queensland.

Program objective

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

  • Queensland's multicultural identity
  • community participation and intercultural connections
  • increased understanding between diverse cultural groups and the wider community
  • 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 2020–21

In 2020–21, the CMQ program will deliver two funding rounds:

  • Multicultural Events— This funding round closed 25 September 2020.
  • Multicultural Projects— This funding round closed 15 March 2021.

In 2020–21, 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 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 multicultural festival
  • cultural celebrations that involve people from a particular community or diverse cultural groups, and the wider community.
  • a public or substantial gathering for the purpose of celebrating particular cultural traditions.

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.

2021 Multicultural events

The successful applicants under the 2020-21 multicultural events funding round have been announced.

Total funding of $973,346 has been allocated to 122 events to be delivered across Queensland in 2021 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 2020-21 successful grant applicants (PDF, 338 KB).

2021 will also feature 89 additional events that were postponed from 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This means a total of 211 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 2022 calendar year, will open in 2021.

2021 Multicultural projects

The 2020-21 multicultural projects funding round for applications under the Economic and Social Participation and Youth and Community Connection categories is now closed.

The process of assessment and decision making may take several months with funding outcomes expected before the end of the 2020-21 financial year.

Funding outcomes for multicultural projects under the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program will be announced by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and will be promoted on the webpage. Applicants will also be notified by email of the outcome of their application.

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Incorporated organisations operating as a not-for-profit/charitable entity
  • Non-government not-for-profit organisations
  • Local Government Authorities (LGAs)
  • P&C Associations.

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; or complete a Statement by Supplier form
  • 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 of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs.

How to apply

  1. Ensure you read the relevant funding program documents:
    • Funding Guidelines
    • FAQ Fact Sheet
    • Preview the application form.
  2. Apply online through SmartyGrants:

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@dlgrma.qld.gov.au.

If you need advice with 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:

  • enter into a funding agreement and its terms and conditions and comply with the requirements and conditions of the agreement
  • acknowledge the Queensland Government funding with a Queensland Government crest on all promotional material associated with the funded event or project
  • submit an online Progress Report (if required) and Acquittal Report by the specified due date
  • immediately inform the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs via email to MAfunding@dlgrma.qld.gov.au  of any proposed changes to the funded event or project, e.g. change in activities, dates, and locations.

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. Please email us on MAfunding@dlgrma.qld.gov.au with any updates to an event so they can be reflected in our online 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 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 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.