The federal government will establish a dedicated Office for Multicultural Affairs within the Department of Home Affairs, aiming to sharpen its focus on equity, access, and inclusion across Australia’s diverse communities.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly announced the move on Tuesday, describing it as a structural shift that will unify existing government efforts under one umbrella while amplifying the voice of multicultural Australia in national policymaking.
“It’s not just about one community or another,” Dr Aly said. “Each and every one of us belongs to an Australia that has been enriched by 65,000 years of First Nations culture and the traditions of those who’ve arrived here from every corner of the world.”
The new office will consolidate key functions, including responsibility for the Adult Migrant English Program and Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National). It will also play a lead role in designing and modernising community grants, with a focus on removing access barriers for migrant and refugee communities navigating federal programs.
The initiative coincides with another first: the elevation of the Multicultural Affairs portfolio to a stand-alone Cabinet position. Dr Aly, the inaugural Cabinet Minister for Multicultural Affairs, will now oversee the Office’s establishment and long-term agenda.
The move comes as Australia marks five decades since its first multiculturalism policy. From post-war migration to recent humanitarian intakes, successive waves of newcomers have reshaped the country. Today, nearly half of all Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent who was.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reinforced the message of national cohesion, calling multiculturalism “central to who we are.”
“This Office provides a central hub for government work and makes sure every Australian feels welcomed and at home,” Burke said.
The policy shift also responds to growing calls across community organisations for better coordination of services, particularly at the intersection of migration, language support, and community development. Rather than spreading multicultural functions across agencies, the new model seeks to bring them into closer conversation, giving multiculturalism a dedicated structure within government.
The Office is expected to work closely with state and territory governments and local councils, ensuring that programs reflect local realities while maintaining a national approach. While the announcement does not create new laws or change visa categories, it marks a renewed emphasis on social cohesion and access.
The government has not released a full timeline or staffing plan for the Office, but Dr Aly said early consultations with stakeholders are already underway.
This policy direction also places more visibility on language and settlement programs. The Adult Migrant English Program, a longstanding pillar of Australia’s integration efforts, has faced criticisms in recent years for failing to keep pace with the changing needs of migrant learners. Placing it within the new Office may allow for reforms that better align language access with economic and civic participation.
Similarly, the TIS National service, used by hospitals, police and community organisations nationwide, will be reviewed and potentially expanded to ensure linguistically diverse Australians are not excluded from vital services.
Dr Aly framed the Office’s role as a catalyst: “Our success as a modern multicultural nation is underwritten by our mutual respect for individual freedoms and equality of opportunity for Australians in all our diversity.”
For many community leaders, the announcement is seen as a welcome sign that multiculturalism is being given more than lip service—it’s being embedded into the machinery of government. The test, as always, will be in delivery.
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