Logan is home to an increasingly diverse population. According to the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census, 27.9 percent of residents in Logan City were born overseas, and 18.1 percent of the population speak a language other than English at home.

Our diversity is part of our identity as a city. We can experience amazing cultures and foods and connect with people from all around the world at our doorstep. Embracing our diversity also means supporting welcoming and inclusive spaces, workforces, and neighbourhoods.

Read on to find out some of the ways that we are encouraging a welcoming and inclusive city for our diverse communities.

Refugee Welcome Zone

Refugee Welcome Zone is an initiative of the Refugee Council of Australia. We were declared a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2017. This declaration is a public commitment in spirit to:

• welcoming refugees in to our community
• upholding the human rights of refugees
• demonstrating compassion for refugees
• enhancing cultural and religious diversity in our community.

It is also an acknowledgment of the tremendous contributions refugees have made to Logan in the fields of medicine, science, engineering, sport, education, and the arts.

We are proud to be working together with the Refugee Council of Australia to build a more inclusive and integrated community, which celebrates the many positive contributions of refugees in Logan.

Welcoming Cities

Welcoming Cities is a national initiative of Welcoming Australia. It provides a framework for local governments to achieve social cohesion objectives. We became a Welcoming Cities member in 2022. The Welcoming Cities membership will:

• Broaden Council’s commitment as a Refugee Welcome Zone and further enhance our community connections and activities that embrace all migrants in our city.
• Reinforce the City of Logan as one of the most culturally diverse local government areas in Australia.
• Create a framework for us to demonstrate and showcase our commitment to the values we hold dear when it comes to the city’s diverse multicultural tapestry.

We are committed to working in collaboration with Welcoming Australia in the advancement of Logan as a welcoming, inclusive, and cohesive city.

Stories from the Kitchen

Stories from the Kitchen was a Queensland Government funded program between July 2021 and June 2023. It was a series of dinners, where people from diverse cultural backgrounds bring a plate of food and stories from their culture to share.

Throughout the program, we hosted 10 dinners where 260 people attended from 31 cultural backgrounds and shared over 140 dishes. We have had the privilege of witnessing heart-warming stories unfold, as people from diverse backgrounds came together to connect through food.

Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre has successfully secured Council funding to continue fostering this spirit of unity and cultural celebration by hosting more community-led dinners.

Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming community gatherings by joining the Stories from the Kitchen Facebook group.

Become a volunteer facilitator

If you’re passionate about event coordination, meeting new people and are looking for an opportunity to make a real impact on your community, we want you to join our team of volunteers!

You’ll gain meaningful experience for your resume, develop professional and leadership skills and most importantly, have heaps of fun!

You can regster to become a volunteer facilitator by filling in our Volunteer facilitator registration form.

If you have any questions, please contact Tyahn Jack on 3188 1431 or email tyahn@beenleigh.org.au.

Partnerships

We partner with two local networks to support our diverse community. There are many other networks that meet across the City of Logan. These groups provide an opportunity for information sharing, collaboration, and networking between service providers. To find out what networks are available and how to join, please see Logan community networks. 

Community Leaders Connect Forum

The Community Leaders Connect Forum is delivered in partnership with leaders from culturally diverse communities in Logan, SSI, MultiLink and Council. The forum aims to:

• strengthen relationships between cultural leaders, SSI, MultiLink and Council in an ongoing cumulative process
• provide a platform for cultural leaders to engage with Council, SSI and MultiLink on community and Council priorities
• provide a platform for cultural leaders to present community needs, trends and highlight achievements
• provide opportunities for cultural leaders to take part at a range of levels, including providing advice and identifying and progressing opportunities to address the identified priorities.

Community leaders from diverse groups in Logan are welcome to join the forum at any time. All you need is to:

• be over the age of 18
• live in the City of Logan
• be able to attend meetings once every three months
• have an existing leadership role within community
• be enthusiastic and passionate about supporting Logan’s diverse communities
• have the ability to positively influence community and drive social cohesion and connectedness.

To express your interest in being part of this group, please

• email ellenhan@logan.qld.gov.au or
• call 07 3412 3412 to speak with our Community Development team.

Logan Multicultural Collaborative

We are a member of the Logan Multicultural Collaborative (LMC), which aims to devise and deliver activities and events, raise awareness, support the health and wellbeing of Logan’s diverse communities, and to find more effective means of reaching them.

LMC is established to build a stronger community. It consists of government and community service providers who provide services to multicultural communities and other communities in the Logan area.

Through LMC, we work collaboratively with other service providers to ensure a supportive environment, equity in decision-making among all members, and opportunities for members to build stronger partnerships and networks.

Programs and Supports

Resources

The following links and resources may offer you practical information on topics such as how to arrange translating and interpreting services, what are the key cultural and religious dates, and Council services available for our diverse community.

• Australian Citizenship
• Department of Home Affairs
• Citizenship ceremonies
• Humanitarian Settlement Program
• Cultural and Religious dates - 2024
• Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia
• Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland
• Multicultural communities - Brisbane South PHN
• New residents
• Kingston Butter Factory
• Logan City Council libraries - provides a variety of multicultural resources in language. Materials such as books, magazines, newspapers and learning English materials are available for loan across our 9 branches as well as online.
• Explore Logan – Discover hidden gems, culinary surprises, excellent arts and events, sporting passion and a twist of adventure.
• Harmony Week – Celebrate Harmony Week to recognise diversity and inclusion activities that take place during the entire week.
• Refugee Week – Celebrate Refugee Week to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. Find out how you can host your own event with support, resources, and information.
• Multicultural Queensland Month is the state’s largest multicultural celebration and is held in August each year.
• Welcome desk sign (PDF printable A4 signage) (PDF 653 KB) / Welcome sign (JPEG for digital use) (JPG 564 KB) - The welcome sign features the word 'welcome' in more than 40 languages that are spoken in our community. You can download and print the artwork to display or include it as part of your online platform to show that you are welcoming of people from diverse backgrounds.

Global Food Markets

The Global Food Markets is open every Sunday from 6:00am to 12:00pm. It includes a large range of Asian and Ethnic food, fruits, and vegetables. There are over 100 authentic food stalls serving freshly made breakfast cuisines from around the world. Free entry and lots of free parking available. For more information visit Global Food Markets.

Language assistance and translated information

Contact us in your own language through Translating and Interpreting Service. Call 131 450 and ask to speak with Logan City Council on 07 3412 3412.

Our website can be translated into many languages. Just select your language by clicking on the language / accessibility button at the top of the page.