Children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

The Department of Education acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands across Queensland.

We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the state.

The department is committed to providing an inclusive and equitable education for every student and to fulfilling our obligations under Queensland’s Multicultural Recognition Act 2016 and Human Rights Act 2019.

In early 2022, the department consulted widely on ways to improve outcomes for children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as they move from entry to Prep through to their post-school destinations. Consultation findings, contemporary research and local evidence will continue to inform planning focused specifically on children and young people who:

• were born in a country other than Australia

• have 1 parent or both parents who were born overseas

• speak a language other than English or Australian Indigenous languages at home

and/or

• have a parent or parents who speak a language other than English or Australian Indigenous languages at home.

Refugees and asylum seekers, international students, migrants taking up employment opportunities and others reuniting with family contribute to our culturally diverse school communities.

Planning does not specifically include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people as the department has a clear commitment and dedicated First Nations Strategy and Partnerships team focused on improving the educational experiences and outcomes of Australian First Nations students.

For more information, please contact Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Inclusion at [email protected].

Supporting advice and resources

• Queensland Multicultural Recognition Act 2016
• Queensland multicultural policy and action plan
• Equity and Excellence
• Language Services Policy
• Guidelines for using interpreters in schools
• Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma
• Training and resources
• Refugee student support kit
• Multicultural Australia
• Online teaching and learning activities:
• Bullying No Way—information and resources about bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence in schools for school leaders, teachers, parents and students from Prep to Year 12.
• Prejudice, No Way—anti-prejudice activities for kindergarten to Year 2 ​students.
• Racism, No Way—anti-racism activities for Year 3–12 students.
• Racism. It Stops With Me—a national campaign with tools and resources to help learn about racism and take action to create change.
• Other sources of advice:
• The Australian Council of TESOL Associations Inc.
• Queensland Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (QATESOL)​
• Queensland Human Rights Commission
• Australian Government: Refugee and humanitarian program