Councils across New South Wales are delivering projects to strengthen community connection and overcome hate, racism and discrimination at a local level, thanks to the latest round of the NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government. Under the $800,000 program, seven metropolitan and six regional councils will consult with their communities to elevate local voices and shape each council’s response to hate, racism and discrimination. When social cohesion is undermined, communities are less resilient and division grows. The program responds directly to those concerns, supporting councils to deliver practical solutions and reinforce that hate, racism and discrimination have no place in NSW, particularly in the wake of rising community tensions observed in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each project is locally designed and led to reflect the needs of specific communities, with many supporting the development of local anti-racism strategies and other long-term initiatives to build more inclusive communities. In Willoughby, council will facilitate a youth-led project across council areas along the Metro Line to build shared connection and address racism, misinformation and social division through guided engagements. In Lake Macquarie, accessible training will build the skills and confidence of community members to prevent, respond to and report racial discrimination. Since launching in 2021, the NSW Social Cohesion Grants program has delivered more than $2.7 million to 21 local governments, reaching diverse communities from western Sydney to regional centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said: \u201cOur communities are made stronger by our diverse faiths, backgrounds, and cultures. It’s vital that we do everything we can to ensure our differences are respected and seen as the strengths that they are.\u201d \u201cNo one should be made to feel like they do not belong in our state,\u201d he said. \u201cCreating a safe and inclusive environment for every person, and every family, is a duty that we all share.\u201d Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said councils play an important role in bringing people together and helping create places where everyone feels they belong. The grant program is part of a broader state government commitment to social cohesion, which includes funding for community festivals, interfaith dialogues and multicultural media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Lake Macquarie City Council Mayor Adam Shultz said: \u201cLake Macquarie is a welcoming and inclusive city and we’re committed to continuing to build on that.\u201d Willoughby City Council Mayor Tanya Taylor said: \u201cWilloughby is proud to support Metro Connect, a youth-led project that uses our city’s transport connections to bring communities closer together.\u201d The grants represent a practical investment in social cohesion at the grassroots level, empowering local governments to tailor responses to the unique challenges faced by their communities. Early evaluations of previous grant rounds have shown positive outcomes, including increased reporting of racist incidents, improved trust in local institutions and greater participation in civic activities among minority groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The funding comes at a time when Australia is grappling with a rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, as well as increased racial vilification on social media. The NSW government has also introduced new legislation to criminalise hate symbols and strengthen penalties for hate crimes, complementing the community-based approach of the grants. The combination of legal deterrence and grassroots engagement is seen as a dual-pronged strategy to tackle the root causes of division. The government has indicated that it will continue to expand the program in future budgets, subject to evaluation of current projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking forward, the success of these grants will depend on the sustained commitment of councils and community partners to embed anti-racism principles into their everyday operations. The funding provides a launchpad, but lasting change requires ongoing education, dialogue and institutional reform. The NSW government has pledged to work with the federal government on national anti-racism strategies, recognising that the issue transcends state borders. For the communities receiving grants, the projects offer a tangible opportunity to build bridges and foster a sense of shared belonging in an increasingly diverse society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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