Bayside Council is located in Sydney’s southern and south-eastern suburbs, between 7 and 12 kilometres south of the CBD. Our Local Government Area spans 29 suburbs and is home to around 178,000 residents. With a growth rate of over 2% per year, Bayside’s population is expected to reach more than 209,000 people by 2031.
Bayside is one of the most culturally rich and diverse communities in NSW. Our residents come from all corners of the world, bringing with them a wealth of languages, cultures and traditions. Almost half of our residents were born overseas, 53% speak a language other than English at home, and more than 60 faiths are practised across our community.
As a proud Refugee Welcome Zone, Bayside is among the top ten local government areas in NSW with the highest number of Bridging Visa holders. We are committed to fostering inclusion, respect and understanding for all who call Bayside home.
Bayside Council supports our multicultural community in many ways, including:
• Publishing our Welcome to Bayside Guide, which explains the role of local government and the services we provide to our residents.
• Ensuring our programs, services and activities are accessible to everyone in our community.
• Supporting those directly impacted by recent conflicts in the Middle East, in particularly young people who are at risk of trauma and mental health issues.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with local interagency networks, including the Inner Eastern Sydney Multicultural Interagency, St George Multicultural Network, and the Multicultural Health Committee.
Bayside Council is deeply committed to welcoming refugees, upholding their rights, and supporting their successful settlement in our area.
The former Rockdale City Council was an early adopter of the Refugee Welcome Zone program in 2013, and in May 2022, Bayside Council was proud to be formally reinstated as a Refugee Welcome Zone, reaffirming our long-standing commitment to compassion, inclusion and community harmony.
