Coffs Harbour Local Government Area is located on the traditional land of the Gumbaynggirr people. It is a major regional city with a population of around 78,000 on the Mid North Coast of NSW, about halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. The region is a mix of towns, villages and rural areas. The Coffs Harbour area is not only home to regional facilities but also operates as a service centre for the surrounding areas. Since 2008, over 1600 people have arrived to Coffs Harbour under the Humanitarian Settlement Program.
Current initiatives
Coffs Harbour City Council became a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2008 and has committed to this declaration by hosting regular inclusive cross-cultural community celebrations including Refugee Week and Harmony Day, citizenship ceremonies, performances, film festivals, and other initiatives that support and sustain our refugee community.
Council actively collaborates with a wide range of organisations who are working to achieve the best outcomes for new arrivals to our region. Two key projects of focus include:
Coffs Harbour Refugee Sector Action Plan
Coffs Harbour City Council is the ‘backbone’ support in this collective impact approach. We work with various organisations and government bodies whose work intersects with refugee settlement – whether that be schools, health services, state and federal government departments, or refugee specific organisations such as settlement agencies. Together, we identify the key issues that refugees face when settling in Coffs Harbour, and identify, map and monitor initiatives to address those challenges.
All One Under the Sun
Coffs Harbour City Council is a proud consortium member of this remedy to racism project, funded by Multicultural NSW. This youth-led project promotes social inclusion, connection, belonging and education using arts-based messaging to build resilience in the Coffs Harbour community and stand against racism. Achievements (so far) include a recorded song and film clip, a documentary, song-writing programs, a Youth Action Collective, schools-based programs and a festival. See https://www.alloneunderthesun.com.au/
