Multicultural information
We're a Welcoming City
Diversity is our reality; inclusion is our choice.
Council is part of the Welcoming Cities Network, a national initiative that supports Local Governments to further embrace diversity, foster social cohesion and enhance our region’s multicultural focus. Registering as a Welcoming City enables Council to tap into shared learning and resources, benchmark cultural diversity and inclusion policies, programs and initiatives, identify future improvements and assess our progress.
We also work with many multicultural groups in Cairns in many ways, including offering grants to support events and festivals for the annual Multicultural Month celebrations in August.
Quick facts about multicultural Cairns
- 22.2% of people in Cairns were born overseas
- 13.9% of people in Cairns speak a language other than English a home
- 72 languages are spoken in Cairns
- The top 10 non-English languages spoken in Cairns are Japanese, Mandarin, Nepali, Punjabi, Creole nfd, Italian, German, Tagalog, Korean and Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole).
- More than 900 residents of the Cairns region become Australian citizens every year. Citizenship ceremonies are hosted by Council several times a year under the direction of the Department of Home Affairs.
(Search Diversity Queensland - Online Population Resource, 2026)
If you are new to Cairns and looking to connect with your community, you can get in touch with these services:
- Centacare Multicultural Services - Centacare is a registered charity that provides free settlement support to migrants (including refugees and special humanitarian entrants) primarily from non-English speaking backgrounds.
- Phone: (07) 4242 1058
- Email: cms@centacarefnq.org
- Cairns Regional Council Multicultural Community Services Officer
- Phone: (07) 4044 3568
- Email: communityservices@cairns.qld.gov.au
- Queensland Multicultural Resource Directory - This Queensland Government tool provides a comprehensive listing of more than 900 key organisations with an ethnic community focus in Queensland. The Directory does not list private businesses.
- Cairns Community Radio FM89.1 - The community radio station is operated by volunteers and local multicultural groups providing 30 hours of Indigenous and multicultural programming a week.
- Phone: (+61) 7 4053 6891
- Email: info@cairnsfm891.org.au
The Australian Government provides translating and interpreting services for people who do not speak English and for English speakers needing to communicate with them.
The Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS national) operates nationally and is available to any person or organisation requiring interpreting services. The interpreting service is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
TIS National is accessible from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call. For more information visit their website or Telephone: 131 450.
Cairns welcomes international students from all over the world. Students from more than 60 countries are already taking advantage of the world-class education system and the tropical lifestyle on offer in Cairns.
The four education sectors are well represented in Cairns and offer study options to international students. There are established education pathways between each education sector, enabling international students to undertake study in more than one education sector. Cairns offers:
- Two Universities: James Cook University and CQUniversity
- TAFE and private VET providers
- Study tours
- English Language Colleges
- Public and private primary and secondary schools.
Study Cairns
International students are invited to get in touch with Study Cairns for more information about making the move to Cairns.
As well as being a source of information and support, Study Cairns runs the Cairns Student Hub - a thriving multi-cultural student community in the centre of Cairns city that helps international students make connections with one another and the Cairns Community. The centre is supported by Cairns Regional Council, educational institutions and local businesses as well as Study Cairns.
For information on study options or living and working in Cairns, contact Study Cairns:
- Website: www.studycairns.com.au
- Email: info@studycairns.com.au
- Phone: +61 7 4080 2902
Last Updated: 21 October 2026
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