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.

Find out more about Multicultural Month

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)

More information about Citizenship Ceremonies in Cairns

Last Updated: 9 July 2026

Latest News > All News

How do you library? We want to know

Cairns Libraries is inviting the community to have its say on the future of library services....

Community & Lifestyle
28 August 2026

Annual dam warning system test

The Copperlode Falls Dam Early Warning System will be live tested on Thursday 3 September between 10am and midday....

General Updates
27 August 2026

Keeping it local pays off for Cairns

More than nine out of every 10 dollars spent in 2025/26 stayed in the local economy, contributing to a total...

Business & Economy
26 August 2026