Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District sponsored a visit to Dandenong Plaza for ladies from multicultural communities as part of encountering and understanding Australian culture and multiculturalism.
Census shows Dandenong is the most multicultural city
IT’S official — Dandenong is the most multicultural municipality in Australia. The 2016 census figures have been analysed and compared and Mayor Youhorn Chea said the chances of any two people in the street being born in different countries was 78 per cent.
More than half of residents were born overseas — in 157 different countries. More than 70 per cent speak a language other than English. “More than four in five residents in Greater Dandenong have at least one overseas born parent,” Cr Chea said.
Dandenong also has more refugees than anywhere else in Victoria with 2,000 residents escaping war and persecution. The number of people in Dandenong who speak a language other than English is just over twice the Victorian average of 31 per cent.
Jason Tuhi, who runs NZ Street food at the Dandenong market, came to Australia when he was three. He said multiculturalism makes communities stronger. “I think it’s really good to have different cultures all around, it’s quite exciting,” he said. “You learn different things from different people.”
Catherine Pascua came to Australia as an international student from the Philippines 10 years ago. She now runs Si Kat Pinoy Eatscetera, a Filipino street food stall at the Dandenong Market. “The market is very multicultural, it’s like visiting other countries,” she said. “I love it.”
Hekmath Rahemi fled Afghanistan in 1989 during the Soviet-Afghan war and has lived in Australia for 30 years. “Dandenong has a really positive vibe to it,” he said. “Now you go to Dandenong and there are all these restaurants, bakeries and shops that supply your traditional food, making it easy.”
