Re-Issued with correction: Victor Dominello med rel: NSW PARTNERS WITH GIRL GUIDES TO STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT WITH MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES

Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello today announced that the NSW Government will provide $75,000 to help Girl Guides NSW & ACT recruit girls and young women from diverse cultural backgrounds.

The partnership will aim to increase the number of Girl Guides in NSW from a multicultural background through working closely with multicultural community leaders and girls families.

“The Girl Guides organisation includes 30,000 members across Australia in 1,800 Guide Units and has been providing opportunities for girls and young women to learn more about civic participation and giving back to their communities”, Mr Dominello said.

“Community groups like Girl Guides encourage a shared commitment to Australian values and are important in promoting social cohesion and community harmony”.

“Like all community organisations, I want to ensure that the Girl Guides reflect Australian society and that is why we are providing funds to assist Girl Guides to reach out to multicultural communities across NSW.

“The Girl Guides’ aim to make girls confident, responsible community members and this grant will encourage that important work to be continued across our multicultural communities.

“I want to encourage girls and young women from multicultural communities across NSW to become leaders in their communities and I know that this partnership will help achieve that.

“They will be joining ten million other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from across the globe who are members of the largest voluntary movement dedicated to girls and young women in the world”, Mr Dominello said.

Girl Guides NSW & ACT State Commissioner Belinda Allen said today that “Girl Guides value and celebrate cultural diversity and we look forward to welcoming many more members from a diverse range of backgrounds”.

“The Australian Guiding program prepares girls and young women to thrive in a rapidly changing world. We encourage teamwork, help girls to grow in confidence and inspire girls to speak up and be heard”, Ms Allen said.