Hobart Welcomes All
Prior to colonisation, there were nine known Aboriginal nations living across Tasmania. These had close to fifty family groups. Tasmanian Aboriginal people are also known as Palawa people. They represent the southernmost, oldest continuous culture in the world. Tasmanian Aboriginal people cared for land upon which Hobart was built for more than 40 000 years. They were the first to welcome visitors to this place and we are proud to continue this tradition of welcome.
Here in Hobart, we aspire to be the most inclusive city in the world: a city that welcomes all
At our best, Hobart is a place where we can be ourselves. Especially those of us who have moved from elsewhere have found peace in moving to Hobart. Hobart demands honesty and authenticity. Many of us love how Hobart is not an arrogant or pretentious city. It is the type of place where we can wear a black puffer jacket, affectionately known as the Tasmanian Tuxedo, out to dinner. - A Community Vision for our Island Capital, Identity Statement 3
Diversity in culture, nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, ability, age, body, family, recreation, profession, personal strengths, income level, language, education, life experiences and more make up each of us and, together, make up our city. We recognise and embrace the rich complexity diversity brings to our lives — we are all part of creating Hobart's identity. - A Community Vision for our Island Capital, Pillar 2.2.3
Within the Hobart local government area:
- 1.4 per cent of residents identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- 29 per cent of residents were born overseas
- 46.7 per cent had one or both parents born overseas.
Nearly half of us have strong links to another country, with more than 50 languages spoken within our municipality.
Wherever you come from, and whatever brings you here, we welcome you to our beautiful city of Hobart.
The City of Hobart encourages everyone to show respect and stand up to racism where it occurs. To learn more about how you can make a difference, see the Hobart Respects All campaign.
Multicultural Programs
We have been involved in the promotion and celebration of cultural diversity in the Hobart community for many years.
We strive to improve the community's awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity. These include educational, social, economic and cultural benefits. We also work to mitigate the effects of racism and cultural isolation for multicultural communities in Hobart.
The City of Hobart is an active participant in regional and national networks. We are a proud member of the Welcoming Cities Network and a registered Refugee Welcome Zone.
The Multicultural Commitment 2021-23(PDF, 588KB) guides our work in supporting a welcoming, diverse City for all who live, study, work in or visit Hobart. The commitment was written in response to input from cultural leaders and community members. It provides the City and the community with a clearly defined action plan. We can use this to continue to meet the needs and build the capacity of multicultural communities in Hobart.
Interpreter services
The information on our website can be translated to another language. Please telephone an interpreter on 13 14 50 and state the language you wish to speak.
Ask the interpreter to call us on 03 6238 2711.