The NSW Literary Awards were held last week and they are a great reminder of the important role literature and the arts more broadly play in celebrating diverse voices.
We’re proud to have partnered again with the State Library of NSW to support the NSW Literary Awards. Vietnamese-Australian author Nam Le, won both Book of the Year and the Multicultural NSW Award for his work 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem. You can read more about the awards we supported below.
The value of storytelling in a multicultural society can’t be understated. Storytelling doesn’t just connect us, it challenges us to listen, reflect, and sometimes rethink what we thought we knew about each other, and ourselves.
Part of our work here at Multicultural NSW is to support opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to engage in the arts. Many of our COMPACT Program partners use creative methods like art, music, writing, digital media, and performance to amplify the voices of young people and tackle tough issues like hate and polarisation.
We’ll be entering a time of reflection ourselves over the coming months as we begin developing our Strategic Plan for 2026-2030. There will be several opportunities for you to help shape the direction of our work. Keep an eye on your inbox for more information on joining a community consultation session soon.
Lastly, I’d like to congratulate the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW on its 50th anniversary. Thank you for championing social cohesion and harmony in this state.
Joseph La Posta
CEO
