Intercultural Ambassador Program

About the program

The Intercultural Ambassadors Program plays numerous roles within the City of Greater Bendigo, including:

  • Act as a communication bridge between City staff, councillors and culturally diverse communities. 
  • Advocate for intercultural development, empathy and human rights work across the City of Greater Bendigo. 
  • Support, celebrate and promote cultural events, building pride in the City’s multicultural diversity.
Impact of the Intercultural Ambassadors Program

Congratulations to the outgoing Intercultural Ambassadors

The outgoing group of Intercultural Ambassadors (now Alumni and mentors to the incoming group) left us with so much food for thought through a powerful performance showing vignettes of their journey to making Bendigo their home.

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Group photo of the Intercultural Ambassadors from 2023/2024
L-R: Sandy Joffe, Maha Htoo Sein, Yadwinder Singh, Miriam Casas, Dassanyake Sampath (Sam) Wickramasinghe, Matt Evans, Dr. Thaera O’Brien, Shilin Joseph, Leila Hashimi, Nishadi Weeratunga. Not in image: Eunmi Cho, Marlissa Theresia and Enos Mahachi.

Welcome to the incoming group of Intercultural Ambassadors

We warmly welcome twelve new Intercultural Ambassadors from nine different countries.

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Group photo of the Intercultural Ambassadors for 2024/2025
L-R: Risa Arimoto, Father Junray Rayna, Arianne Ballantyne, Annie Christopher, Surya Pratiwi, Hetty Chidziva, May Soe Phyu, Valentine Joe, Maria Sanchez. Recruited but not in the picture: Jasimine Bhangu, Garima Solanki, Thuy Truong.
Risa Arimoto from Japan

Biography is coming soon.

Arianne Ballantyne from the Philippines

Biography is coming soon.

Jaismine Bhangu from India - Punjab

Biography is coming soon.

Hetty Chidziva from Ghana

Biography is coming soon.

Annie Christopher from India - Kerala

Biography is coming soon.

Valentine Joe from Zimbabwe

Biography is coming soon.

May Soe Phyu from Burma (Myanmar)

Biography is coming soon.

Surya Martha Pratiwi from Indonesia

Biography is coming soon.

Junray Rayna from the Philippines

Biography is coming soon.

Maria Helena Sgarioto from Brazil

Biography is coming soon.

Garima Solanki from India

Biography is coming soon.

Thuy Truong from Vietnam

Biography is coming soon.

Activities for the last quarter of 2024

  • Graduation of Outgoing Intercultural Ambassadors in September 2024
  • Launch of New intercultural Ambassadors at Zinda Festival 12th October
  • Community Engagement Activities at Zinda Festival, FunLoong Fun Day and Eaglehawk Children’s festival
  • Attend ‘Emergencies, Safety and Multicultural Communities’ online forum
  • Attend and contribute to the City’s Climate Risk and Resilience Co-Design workshop
  • Undertake Planning for the rest of their term

Contact

For more information about the Intercultural Ambassador Program, please contact the Intercultural Ambassadors Program Officer:

[email protected]