Regents Park local selected as a member for first Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council

Elijah Buol as one of the members of the first Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council, which was recently announced by Multicultural Affairs Minister Grace Grace.

She said the new council had been selected following an open and transparent recruitment and selection process.

“The members of the new advisory council will provide advice to the government on the needs and aspirations of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,” she said.

“The council will also play a significant role in giving Queenslanders from multicultural communities a voice in the development of policies that affect them and help shape Queensland’s multicultural future.

“I look forward to calling on the expertise of the council members as we work together to promote the Multicultural Queensland Charter to support a unified, harmonious and inclusive community.”

Elijah Buol arrived in Australia in 2002, as an unaccompanied minor.

At the age of nine, the South Sudanese man was displaced and separated from his family.

He spent seven years in two separate refugee camps in Uganda before being granted a humanitarian visa and being settled in Australia.

Today Mr Buol is the president of the Queensland African Communities Council.

He has a Master of Justice in Intelligence from  Queensland University of Technology, graduate certificate in intelligence, Bachelor of Human Services and diploma of community welfare work from TAFE.

He has worked in a variety of community and government organisations and established a number of community associations as well as sat on the management committees and reference groups of several organisations.

Ms Grace said the new members brought a wealth of varied experiences to the council, with employment backgrounds including community services, business, academia, the arts and law.

“The new members come from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including South Sudanese, Muslim, Indian, Bangladeshi, Jewish, Russian, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, Chinese and New Zealand Maori,” she said.

“I’m also proud the council exceeds the target of 50 percent representation from women on Queensland Government boards andcouncils.

“It also has regional representation with members from Rockhampton and Toowoomba.”

The advisory council is a key initiative in the Multicultural Recognition Act 2016 which commenced on 1 July to ensure greater support for the state’s multicultural communities.

The new members of the Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council are: