Multicultural Comms Summit Held Amidst Backdrop of Anti-Immigration Protests
Amid simmering tensions rippling through Australia following anti-immigration protests held nationwide on Sunday, Ethnolink hosted its flagship summit in Melbourne with nearly 300 marketing, communications, creative, and engagement professionals in attendance.
The event focused on multicultural communications and explored how organisations can meaningfully engage migrant communities at a time when migration is under scrutiny.
Reflecting on the day, Costa Vasili, CEO of Ethnolink and a recent inductee into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll, says: “Bringing together such a diverse group of professionals shows what is possible when inclusion is at the centre of our work. This summit was about celebrating diversity and proving that inclusive communication creates stronger, more connected communities.”
Ahead of Sunday’s protests, Ethnolink released a statement condemning the rallies and reaffirming its long-standing commitment to multiculturalism. “Australia is an extraordinary country. Our strength comes from our diversity, and we must never lose sight of that,” the statement read.
Held at Zinc, Federation Square, on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, the annual Ethnolink Summit brought together leaders from government departments, local councils, not-for-profit organisations, and creative agencies. A central theme emerged: multicultural campaigns achieve real impact when they are co-created with the very communities they are designed to reach.
Data from the 2021 Australian Census shows that more than half of Australians (51.5%) were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas, while over 22% speak a language other than English at home—highlighting the critical need for effective in-language and culturally resonant communications.
The summit featured an impressive line-up of speakers from prominent organisations, including the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Ethnolink, Brand Asia, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, Punchy Digital Media, Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA), the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, Monash University, and Hume City Council.
Ethnolink, a Melbourne-based multicultural communications agency with over 50 full-time staff, organised the summit to build the skills and confidence of practitioners who aspire to make an impact but are often unsure where to begin.
The summit follows Ethnolink’s brand launch in July this year, building on significant client wins, including its appointment to lead a large-scale national campaign in eight languages on natural hazard preparedness for multicultural communities. Commissioned by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and backed by $1.5 million in federal funding, the innovative campaign is currently in development.
