Independent Multicultural Media Australia (IMMA) has welcomed a $100,000 grant from the NSW Government to support the sustainability and growth of multicultural media outlets across the state.
Jointly funded by Multicultural NSW and the NSW Department of Customer Service, the grant will strengthen IMMA’s operations and provide vital interim support as the organisation awaits additional federal funding later this year. IMMA represents more than 45 multicultural media organisations across Australia, collectively engaging with up to five million people each month.
The funding will enable IMMA to roll out a range of initiatives aimed at building industry capability and ensuring long-term viability for multicultural media. These include:
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Hosting workshops, peer learning groups, and a mentorship program to strengthen professional skills and collaboration;
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Enhancing digital capability, corporate governance, and overall organisational capacity;
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Conducting research to map community media engagement, impact, and growth opportunities;
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Running commercial readiness programs to help outlets manage integrated campaigns, meet compliance standards, and attract both government and private-sector clients;
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Raising the public profile of multicultural media, highlighting its vital role in New South Wales’ social fabric;
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Unlocking greater opportunities for member outlets to participate in campaign planning and the broader media landscape.
IMMA Secretary Dr Fotis Kapetopoulos said the funding recognises the crucial role multicultural media plays in giving voice to culturally diverse communities.
“The grant from the NSW Government for IMMA is a signal to our media that their work matters in telling the stories that matter to multicultural communities,” Dr Kapetopoulos said.
“It sends a message to commercial NSW: invest in multicultural media, invest in our communities.
IMMA is proud to lead the digital and structural transformation of this vital sector, ensuring multicultural media remains strong, independent, and equipped to serve our diverse state.”
Echoing this sentiment, Joseph La Posta, CEO of Multicultural NSW, acknowledged the essential contribution multicultural media makes to inclusion and cohesion.
“The NSW Government is extremely grateful for the contribution multicultural media outlets have made to harmony and inclusion in this state,” Mr La Posta said.
“These publications do more than just report the news – they serve as community touchpoints and amplify the voices of people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
This funding will help IMMA safeguard the industry for years to come, strengthening resilience in a rapidly changing media landscape.”
Through this investment, the NSW Government affirms its commitment to supporting media that reflects the state’s diversity, ensuring that multicultural voices remain central to the stories that shape New South Wales.