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Travellers passing through Brisbane Airport this festive season were treated to an uplifting musical experience as Camerata –...
When people first arrive in Queensland, Brisbane Airport is often their first point of contact—a warm welcome to the state. In much the same way, Multicultural Australia works to create a sense of belonging for those newly arrived, including refugees and asylum seekers, helping them feel at home in their new community.
This shared mission to welcome and embrace diversity is what makes Brisbane Airport's partnership with Multicultural Australia, through the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade, such a natural fit.
In 2024, Brisbane Airport proudly sponsored the Lantern Parade as part of the LUMINOUS Festival, an event that has grown from humble beginnings to one of Brisbane’s most important celebrations of multiculturalism.
Originally a candlelit march in support of refugees and asylum seekers in 2007, LUMINOUS has grown into a major cultural event that brings over 35,000 people, including 2,000 participants and 89 organisations, plus spectators, to South Bank.
The LUMINOUS Festival and its Lantern Parade serve as the opening to Multicultural Queensland Month, a celebration of the rich diversity found across Queensland. It’s a visual symbol of belonging, with over 2,000 people walking the 500-metre South Bank promenade, each carrying lanterns and messages of welcome. The lanterns reflect the core belief that Queensland is a place where everyone belongs, no matter their background.
Stanton Dunn, Marketing, Communications, and Events Manager at Multicultural Australia, highlights the importance of this event in shaping perceptions of Queensland as a welcoming, inclusive state.
"The message of LUMINOUS is simple but powerful: everyone belongs, no matter where you're from. It’s a real statement of support for multiculturalism and diversity here in Queensland.”
Brisbane Airport’s involvement in the LUMINOUS Festival and its Lantern Parade fits perfectly with its role as Queensland’s front door when travellers first arrive.
“Brisbane Airport creates welcome as the first interaction point for many people coming to Queensland,” Stanton says, “and the work that we do also creates welcome. It's such a perfect partnership, allowing us to send a clear message that you are welcome here, and Queensland is for you.”
This year the LUMINOUS Festival was an all-day event at South Bank that featured performances, cultural showcases, cooking demonstrations, and a cultural marketplace. The event also benefitted from its location in one of Brisbane’s busiest areas, where curious passersby could engage with the celebrations and learn more about the diverse communities that make up Queensland.
For Stanton, the Lantern Parade is a powerful way to create a sense of belonging for everyone who takes part. "It’s about creating a tangible experience of welcome," he says.
“Each group walks with a lantern that symbolises their place in Queensland. It’s a beautiful way to show that no matter where you’re from, you belong here.”
Stanton’s own experience of moving to Australia gives him a personal connection to the work that Multicultural Australia does. Originally from South Africa, Stanton moved to New Zealand before coming to Australia. Even though he speaks English, he found the adjustment challenging, making him especially empathetic to those arriving with language barriers or without support networks.
Looking ahead, Multicultural Australia has ambitious plans to grow the LUMINOUS Festival in 2025. The event will once again coincide with Multicultural Queensland Month, and organisers plan to expand its reach to more locations across the state.
“This year, we had activations in 13 locations across Queensland,” Stanton notes.
“Next year, we want to take the message of welcome even further, creating that sense of belonging in more communities across the state.”
For Brisbane Airport, supporting the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade is about more than sponsorship—it’s part of a broader commitment to fostering inclusivity and community connection. Through its community support programs and partnerships, Brisbane Airport is highlighting the fantastic work being done by local organisations like Multicultural Australia to strengthen community connections across Queensland.
As Queensland continues to grow and its population becomes more diverse, Multicultural Australia is focused on ensuring that the state remains a place where everyone feels welcome. The LUMINOUS Lantern Parade is a celebration of that commitment. Each lantern carried in the parade represents a story, a journey, and a shared belief in the power of inclusion and community.
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