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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.
Since 2024, Brisbane Airport has proudly sponsored the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade, 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, this year bringing over 13,000 attendees, 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 1,600 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.
Jason Olsson-Seeto, Chief Development Officer 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 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,” Jason 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.”
For Jason, 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.”
Brisbane Airport was proud to serve as a volunteer sponsor for the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade, a meaningful opportunity to support our broader commitment to fostering inclusivity and community connection in the region. 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.