THE City of Whittlesea has voted to continue holding citizenship ceremonies in the days surrounding Australia Day rather than returning them to January 26.
Councillors at the April council meeting adopted the preferred approach for January 2027, meaning future ceremonies will be scheduled within the three-day period before or after Australia Day, in line with the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code.
The decision follows several years of ceremonies being moved off January 26. The last time the Whittlesea Council held a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day itself was in 2023.
Under the code, councils are required to conduct ceremonies either on Australia Day or within three days either side of the date.
A council report acknowledged the “complexity and diversity of views” within the community regarding Australia Day, while also examining the cultural, operational and financial impacts of holding ceremonies on January 26.
An alternative proposal would have seen ceremonies return to Australia Day itself.
Instead, councillors endorsed keeping the current model, which was used again this year when two ceremonies were held on Friday, January 23, with 360 people invited to become Australian citizens.
Council also resolved to continue supporting community-led Australia Day events through its Community Grants Program and to actively promote grant opportunities in the lead-up to the national day.
The move means Whittlesea will maintain a separate approach that seeks to balance formal citizenship celebrations with the range of community views surrounding January 26.