SYDNEY: Monday, 8 November 2010 The NSW Government will elevate the status of the Community Relations Commission.

This will recognise the important role culturally diverse communities play in NSW and their importance to the State's social and cultural fabric as well as the economy.

The Community Relations Commission is responsible for providing advice on multicultural issues and supporting people from a variety of different backgrounds.

The Commission will now be set up as its own separate division aligned within the Department of Justice and Attorney General. It will report directly to the Premier and Minister for Citizenship.

This was announced jointly by Premier Kristina Keneally and the Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos.

Establishing the Commission as a separate division will provide it with more autonomy and direct access to the various NSW Government Ministers.

It will also enhance the Commission's relationship with the Anti-Discrimination Board and the Crime Prevention Division within the Department of Justice and Attorney General.

Current Chairman Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian (pictured between Keneally and Hatzistergos above) will remain as head of the new Community Relations Commission division.

The Community Relations Commission's services and programs include:

Community Development Grants for not-for-profit organisations;Translation and interpretation services in more than 85 languages and dialects;Running the National Multicultural Marketing Awards;Operating the Multicultural Youth Network; andHolding regular Community Relations Symposiums to bring together community members to network and learn about innovative community projects.

"The elevation of the Community Relations Commission demonstrates the importance the NSW Government places on cultural diversity and community cohesion," Ms Keneally said.

"The new arrangement will mean that the aspirations and concerns of culturally and linguistically diverse communities will be raised with the Minister for Citizenship and myself directly and at the earliest possible opportunity."

Minister for Citizenship, John Hatzistergos said, "The Community Relations Commission is the NSW Government's eyes and ears on the ground within the vast number of culturally diverse communities which make up the peoples of this great State."

"It is because of the hard work of the Commission that the NSW Government is able to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of those communities."