Good afternoon Dr Ben Damon,

Thank you for contacting the Sunshine Coast Council. In order to assist
with your questions please note the following:

As of 24 September 2023, there is a total of 338 approved conferees (by
Department of Home Affairs) and waiting to attend a Sunshine Coast
Citizenship Ceremony to receive their Australian Citizenship.  By the time
we reach our next ceremony on Australia Day – 26 January 2024; there would
be a total of 730 approved conferees awaiting for a ceremony. We would
allocate 250 approved conferees to the Australia Day ceremony therefore
this would reduce to 480 approved conferees waiting for a ceremony.

The current wait time between Citizenship approvals and a ceremony within
the Sunshine Coast region are provided below in a percentage value.

o Less than 3 months – 40%
o 3-6 months – 36%
o 6-12 months – 22%
o 1 year+ – 2% (please note this 2 per cent waiting over a year is due
to their non-attendance in the past for schedule ceremonies. The
Department of Home Affairs follows up with these conferees directly to
try get them to attend the next ceremony).

Please find below information on Citizenship Ceremonies that have been
held in 2023 and upcoming ceremonies to be held in 2024.

2023

o 1x Ceremony on Australia Day – 26 January 2023 for 199 approved
conferees
o 2x Ceremonies – 5 April 2023 for 456 approved conferees
o 2x Ceremonies – 24 May 2023 for 455 approved conferees
o 2x Ceremonies – 22 September 2023 for 534 approved conferees

2024

o 1x Ceremony on Australia Day – 26 January 2024 for 250 approved
conferees
o 2x Ceremonies – Tentative for first week March 2024 for 500 approved
conferees
o 2x Ceremonies – Tentative for first week May 2024 for 500 approved
conferees
o 2x Ceremonies – September 2024 for 500 approved conferees

Each year the Sunshine Coast Council holds seven (7) Citizenship
Ceremonies.

In 2022 2,194 approved conferees became Citizens across 7 ceremonies.

In 2023 1,644 approved conferees became Citizens across 7 ceremonies.

In 2024 we are aiming for a similar number of approx. 1,750 approved
conferees to become Citizens across 7 ceremonies again.

Kind regards,

Community Festivals & Events Team

Creative Arts & Events | Arts, Heritage and Libraries

Economic & Community Development | Sunshine Coast Council

Email: [1][email address]

Website: [2]www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Mail: Locked Bag 72 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Qld 4560

Sunshine Coast Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this region,
the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples. Council commits to working in
partnership with the Traditional Owners and the broader First Nations
community to support self-determination through economic and community
development.

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From: Internet Mailbox Right to Information
<[7][Sunshine Coast Regional Council request email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 26 September 2023 9:03 AM
To: Janine Symons <[8][email address]>
Subject: FW: Right to Information request - Citizenship Ceremony Dates

Good morning Janine

Please see the attached request for information about citizenship
ceremonies. 

Would you or your team be able to respond to this customer directly?  It
is not a formal access application at present. 

Please note that any replies to the attached email will be automatically
published online on this website:

[9]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/c...

If you have any concerns or issues about disclosing information then
please feel free to contact me. 

Kind regards

Victor Catchpoole

Right to Information Officer

Integrity Management | Corporate Governance

Civic Governance | Sunshine Coast Council

[10]Logo 1
Ph:                   [11]07 5420 8819
Email:               [12][email address]
Website:           [13]www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Mail:                 Locked Bag 72  Sunshine Coast Mail Centre  QLD  4551

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