This document is a case study about the Wagga Wagga City Library Language Café program. The program was created in response to the growing culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community in Wagga Wagga, which comprises 6% of the city’s population of over 64,000 and includes many refugees. The program is coordinated by library staff and delivered three times a week for 90 minutes by trained volunteers. The Language Café provides a central learning point for individuals from diverse cultural groups to access English classes in an informal environment.

Organizations can use this case study as a model to engage multicultural communities by:

• Partnering with educational institutions to provide language learning opportunities. The Wagga Wagga City Library partnered with Riverina TAFE to train volunteers to deliver the Language Café program. By collaborating with educational institutions, organizations can tap into their expertise and resources to develop and deliver high-quality language programs.
• Creating welcoming and inclusive spaces for language learning. The Language Café is delivered in an informal environment, which can help to reduce anxiety and create a more relaxed and enjoyable learning experience. Organizations can create similar spaces by considering the cultural needs of participants and providing a supportive and welcoming atmosphere.
• Offering programs that meet the needs of diverse learners. The Language Café offers resources at both beginner and advanced levels of English. This ensures that the program is accessible to learners with different levels of proficiency. Organizations can similarly tailor their programs to the specific needs of their target audience.