Bumper year for new citizens calling Parramatta home

Parramatta has welcomed one of its largest groups of new citizens, adding more diversity to our global City.

More than 5400 people were invited to take the citizenship pledge at a number of packed ceremonies at Riverside Theatres, with people from India, China, Philippines, Pakistan and Iran making up the largest share of new citizens calling Australia - and Parramatta - home.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Pierre Esber is thrilled to welcome this year’s influx of new citizens.

“I have known for years just how wonderful Parramatta is, and word is getting out across the globe that Parramatta is a great place to live, work, study and, ultimately call home,” Cr Esber said.

“We are a proud, diverse and friendly community and the fact is it can be hard to get a seat at our citizenship ceremonies at Riverside Theatres.

“Whether its accessible public transport, such as the soon-to-be-opened Parramatta Light Rail, our internationally-recognised nightlife or our beautiful green spaces, such as Parramatta Park, Parramatta is the envy of other Councils in Australia.”

Parramatta resident Nusrat Zabeen Islam is one of the thousands of migrants who took the pledge this year, becoming an Australian citizen during a ceremony on 24 October.

Her journey to citizenship began in 2018 when she moved to Australia from Bangladesh to study a Master of Social Work.

“After living and working here for several years, I started feeling connected with Australian culture, community, and the land,” she said.

“Parramatta is now my home. I have many family friends whose children are studying and growing up alongside my daughter. I feel safe to live in Parramatta as I never feel I am stranger here.”

Nusrat said the ceremony was life-changing and a day she will never forget.

“The citizenship ceremony day was one of the best memorable days in my life. I saw a huge diversity in the room who were there to get their citizenship,” she said.

“For the first time, I sang the national anthem and realised that this is my national anthem from today; I was feeling the song from my heart.

“I will never forget this amazing event.”