The Australia Council for the Arts and many community and multicultural arts groups are mourning the passing away of Mary Dimech after a fight against cancer.

Frank Panucci, director, Community Partnerships said Mary joined the newly established Community Cultural Development Board at the Australia Council in 1987 and worked for almost 10 years. She came with a significant reputation as an informed and relentless advocate for all minority groups and ethnic communities in particular.

Ms Dimech was a qualified social worker whose strength and passion came from her deeply held community development principles and commitment to opening the arts in Australia to all Australians. She led the way at the Australia Council for the development and implementation of its first multicultural arts policy and enabled the swell of multicultural arts practices across Australia.

Her leadership saw the formation of the Australia Council’s Multicultural Advisory Committee. Her legacy also includes the requirement that there is ethnic representation on all boards and committees.

She will be deeply missed across Australia, Mr Panucci said.