Australia's Multicultural Framework is currently under review, and this morning I had the privilege of being invited to provide academic insights on how the government, academia, and the community can work together to support a cohesive multicultural society and advance a vibrant and prosperous future for all Australians.
Of course, the panel of invited academics could have talked all day about the research we have dedicated our working lives to - but we only had 1.5hrs! Some of the points I raised were:
1) Racism and its intersection with other forms of discrimination remains a key barrier to multiculturalism. There needs to be continued investment (and govt buy-in) in robust research that contributes to our understanding of racism, how it shifts and changes over time and place, where and how it occurs, and what its impacts are. Any anti-racism policy or intervention must simultaneously be informed by robust research and evaluation.
2) Australian's distrust (or wariness) in key institutions such as govt, media, courts and police is another key barrier to social cohesion and successful multiculturalism. Our research shows correlations between distrust in institutions and anti-divesity sentiment. Building trust in public institutions is therefore in need of urgent attention.
3) Research on multiculturalism and related areas (racism, trust etc) needs to be accessible and widely available for use by policy makers, community organisations, researchers, media, and other stakeholders.
4) Language and terminology is key. Far too often have I seen "multicultural Australia" be a synonymn for "migrant Australia" - more specifically migrants from particular parts of the world. Similarly, 'multicultural communities' and 'diverse communities' have become racialised phrases. The multicultural framework is for ALL Australians as we ALL contribute to the multicultural/diverse community that is Australia. Shifting to more inclusive discourse while acknowledging our differing needs and responsibilities within the framework will help us create a more socially just society.
So on that note, I encourage you to make a submission on the Multicultural Framework Review. The Review Panel wants to hear YOUR ideas and experiences about what is working well and what could be better, and what is important to you. Submissions are open to any organisation or member of the public and will inform the findings and recommendations presented in the final report to the Australian Government.
Challenging Racism Project
Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS)
https://lnkd.in/gaBw5rcS