Output 2.4 Promoting the benefits of a united and diverse society

Highlights

In February 2008, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services announced an administrative review of the Living in Harmony program. The review is looking at improving strategies for promoting the benefits of Australia’s cultural diversity. It is also seeking to broaden the reach of the program, direct funding more effectively to areas of need and promote a sense of belonging for all. Outcomes of the review are expected to be announced in late 2008.

An example of the department’s commitment to promoting the benefits of a culturally diverse society is the funding of a project run by Strathfield South High School titled ‘We are all Australian’. The project is a response to the alienation being experienced by young people of Middle Eastern backgrounds in schools in Western Sydney.

As part of the project, a DVD was produced about young Australians of Lebanese and Asian backgrounds getting to know students of Anglo-Saxon backgrounds. Created by the students, it examines stereotypes with a particular emphasis on how Muslims, Lebanese and Asian groups are represented. The film also looks at how stereotypes are manipulated by the media and others.

The DVD is accompanied by a teaching resource kit, containing a series of structured activity questions based on subjects covered in the film including racism, stereotyping, discrimination and religion. Both were distributed to all secondary schools across Australia.

In May 2008, the parliamentary secretary announced the provision of Emerging Issues funding for the Making Connections project in the Dandenong region in Victoria, one of a number of this type of project funded throughout 2007–08. The Making Connections project is being run jointly by Adult Multicultural Education Services, the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues and the South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre. Drawing on their combined expertise, the three organisations are strengthening communities in Noble Park, Casey and Dandenong through the project’s intergenerational cross-cultural program, multicultural music program and young women’s support group.

Highlights of the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security in 2007–08 included:

• a number of successful initiatives at state, territory and community level involving Muslim and wider Australian communities in areas such as youth development, employment support, social integration and community policing
• progress in the Australian Government pilot initiative in Western Sydney coordinated by the department, where the benefits of place-based, whole-of-government initiatives to enhance employment, education and community integration are already evident
• maintenance of relations with Australian Muslim communities through a series of informative round table discussions with key community representatives
• strengthening relations with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that international developments are informed by, and inform, domestic activities.

The National Action Plan initiated 16 community projects to encourage more active participation in mainstream social and cultural activities, enhance the resilience of marginalised communities, and enable communities to build capacity and develop leadership skills. Of the 16 projects five have been completed.

The Young Women’s Leadership Program run by Multicultural Youth South Australia is an example of a National Action Plan community project that targeted young people to promote leadership and participation in society. The project increased the personal resilience of the 70 diverse young women who participated. It built their skills and confidence in effective communication, public speaking, decision making and leadership.

Interfaith activities are a key component of the government’s emphasis on promoting respect and acceptance of cultural diversity in Australia. The department is coordinating the Australian Government’s involvement in the Parliament of the World’s Religions, which will be held in Melbourne from 3 to 9 December 2009.

The 2006 Access and Equity Annual Report was tabled in parliament in September 2007. It contained information about responses by government agencies to Australia’s cultural diversity.

The department’s nationwide network of community liaison officers plays an essential role in monitoring community relations through extensive contacts with community groups and individuals. The network helps communities to raise issues of concern and also enables the government to distribute information to all sections of Australia’s diverse society more effectively. This is particularly useful for new and emerging communities, and in managing community tensions and threats to social cohesion.

The department liaised closely with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) during the year to ensure Australian Government outcomes for Australia’s multicultural society were informed by community needs. In May 2008, as part of the National White Ribbon Campaign, the federation held community workshops to raise awareness of violence against women and children. The workshops actively engaged new and emerging as well as established communities at the national level.

Objective

This output provides leadership for the implementation of multicultural policy, in consultation with Australian government agencies. The focus is on achieving a balance between promoting the benefits of cultural diversity and increasing understanding of Australia’s democratic values. This is to ensure our progress as a united, prosperous and safe society.

The policy aims to send a message to all Australians that to live together successfully and safely, we must respect each other and appreciate what each person can contribute to our shared future. This applies equally to those born in Australia and those who come to join our nation.

This output:

• promotes mutual respect, Australia’s democratic values and community participation through the Living in Harmony program
• manages tensions and threats to social cohesion by working closely with individuals and communities, and cooperating with state and territory governments
• coordinates, implements and monitors the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security and reports to the Council of Australian Governments, through the Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
• makes further gains in the implementation of the Access and Equity Strategy, which aims to ensure that all government agencies are responsive to Australia’s diversity.

Description

This output aims to:

• develop policy, provide advice and prepare submissions and briefs on issues arising from Australia’s cultural diversity for the minister, parliamentary secretary and relevant stakeholders
• manage stakeholder relationships and monitor community relations and other issues through the department’s nationwide network of community liaison officers and through FECCA
• manage projects under the Living in Harmony and National Action Plan programs
• support ministerial engagement with community representatives and advise on government responses to various matters arising from Australia’s cultural diversity.

Performance

Living in Harmony

Harmony Day continued to engage the community and, as in previous years, a 1800 hotline and an email address were made available for the public to contact the department. The department responded to 330 email enquiries and the Living in Harmony website recorded 388 Harmony Day event registrations. An independent evaluation of Harmony Day media coverage identified 358 press articles generated across Australia.

The Living in Harmony program supported 41 projects to address local issues by building positive community relations. In 2007–08, the projects reflected the priority areas of new and emerging communities, young people, community based activities and Indigenous Australians.

The emerging issues funding program supported community organisations in six different states with the implementation of six new projects to address local issues.

The Living in Harmony Partnerships program instigated six partnerships with major organisations able to develop and manage projects on a regional or national scale. Partners included the Australian Football League, Lismore City Council, the Australian Red Cross and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). The projects aim to increase understanding and acceptance, shape positive attitudes and build on Australia’s social cohesion.

National Action Plan

The National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security (NAP) is a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) initiative developed by the Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (MCIMA). The NAP provides a framework for the promotion of a more inclusive society through government action, community consultation and research. It focuses on four areas of implementation: education, employment, integrating communities and enhancing national security.

As the lead agency, the department is responsible for:

• coordinating the whole-of-government implemention of the NAP including liaising with and facilitating exchange between Australian government agencies, coordinating pilot programs in two localities, monitoring NAP-related activities, and reporting to COAG through the MCIMA
• funding and contributing to partnerships with federal, state and territory government agencies to implement partnership projects including education-based initiatives, development and awareness building, and employment initiatives targeting both unemployed people and employers
• funding and supporting non-government organisations to conduct community-based projects including leadership training and mentoring, interfaith dialogue, arts-based workshops and sporting activities to build and express identities. The department also funded and supported the production and distribution of associated publications
• facilitating community engagement through formal and informal consultation fora which provided an opportunity for frank and open discussion about the issues facing Muslim Australians. The fora helped to determine practical ideas for both government and the community to address these issues and develop a greater sense of belonging and participation for Muslim Australians
• undertaking research and liaision with key players, domestically and internationally, to inform the implementation of the NAP, develop a greater understanding of a range of practical counter-radicalisation measures, and enhance knowledge of what works in community cohesion and integration.

The coordinated approach in NAP implementation has the potential to contribute to building a stronger, more cohesive and secure community for all Australians.

Table 79: Promoting the benefits of a united and diverse society—performance information

Measures	Results
Quantity
Number of hits on websites	In 2007–08, the Living in Harmony website recorded 202 370 hits.
Participation in Harmony Day events	The Living in Harmony website recorded 388 Harmony Day event registrations.
Participation in Living in Harmony partnerships	A total of 12 Living in Harmony Partnership projects were managed during 2007–08, with six commencing during the year. More than 163 000 people participated in partnership activities.
Number of projects implemented under the National Action Plan	In 2007–08, DIAC oversaw the implementation of eight NAP programs funded by other Australian government agencies, including coordinating intergovernmental pilot projects in two locations. The department managed 23 state and territory partnerships funded under the NAP, 11 of which were new. There were 10 projects completed and 13 are ongoing. In addition, the department oversaw 20 NAP community projects, including 16 projects which began during the year. Eight of the nine NAP research projects undertaken during the year were completed in 2007–08.

Table 80: Media coverage of Harmony Day 2007–08

Measures	Results
Number of press articles	358 press articles for Harmony Day identified