National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia

National survey on multiculturalism

An important source of data for the Agenda was the national survey on multiculturalism which was commissioned by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and conducted by AGB: McNair between the October 1988 and February 1989.

The survey involved 4 502 interviews, including 1 552 in a general sample of the Australian population, 1 809 people born in NES countries or born in Australia of NESB, and 1 141 people from NES countries who had arrived in Australia since 1981.

A supplementary survey was commissioned to obtain more detailed information about three communities which were considered to face particular disadvantage and discrimination, namely Lebanese, Maltese and Vietnamese. This survey was conducted by Reark Research between November 1988 and February 1989 and involved a total of 1 308 interviews.

Interviews, which were conducted face to face, lasted on average up to one hour, and covered issues such as education, use of qualifications, employment, social and political participation and attitudes to multiculturalism and immigration. Some of the findings of the surveys are cited in the Agenda; many others underlie its conclusions. The data have been made publicly available separately.

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