National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia
Participation
Participation in the political life of the community - in the decision-making processes and institutions that shape our daily lives - is both a measure of and a means towards equality.
The National Agenda itself is fundamentally about equality - about equal entitlements, equal opportunities, equal responsibilities and equal life chances.
Participation in decision-making depends on both individual initiatives and available opportunities. Opportunities, however, can be prejudiced by attitudinal and organizational barriers that unfairly and unequally affect certain groups in society.
Historic discrimination and prejudice against women, and Aboriginal and Asian people are examples of where entrenched attitudes and values excluded such groups from effective influence in the major institutions of society.
In turn this causes and reinforces an unequal distribution of resources and power.
Attitudinal barriers may be compounded by structural impediments such as lack of access to services - education and training, for instance - which also, indirectly but ultimately, prejudice people's ability to influence the decisions that affect them.
Equal participation in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the community is therefore an important goal of a socially just Australia.
To the extent that equal participation enhances commitment and identification with the society in which one lives, it also serves to minimize alienation and promote greater social cohesion.
Issues
Objectives
Achievements
National Agenda Initiatives
Next: National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia - basic rights
Previous: National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia - why do we need a national agenda?