By Rob O'Brien

The diversity of cultures that will feature in Australia’s future should form part of any population policy, according to the Australian Multicultural Foundation.

With Australia predicted to grow to 36 million by 2050 according to the latest Intergenerational Report, executive director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, Hass Dellal, said that social inclusion should be an integral part of any developing population policy.

“If you have a population policy that can at least look at the future, then the community can understand in looking at the future what the emerging issues are when it comes to deciding on population... previously it’s been an annual decision,” said Mr Dellal.

March 21 marks the annual Harmony Day celebrations across the nation, which including regular events such as Taste of Harmony where workplaces are invited to register and celebrate their diversity by hosting a lunch for staff made up of foods from different lands.

“Harmony Day is a reminder for us in the community that we’re diverse and we’ve got to appreciate the diversity and the richness of those cultures that contribute to Australia’s social, economic and cultural life,” Mr Dellal said.

“It is engaging and non-threatening and brings people together – it’s an initiative that builds trust, confidence and importantly a sense of belonging, because people start to feel they belong somewhere and have that communication.”

Local governments and workplaces across Australia are being urged to take a stronger line on promoting diversity in the lead-up to March 21.

More than 60,000 participants took part in Taste of Harmony last year, one of the events organised by the Australian Multicultural Foundation and the Scanlon Foundation, from more than 1100 workforces across Australia.

“The workplace is where the most dynamic diversity is at its best in this country and it’s everyday people,” Mr Dellal said.

“That’s showing the enormity and the capacity to engage a lot of people and spread that message out. This year we’re hoping to double or triple participation, not just from companies but individuals too.”

He said although some people may view food-based events as a cliché, Taste of Harmony was successful.

“It provides people with an opportunity to come together and share something that’s different to them, and that difference leads on to discussions about cultural background, people’s aspirations and what it’s like to be Australian and the heritage that goes with it.”

Harmony Day began in Australia in 1998 and has been used by governments to provide funding, education and information to promote a spirit of inclusiveness.

In 2009, 4000 events were registered with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) Diverse Australia Program.

DIAC is expecting a record number again in 2010 and is heavily promoting the day following a series of attacks on Indian students living in Melbourne.

A second social cohesion survey, conducted by the Scanlon Foundation in June and July 2009, showed that while little had changed in Australian communities since the first survey in 2007, respondents displayed community concerns.

“One of the major things to come out was a lack of trust and security in the community. Ultimately this undermines a community’s ability to build bridges and build social cohesion,” Mr Dellal said, adding that the best way of addressing that at the grass roots level was through programs like Taste of Harmony.

The survey comprised a national survey of 2000 respondents by geographic location, and six local surveys with a total of 1800 respondents.

Similar surveys to benchmark social cohesion will be run every two years, Mr Dellal said, and will be valuable in understanding what leads to fractured communities.

“Part of the Taste of Harmony is an extension of the Scanlon Foundation’s social cohesion research, simply to have a better understanding of the elements that will help us understand social cohesion, what are the emerging issues and how do we address that?”

Mr Dellal said the Australian Multicultural Foundation along with Robert Deans Associates will be launching its training material for culturally diverse workforces on Harmony Day.

The manual, devised through workshops with about 30 companies, was designed to see how workplaces could implement strategies to utilise their multicultural workforces more effectively.

“This is for all of Australia, it’s not us and them here. We are diverse because we are, it’s not going to go away.”

 

A Taste of Harmony will take place during the week of March 15 to 21.

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