Scanlon Foundation roundtable discussion on Social Cohesion
6 May 2008
It is a pleasure to participate in this roundtable discussion on the implications of recent research by Professor Markus and Dr Dharmalingam, undertaken as part of the Social Cohesion Research Program
- directed by the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements
- in partnership with the Australian Multicultural Foundation
- and funded by the Scanlon Foundation.
I would like to acknowledge the important contribution of the Scanlon Foundation in responding to the critical issue of social cohesion.
It is not just the evident concern and generosity of the Foundation that is so valuable, but its willingness and ability to work in productive partnerships.
The evidence is in the work of the Social Cohesion Research Program and also the diverse and high-level representation here today. At the outset, I must stress that cocooning ourselves from problems, refusing to accept realities is never a solution. I especially appreciate the integrity of the research and its documentation.
We have been lacking critical research in this sector for some time and while I hope that Australia will eventually resuscitate such independent work, the Scanlon Foundation effort is very necessary.
Cultural diversity
Cultural diversity has always been a fact of Australia’s history.
From the Indigenous peoples who have lived in this land for tens of thousands of years, through to the Anglo-Celtic peoples and today’s skilled and humanitarian settlers making Australia their home, cultural diversity has been an integral part of who we are as a nation.
It is also a part of everyday life for most Australians. However, it must be emphasised that, for most it is ephemeral, theoretical and distant. For some it is intense and constant – it affects space, life experience, employment and has daily challenges, as well as the rewards of wider knowledge and personal expansion.
I speak from the experience of a lifetime of interest in this policy area, and from my own day-to-day work as the member and resident of Reid, one of the most culturally diverse electorates in Australia, but also characterised by extensive humanitarian pressures , above average levels of unemployment and significant challenges to public education viability.
Cultural diversity is a source of both social and economic wealth.
It gives vibrancy and dynamism to Australian life and is essential to the nation’s economic strength.
Like immigration, it will continue to be a central feature of Australian society into the future. If anything, it will increase.
Social cohesion
In a world characterised by the increasing movement of people, and transnational economic, political and personal connections, social cohesion is an important issue.
It is essential for the wellbeing of all Australians and our communities.
It is also a critical contributor to the continuing success of our immigration program in meeting growing demographic, labour and skills challenges and in our national response to a highly competitive and challenging world.
I happily accept the research report ‘working definition’ of a socially cohesive society as one in which people:
- identify and feel a sense of belonging to Australia
- actively participate in political, economic and civic life
- feel included in relation to social justice and equality of opportunity
- respect minorities and newcomers and value diversity
- have trust in other people and confidence in public institutions
- are satisfied with life and optimistic about the future.
I also the focus on social cohesion as a vision or process rather than something that may, at some stage, be said to have been attained.
Successes
Research like this is crucial in guiding our responses to these often complex and inter-related issues.
Many discussions and analysis in visits to Western Europe over the past two decades have confirmed to myself our broadly successful policies and programs. While local critics bemoan our occasional crises, overseas governments and their departments seek to learn from us.
This suggests Australia is doing well, particularly in the domains of belonging, social justice, equity and self-worth. However, the work also points to challenges we need to address.
For example, on one hand it points to:
- optimism about the prospects for the lives of children (highest among immigrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds); and
- high levels of a sense of belonging by immigrants, strengthening over time.
Concerns
This is, of course, very encouraging. However, we cannot be complacent. The stakes are too high.
Exclusion or marginalisation of any person affects not just them. It can impact on the social cohesion, the economic performance and, as we have seen overseas, the security and self satisfaction of the community as a whole.
The Scanlon Foundation research voices some concerns about levels of participation and acceptance.
It sees a need to:
- foster increased participation in community life in areas of high immigrant concentration
- promote understanding of the immigrant and settlement experience, the personal impact of discriminatory acts and the contribution immigrants make to the nation.
In some recent commentary on this issue in the media we have seen some people respond by escapism and political conformism. There are issues of spatial segregation and those who don’t endure the problem shouldn’t try to ignore the issue. The localised studies of Auburn, Hume, Fairfield etc are informative and we should heed their outcomes. They detect significantly more pessimistic views about trust of fellow citizens, government assistance to minority cultures, and the levels of immigration as well as the diversity of the intake.
A recent article by Rodean and Wheeler “Neighbourhoods that don’t work” on the US situation commented:
- within any metropolitan areas there are vast differences in the economic being of individuals residing in different neighbourhoods
- rates of joblessness among block groups with the lowest levels of unemployment have dropped even further, whereas rates of unemployment among neighbourhoods with the highest levels tended to grow larger
- the rise in concentration of unemployment, therefore, may be creating poverty traps from where people will find it increasingly difficult to escape
- there is a significant positive association between unemployment concentration and the extent to which neighbourhoods are segregated by income and educational attainment
- We have to ensure that these trends don’t emerge in Australia
- This issue in Australia is often related to immigration and settlement. Only yesterday I met with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils who represent a population larger than South Australia .Their central issue was complaint about the demands on their services, the issues faced by high settlement realities
- I have long been attacted to the work of US Political Scientist Robert Putnam. His work ‘Bowling Alone’ combines intellect and analysis with impressive statistical acumen. His recent work has driven home the reality we face due to the innate tendency of most individuals to find it easier to work with people similar to themselves and to endorse community and social welfare where it goes to people like themselves.
- I will not quote extensively from his more recent work but note these words from the 2007 work “E Pluribus Enum: Diversity and Community in the Twentieth Century” –
- “Some tough research questions have been raised by my analysis that I have not yet answered. We need to learn more about many possible mechanisms – from physiological to political – that link diversity and hunkering. We need to chart the conditions under which this linkage is strong, weak and even non-existent….My argument here is that in the short run there is a tradeoff between diversity and community, but that over time wise policies (public and private) can ameliorate that tradeoff”
- “Some tough research questions have been raised by my analysis that I have not yet answered. We need to learn more about many possible mechanisms – from physiological to political – that link diversity and hunkering. We need to chart the conditions under which this linkage is strong, weak and even non-existent….My argument here is that in the short run there is a tradeoff between diversity and community, but that over time wise policies (public and private) can ameliorate that tradeoff”
- “Scientific examination of immigration, diversity and social cohesion easily could be inflamed as the results of reseach become part of the contemporary political debate, but that debate needs to be informed by our best efforts to acertain the facts. It would be unfortunate if a politically correct progressivism were to deny the reality of the challenge to social solidarity posed by diversity. It would be equally unfortunate if an ahistorical and ethnocentric conservatism were to deny that addressing that challenge is both feasible and desirable.”
Role of government
The Australian Government is committed to addressing issues which impede cohesion by promoting respect, fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone.
We believe it is time to take a fresh look at strategies for bringing Australians from all backgrounds together.
Role of the private sector
Our progress towards a more cohesive and inclusive Australia requires efforts not just from government, but from all Australians, and the community, research and private sectors.
We have already been discussing possible contributions from a wide range of stakeholders. I want to focus particularly on the private sector.
Australian businesses aren’t simply a means to our economic wealth. They are an essential part of our society and impact on just about everything we value and everything we can achieve as a nation.
An examination of any of the many immigrant settlement stories of our nation reveals a simple and ubiquitous fact: employment, having a job and contributing, is fundamental to the successful settlement of immigrants. High levels of employment particularly in often poorer areas which bear an excessive burden of settlement policies is also crucial to the acceptance and success of migrants. Creation of employment black spots, stigmatisation of areas by employers and a relative concentration of inferior educational access and advancement, are crucially negative to harmony in this country.
That’s one of the reasons that we are looking at refocussing the Adult Migrant English Program on helping immigrants to become job-ready, and have the opportunity to become part of our economy and our society as soon as possible .
The more we can do to connect people to secure jobs, the more cohesive and productive we become.
More work needs to be done in the areas of employment and income, to unlock the full potential of individuals, businesses and the nation.
Businesses can play an important role in vocational training and job placement. They have to work on the abiding problem. From feedback to the Joint Committee on Migration in its review of overseas skills recognition last year and which you all understand, the often unnecessary obsession with Australian work experience drives many skilled people to unproductive jobs below their skills and training. This leads to disillusioned people. Ways through this impasse are necessary and long overdue.
They can promote harmony in the workplace and help support social activities outside.
Employers must recognise, use and build on the abilities, skills and persistence that immigrants invariably bring.
Through a positive approach to workplace diversity:
- they will benefit from the skills and networks of culturally diverse employees to identify product development and niche, domestic and overseas marketing opportunities
- by recruiting broadly they will be able to attract a wider range of employees in a tight labour market
- through a diverse, open and welcoming workplace they will place themselves as an employer of choice
- they will retain productive and committed workers
- they will raise their profiles as socially responsible community members
- they will contribute to a stable, efficient and cohesive Australia.
This is a win-win-win outcome – a win for businesses, a win for employees, and a win for the whole community.
Partnerships
There is another critical ingredient in this way forward for Australia
- a willingness to seek opportunities by forging new and creative partnerships.
Let me give a couple of examples.
The IBM Australia Youth Mentoring Partnership
The IBM Australia Youth Mentoring Partnership began in November 2007. It aims to provide opportunities for young people and build bridges between all Australians, regardless of religion or cultural background.
The program has two aspects: a youth employment mentoring program and a schools’ mentoring program.
The first aspect of the project sees IBM working with community organisations such as the ICRA youth centre in my Western Sydney electorate, to connect IBM mentors with young Muslim Australians.
The aim is to build self esteem and optimism and to assist young people to develop skills to enhance opportunities for employment, particularly in IT. I was inspired by the IBM employees commitment and some of the successes at a recent local presentation.
This successful model will be replicated in Melbourne.
IBM and the Maribyrnong City Council are offering employment mentoring opportunities to disadvantaged young people and linking Muslim and non-Muslim participants in the local area.
The second aspect of the project, the schools mentoring initiative, utilises existing IBM online chat programs in schools with senior students at two high schools in areas of large Muslim populations in Sydney.
With the assistance of teachers, IBM mentors will connect with classes of students to build self-esteem and to develop literacy and IT skills with a focus on future employment and careers.
‘Given the Chance’ program
The other example I wish to mention is a project by the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Ecumenical Migration Centre, supported by a number of employers, including Coles and ANZ.
The ‘Given the Chance’ program links refugees with mentors from business, community and government and provides:
- pre-employment training, including orientation to the Australian workplace
- assistance with finding jobs
- practical skills such as writing a resume
- work experience opportunities and employment.
Coles and ANZ have been active participants in the program. They have found that continuing support for the refugee from their mentor, after they have secured employment – is pivotal to their successful adjustment to the workplace.
They also recognise the critical role of the Brotherhood of St Laurence in supporting and advising employers.
The Victorian Government, through its Community Support Fund, supported Given the Chance for the period 2005-2007.
In its new phase, Given the Chance is expanding to support new clients and involving new businesses and organisations.
This is one more example of what can be achieved through collaboration between the business, community and government sectors.
Conclusion
It’s very gratifying to note that partnership approaches appear to be gathering momentum in Australia in a range of social policy areas, and to note leadership and initiative coming from the private sector.
There seems to be a growing recognition of the vital importance of maintaining our success as a diverse and united country, how our varied interests coincide, and what we can each contribute to our shared future.
This augurs extremely well for Australia’s future as a prosperous, cohesive and inclusive society.
See:
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au /parlsec/media/speeches/2008/lf080508.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST