Multiculturalism and social inclusion

The discussion in this paper is based on the Multiculturalism and Social Inclusion symposium, convened by The Australian Sociological Association's (TASA) Migration Ethnicity and Multiculturalism (MEM) Thematic Group and the Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University on 8 July 2010 in Melbourne. Bringing together over 50 researchers, practitioners and policy-makers, the symposium aimed to respond to the absence of multiculturalism within the Australian Federal Government's Social Inclusion Agenda. It commenced with preliminary remarks by Dr Andrew Jakubowicz (University of Technology Sydney), Ms Jenny Semple (Settlement Council of Australia and South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre), Ms Neela Kareemy (South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre), Ms Nyadang Dei Wal (Migrant Information Centre and Sudanese Community Association of Australia) and Mr George Lekakis (Victorian Multicultural Commission). Key thematic areas of focus in the symposium included employment, community and belonging, active citizenship and fostering inclusion for new and emerging refugee and migrant communities (these sessions were facilitated by Martina Boese, Karen Farquharson, Louise Jenkins and Raelene Wilding). This paper reviews critical developments within Australian multicultural policy against the backdrop of the Federal Government's Social Inclusion Agenda and situates outcomes of the symposium within the broader international debate.