Multicultural Australia: A Successful Example of Diversity and Integration

Running head: MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
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1MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
The word “multiculturism” has been often used to define the minority or the ‘ethnic’
groups and their various colourful customs. The word ‘multicultural’ has huge potential to
show diverse associations, not just about a policy but also the problems of the communities.
Multiculture is generally formed because of the intermingling of the gender, class and
ethnicity. This easy illustrates how the Australians have always taken pride in the fact that
they had a multicultural identify in the global scenario (Clyne and Jupp 2013). The cultural
and linguistic diversity that prevails in the Australian population has been majorly due to
Australia’s unique history. The population was approximately seven million at the end of
World War II, of whom 10% were overseas-born. With the end of the Second World War the
proportion of overseas-born had gradually increased to about 24% (Arthur 2017). The post-
war surge of migration consisted mainly of new arrivals from European continent. Over a
period of ten years after that, the overseas-born population has increased by a significant
number. Various factors have been discussed in this essay like the demographic factors,
religious factors and the socio-cultural factors which clearly provides evidential support to
the fact that standing in the 21st century, Australia is a successful multicultural nation.
Australia has been a multicultural society which has emerged in a way where
diversities in cultures had been tolerated and respected in a significant manner. The
government policies have also helped to keep up the multicultural nature of the country. The
Australian multicultural policy has been spontaneously insistent on respecting the traditional
Australian values. This consisted of liberal democratic values like freedom of individualism,
sex equality, tolerance towards the rule of law and the democracy of the parliament.
Additionally to promote multicultural attitude, English language was considered as the
national language (Larsen 2017). In order to highlight the fact that Australia is a multicultural
success, focus can be given on Australia’s “citizen-based model” and how it helped in
bringing about multicultural diversity. Due to the policy, full rights and benefits were

2MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
awarded to the individuals who are citizens. This was also the same for the migrants who
pledge to take up citizenship of Australia. The multiculturism, which prevails in Australia,
promotes the integration of new arrivals and see to the fact that hindrances towards the
integration among them is removed. Additionally, the success of Australia’s multiclturism
was also credited to the bipartisan support (Pakulski 2014).
Studies based on various recent literature survey has shown that Australia was able to
become an example of multicultural success. Various factors helped to achieve this success.
Firstly, the policies and realities related to multiculturism has wide popular acceptance.
National surveys conducted at a length, from the year 2007 to 2014 which revealed that about
88% of Australian population consider multiculturalism as to be a ‘benefit to Australia’
(Arthur 2017). Another national survey reported that there was an elevated acceptance of
wide religious communities. According to (Ho 2013), it is considered that by accepting the
process of immigration and multiculturalism, Australia has emerged with the highest level of
positive feeling regarding immigration in the world’. Secondly, inspite of the occasional
protests going on regarding the building of various religious shrines, these are not violent and
are usually resolved in ways that enable widely different groups. In this way, Australia has
moved toward ‘deep equality’ beyond mere tolerance and adjustment, including a high level
of acceptance of Muslims (Banting and Kymlicka 2013). This does not mean all groups are
seen as equally wanted. Many people and religions from around the world coming from
different origins have considered Australia their homeland and have been a part into its
socio-economic life (Harris 2013).
Several demographic factors have led to Australia becoming a society of the
immigrants, who mainly bring about the multicultural diversity in the continent. According to
the census reports retrieved, 25% of the Australian population consists of individuals who