mcc_admin
- September 23, 2023
Add Your Heading Text Here
Submission By MCC Australia to: Australian Government’s Multicultural Framework Review Department of Home Affairs
Multicultural Framework Review
MCCA has long advocated for Australia’s multicultural society to be recognised as a national asset:“Australia’s multicultural society is a national strength” Our Multicultural Framework must be built on the premise that multiculturalism an asset to be enhanced, developed and capitalised on (not based on multiculturalism being an issue or social challenge). Multiculturalism supports our economic success. The blending of histories and cultures has resulted in a unique Australian identity. Accordingly, our Multicultural Framework should recognise and support:
- the increase in productivity both nationally and to individual businesses
- the added value to international trade
- the increased tourism
- the added value to Australia’s international standing
- the added value to Australia’s strategic security
- the quality, sustainability and resilience of the Australian lifestyle
ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY
Productivity Commission:
As the cultural makeup of Australia becomes increasingly diverse, acquiring the capabilities, skills and experience to operate effectively in multicultural environments is crucial in improving educational, economic, cultural and social outcomes.
Within the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission, some commissioners are required to have particular skills and experience:
(a) in applying the principles of ecologically sustainable development and environmental conservation
(b) in dealing with the social effects of economic adjustment and social welfare service delivery
(c) acquired in working in Australian industry
(d) dealing with policies and programs that have an impact on Indigenous persons and dealing with one or more communities of Indigenous persons.
A Commissioner should also be appointed with specific skills and experience in cultivating the national asset value of multiculturalism.
It is here that evidenced based researchers in the field can be brought together to bring collaborative expertise to the Government, civil society and industry.
The Productivity Commission should be required to report on the national support framework for enhancing the economic and social return from our multicultural asset in industry, service delivery and international trade.
Employment:
National productivity is severely impacted by lack of attention by Government on employers not complying to Australian laws and basic human rights resulting in:
a. Low pay, unpaid overtime, illegal pay deductions or expense charges not previously stated;
An ABC investigation of foreign language newspapers by journalist Isobel Roe found that of 3,000 job advertisements, around 90 percent were advertising on the basis of below minimum wages. This further highlights the endemic nature of the exploitation problem.
b. Unsafe working practices, inadequate training and support;
We do know of the recent spate of food delivery cyclists and motorcyclists who have been killed on the roads. Coverage of deaths on farms and building sites does not appear to be an indicator the Commonwealth tracks.
Farmers and labour hire companies have become accustomed to hiring temporary entrants and asylum seekers who may be more ‘compliant’.
Without a substantial strengthening of the role of unions and settlement service organisations in this space, exploitation of multicultural communities will likely continue to rise.
c. Sexual harassment
d. Racism. As well as direct vilification, there is also scapegoating, racial profiling, absence of cultural competence. The lack of a genuine welcome, inclusivity and comfort due to poor cultural awareness and cultural competency leads to skilled migrants either not staying or working for themselves in unskilled or gig economy roles.
(One in six migrants are paid less than the national minimum wage according to the Grattan Institute May 2023 report which says governments have failed to stop exploitation of migrant workers with sexual harassment, bullying, and unsafe working conditions also rife.)
Cultural Awareness and Cultural Competency:
People want to know how they can bring cultural competence into their worlds, into their work.
The capacity of Australia’s skilled migrant intake is seriously undermined by the lack of cultural awareness and cultural competency within employers and the community. Too many highly skilled members of multicultural communities withdraw form their skilled career employment area and work for themselves in unskilled roles. While there are cases of blatant vilification within the workforce, far more extensive is the lack of welcome, inclusivity and comfort due to poor cultural awareness and cultural competency.
Mechanisms need to be established that ensure:
(a) the teaching of cultural awareness is compulsory throughout all years of Primary School, including exposure to cultural diversity; and
(b) the implementation accredited cultural competence training within the workforce, to the extent that cultural competency is given similar employer status to that now granted to Occupational Health and Safety.
National Recognition of Multicultural Communities’ Contribution:
This is required to both reduce racism and to enhance national economic productivity.
Programs that support multicultural communities should be complimented by awareness throughout the broader Australian society of the benefits of multiculturalism to the nation.
Creating a greater and wide-spread awareness of these positive benefits for both the nation and for the quality of life of individuals throughout the broader Australian society, the positive engagement of the nation with multiculturalism, is essential in order to make Australia both a harmonious and highly productive nation.
It is important to ensure there is not a disengagement between multicultural communities themselves and with main stream society. Empower people, not separate or divide.
This approach can be enhanced by:
– programs encouraging the mainstream to learn and practise using a second language
– cultural activities focused on the mainstream to lessen misunderstanding and encourage cohesion.
– heritage projects that recognise national or international links of multicultural communities with Australia need support and funding. This should be proactively pursued by the Government, not a reaction to the strongest lobbying. The Sikh community have found it incredibly difficult to get the Australian War Memorial to host Sikh heritage (relating to Sikh soldiers who fought with ANZACS as well as in broader battles across the world and in history).
Teaching of Languages and Culture in Schools:
In 2008 the Commonwealth Government commendably allocated $62.4M over four years to help school students to become familiar with the languages and culture of China, Indonesia, Japan and Korea. In 2010 the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations produced a Report on the state of these four languages in schools. However the policies of State Governments have often circumvented these commitments. For example only in 2022 did the NSW Department of Education remove the many decades old discrimination specifically targeted against these four languages at the Higher School Certificate level. This causes many students not to study the language of their ethnic background at all – something that is detrimental for retaining their culture and intergenerational and transnational ties but also detrimental for our nation’s economic and cultural development.
In addition, the MCCA is aware (particularly from interactions during the last National Census) that many young people avoid studying their families first language as doing so is perceived as diminishing their attempts at achieving an ‘Australian identity’.
A broad and proactive national implementation program is needed with a great range of languages to strengthen the protection and resilience of vulnerable multicultural communities and to also enhance all multicultural communities’ contribution to our international trade and tourism.
Second Language Proficiency:
There should also be community encouragement and support for adult study of a second language.
It is vital for our productivity, international competitiveness in trade, education and tourism, and for our international reputation and security that the teaching of a second language should be enthusiastically facilitated at all stages of life.
Academic Research:
Our multicultural framework must provide for a systemic approach to collect data on migrant communities to inform evidence-based policy and service planning and implementation. This should include formal research links with academic institutions and traditional indigenous cultural approaches to embracing diversity. A significant lack of knowledge here is the process of immigrants’ integration from a life course perspective, that is, during the educational, commercial, and later stages of life when they need to interact with and navigate through organisational and support systems in the host society.
SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS THAT PREVENT FULL PARTICIPATION IN AUSTRALIA SOCIETY
Governance of Multicultural Community Organisations:
Branch stacking within political parties often generates media attention and the launching of internal party enquiries. Yet its equivalent within multicultural community and multicultural organisations (to the extent that organisations become dominated and controlled by one community or even on extended family) has seen an absence of Federal and State government intervention. This leads to the exploitation of vulnerable groups, misuse of government funds, the failure of organisations to fulfil their constitutional mission, and a lack of confidence and respect for Australia’s democratic and social institutions.
Government intervention either through a new body or the empowerment of existing bodies such as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission or Sate administration of the Associations Incorporation Acts, would ensure proper conduct within community organisations. This should include the appointment of representatives from multicultural communities to such government bodies. At present such representation is usually only made to so-called government multicultural bodies.
Large organisations (e.g. budgets over $250,000) should be required to have minimum governance stands set by the government to avoid internal manipulation, such as no more than one family member to sit on the governing board/committee, limited terms of office, codes of conduct. Professional and trade associations/institutes have such models but they are distinctly lacking withing the multicultural sector.
Diversity within communities:
Multicultural communities are diverse – some have strong links back with home countries – others detest the home country (due to politics and fear of persecution). The home country is also not always the same, while this may be true from religious or ethnic originality, but may not be true from place of birth.
Recent arrivals often find they are culturally distant from others who they think are from the same multicultural (perhaps migrated to Australia 30yrs ago).
This requires a better understanding between government and the community, and places onus on the community to educate government and the broader community.
However people are caught up in earning a living and studies, they become socially isolated from their communities due to lack of time, so there is little time to volunteer except sporadically.
Resources are required to engage, research, write articles/books and develop financially productive relationships with ‘home’ countries.
Formal Multicultural Education:
Specific multicultural education programs and specialist staff roles have been significantly decreased, marginalised or rationalised within government departments and agencies, such as State Tertiary Institutions (TAFE), over the past 15 years.
Required:
(a) Strong and consistent Commonwealth leadership and commitment to education that recognises the need for specific and customised programs to meet the needs of multicultural communities. Appropriate, specific and customised Education and Training pathways and programs are the best strategies for positive outcomes for multicultural communities including Department of Home Affairs Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and DESE’s Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program.
(b) The SEE type programs are vital in order to assist multicultural communities better meet their diverse employment skill needs (orientation to Australian workplaces and standards, professional communication skills) in order to fast track employment in skill shortages areas and successful engagement in the Australian workforce. Advanced vocational training is a pathway to employment and leads to enhancement of professional and communication skills.
(c) Both government (TAFE) and private training institutions must have Multicultural Education Programs. These programs founded in 1988 following active representation of multicultural communities have been gradually eliminated due to budget cuts and privatisation of the technical education sector. Yet with over 40% of students now from a non-English speaking background, they are more essential than ever. Greater emphasis here would see many thousands of people from multicultural communities benefit from customised multicultural education courses in vocational, orientation, special purpose English, cross cultural and employability skills. Without this the full potential of our workforce and the utilisation of all of the skills and experiences available within Australia is not achieved and cause multicultural communities to be an ongoing strain on the welfare sector. This is a direct and specific Commonwealth responsibility.
Equity in Access and Information:
1. Provide equity in access and information by ensuring:
(a) that fee-free interpreters are provided to improve access to health, environmental, community and legal services for people from multicultural communities.
(b) all government agencies make basic information about the agency available in a range of community languages (role of the agency, contact details, interpreters) across the established and newly arrived communities.
(c) that information provided in country of origin is consistent with information provided on arrival. Recent migrants indicate that information provided before and after arrival is very different.
b. safety concerns among multicultural communities, and means for strengthening the protection and resilience of vulnerable groups;
2. Develop systemic approach to collect data on multicultural communities to inform evidence-based policy and service planning and implementation.
3. Ensure equitable and compassionate treatment and support to vulnerable multicultural communities such as refugees and asylum seekers and recognising the intersectionality of disadvantages within the communities.
4. Eliminate complicated legal systems, that take years to have matters heard, and disempower multicultural community members.
5. Specialised culturally responsive information
Make adjustments of publications for new arrivals in accordance to country of origin considering the needs and preferences instead of pure translation.
Ability to access Government services:
Multicultural communities often need orientation to Australian culture and workplace orientation and the high fees required by Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutes prohibit people from participating in professional development and skill enhancement.
Migrants should be allowed, without a waiting period, to access
(a) all government services especially unrestricted access to the Workforce Australia program;
(b) VET programs and be exempt from fees as other migrants are under Centerlink.
Overseas qualifications:
Reassess overseas qualification and recognition systems and implement local ‘on the job’ accreditation programs that allow migrants to utilise and demonstrate their skills within the Australian workplace.
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
Engagement needed, not just one-way communication:
Merely just providing one-way communication via interpreted material on websites, in brochures or media releases is not an effective means of achieving participation and integration. Bilingual educators provide for full two-way engagement with individual members of multicultural communities directly through forums and simians, through local government, utility providers, multicultural community organisations and the ethnic media. This model includes a range of interventions such as events, festivals, workshops, field trips, print materials, media and social marketing.
This Bilingual Educator model should be expanded across a range of languages to achieve awareness and responsiveness on:
• accommodation,
• health and medical system especially major preventable diseases,
• education,
• employment,
• Centrelink,
• environmental sustainability
• multiculturalism and cross-cultural awareness,
• the political system, including the adversarial nature of politics in Australia and support for women going into politics,
• all priority areas for full participation and integration.
It is also extremely important to recognise the impact on families back in certain home countries if their family member here participates in politics in Australia, e.g. Uyghur community.
Multicultural Directory:
Establish an online multicultural business directory to support and promote the wide range of culturally diverse experiences, services, entertainment and products available from business, government and community sectors. This has three key practical benefits:
(a) Support and safety. There would be a real practical element to the service, with increased access to information for multicultural communities as well as potential migrants to government and community-based services such as interpreters, translators, bilingual/bicultural educators, disability, aged, family and children’s services that meet diverse cultural and linguistic needs.
(b) Acceptance. This would establish wide spread community acceptance of cultural diversity as a characteristic of the Australian way of living, exposing the wider community to the rich vitality of cultural experiences available in Australia.
(c) Economic. Businesses will benefit substantially through new and additional customers and turnover. The national economy will benefit with increased local and international tourism particularly from Asia and the Pacific Rim. This will also add a selling tool to Australia’s bids to host major international events, demonstrating our cultural diversity and multicultural assets, enhancing visitors’ experiences.
Marketing of functioning multicultural community hubs:
Promoting the rich culture and colour of local communities not only enhances the confidence of and respect for multicultural communities, it also feeds into tourism, stimulates local business, provides employment and encourages the wider community support for multiculturalism. Multicultural communities can then be regarded as an asset, making Australia more culturally rich and vibrant, more entertaining, and more economically successful. National and State governments should respond to the interest shown by local government, tourism councils and chambers of commerce.
Mentoring and Volunteering:
(a) Develop mentoring and volunteering programs through settlement programs to connect people across cultures (long term residents with recent arrivals) in local geographic areas to support involvement in a range of community programs and local activities (i.e. local orientation, Council and community education programs).
(b) Develop and implement buddy systems between new migrants from existing cultural backgrounds to nurture mutual support amongst new arrivals.
(c) Implement mentoring/buddy systems within education curriculums at all levels to support migrants to integrate and promote tolerance, understanding and cultural knowledge within the broader Australian community.
Successful School Models:
The Catholic school education system in the ACT has developed highly successful programs.
Academic:
Parents and students with English as their first language provide after school homework assistance to Sudanese students whose parents have no or poor English. Success is not just with student educational results but also in Sudanese families being warmly welcomed into mainstream sporting and cultural Canberra life.
Sport:
Cal Bruton Basketball Program:
– Every Wednesday afternoon students from a variety of backgrounds meet for a 2-hour basketball/mentoring session at the school
– Cal Bruton AOM runs the program, with two assistant coaches who are senior students from refugee backgrounds to give them the opportunity to develop their leadership skills before they finish year 12.
– Throughout the program, the coaches use issues that arise during basketball training and games to teach the school students valuable life skills like teamwork, positivity, respect, overcoming adversity, goal setting and the importance of hard work.
Skills developed include:
Work positively as part of a team
Set, structure and focus to achieve goals
Positively engage with peers, family and society
Create a pathway for program participants to become leaders in the community
Proactively embrace and learn from diversity
Develop a sense of taking initiative and embracing failure to achieve success
Be reliable, display integrity, and honesty in thoughts, words and actions
Stay adaptable and develop an ability to stay focus on achieving personal and professional goals
The program also provides school staff with an opportunity to connect with students of refugee and migrant backgrounds, and their families, outside of the classroom.
Health:
Partnering with the University of Canberra Health Services to give access to allied health services to families who do not have the capacity to access them outside the school
– Final year Occupational Health University students do placements at the school (two days per week through the school terms)
– Final year Optometry University students do two days per term running eye health clinics at the school and provide glasses to refugee background students who require them
Fostering a belonging to the unique Australian environment:
Develop and implement a “fostering Australian environmental citizenship” program for all multicultural communities that enhances belonging, and encourages participation in, and contributes to a healthy Australian society by:
a) familiarising multicultural communities with the natural environment and its benefits
b) introduction to Australian indigenous culture and ‘caring for country’
c) strengthen education on history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Communities . Foster Aboriginal reconciliation within the multicultural communities.
d) understanding of basic environmental practice in an Australian context – i.e. recycling and waste systems, sustainable water and energy use, environmental regulation
e) connection to community gardens/local bush care programs
f) teaching about the diversity of the marine environment and its protection including the dangers of the surf and some waterways particularly eating seafood from these areas.
g) knowledge on the rights and the support migrants can receive to deal with the rising energy and water costs, a concept they may not have experienced in their country of origin, and ways to reduce these costs by embracing energy and water efficiency technologies and behaviour.
Have innovative projects to introduce and familiarise multicultural communities to the Australian bushland and Australian indigenous culture through workshops and field trips into the local natural environment. A greater understanding of Australia’s environment and indigenous culture for multicultural communities provides an enhanced sense of belonging, reduces their alienation from their environment and increases their ability to participate in the wider Australia context.
Traditions and identity:
Develop creative programs to prevent loss of traditions, to help young people with identity and languages and to increase their cultural awareness and cultural competency through organisations such as youth centres, community centres, neighbourhood centres and multicultural community councils.
Debt and efficient use of utilities:
Education about the management of waste and efficient use of utilities, such as energy and water, will ensure that multicultural communities introduction to life in Australia is not started with debt to utility providers or local government and community reprimands. An understanding of the effects of climate change unique to Australia will assist them to understand the broader concerns of the Australian community.
Domestic violence and government institutions:
It is well recognised, even within our legal systems, that many multicultural communities, based on overseas and local experiences, do not trust the police. They are very fearful of authority and don’t know who they can trust and seek support from. At best they turn to friends or local community services. Yet often they have no alternatives but dealing with the police. Police need greater cultural awareness and options for understanding and dealing with the differences between multicultural communities.
For example, an Indian student couple may well be individuals with separate visas but in effect are not independent identities, they are governed by their families. Serious violence often goes unreported. Alternatively, intervention by police may leave the victim isolated and without financial support from either their partner or their own family – the victim is then even more vulnerable.
A further example is women arriving on a spouse visas are not eligible for support like other visa categories, and particularly if they leave their partners. They tend to keep the abuse hidden and suffer in silence. This places enormous strain on their physical and mental health. Local agencies including police have limited success in being able to support these women as they are fearful of authority and they have nowhere to go. Service agencies lack capacity to support these women due to funding, lack of ability to access free interpreters and clients not meeting the residency criteria.
AGED CARE
Multiculturalism is the recognition and acceptance of different cultural groups and their values within a society. It is a core value in Australia, where over 30% of the population was born overseas.
In aged care, multiculturalism is important because it ensures that all older people, regardless of their background, receive care that is respectful of their cultural and linguistic needs. This includes things like:
• Providing staff who speak the resident’s language
• Offering culturally appropriate food and activities
• Respecting the resident’s religious beliefs and practices
• Understanding the resident’s cultural values and traditions
There are a number of challenges to providing culturally appropriate aged care in Australia. One challenge is the large and diverse nature of the multicultural community. There are over 300 different languages spoken in Australia, and people from different cultures have different beliefs and practices.
If older people from diverse backgrounds do not have access to culturally and linguistically appropriate aged care services, they may be less likely to seek out or receive the care they need. This can lead to poorer health outcomes and a lower quality of life.
Another challenge is the lack of awareness and understanding of cultural diversity among some aged care staff. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflict, including a shortage of aged care workers who speak languages other than English and have a good understanding of the cultural and linguistic needs of different groups of older people.
Despite these challenges, there are a number of things that can be done to improve culturally appropriate aged care in Australia. These include:
• Providing training for aged care staff on cultural diversity and cultural competency
• Promoting the importance of cultural diversity in aged care services
• Encouraging older people from culturally diverse backgrounds to access aged care services
• Providing culturally appropriate services and support for older people from culturally diverse backgrounds
• Establish a dedicated Multicultural Aged Care Unit within the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. This Unit would be responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs to support multiculturalism in aged care, and for monitoring the progress of these initiatives.
• Establish a Multicultural Aged Care Advisory Council, comprising representatives from aged care providers, consumers, carers, and other stakeholders. This Council would provide advice to the Australian Government on the development and implementation of policies and programs to support multiculturalism in aged care.
• Fund the development and delivery of culturally appropriate aged care services. This funding could be provided to aged care providers directly, or through grants and other funding programs.
• Invest in training and education for aged care staff on multiculturalism and cultural competency.
• Promote diversity in the aged care workforce. This could be done through initiatives such as targeted recruitment programs, mentoring programs, and scholarships for people from diverse backgrounds to study aged care.
• Amend the Aged Care Act 1997 to explicitly require aged care providers to deliver culturally appropriate care.
• Develop national standards for culturally appropriate aged care. These standards should be developed in consultation with consumers, carers, and aged care providers from diverse backgrounds.
• Establish a mechanism for consumers and carers to report concerns about the delivery of culturally appropriate aged care.
• Require aged care providers to collect data on the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of their residents and staff. This data would be used to monitor the progress of multiculturalism initiatives in aged care and to identify areas where further action is needed.
The Australian Government has a number of initiatives in place to support culturally appropriate aged care. These include:
• The Aged Care Diversity Framework, which provides guidance for aged care services on how to meet the needs of people from diverse backgrounds
• The Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) program, which provides funding to support aged care services to develop and deliver culturally appropriate services
• The Aged Care Standards, which require all aged care providers to provide culturally appropriate care
A number of multicultural aged care services also operate in Australia. These services provide specialised care and support for older people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Overall, multiculturalism is an important consideration in aged care in Australia. By providing culturally appropriate aged care, we can ensure that all older people, regardless of their background, receive the care that they need and deserve.
COMMUNITY BASED FUNDING
RACISM
Apart from issues of human rights and social justice, racism and white supremacy movements severely affect national productivity, restrain our sporting and artistic potential, harm our international credibility and unnecessarily consume national resources.
The major contemporary defining description of Australia is that it is a multicultural nation. Whether it’s the 270 different ancestries that make up the population, the waves of migration since 1788, the near half of the population with an overseas born parent, or the definitive statement of visiting overseas heads of state as to how Australia is internationally perceived i.e. “a successful multicultural nation” – whatever the perspective, the defining characteristic of Australia is now as a multicultural nation. Given this position Australia is conclusively and irreversibly in, racist movements and groups can create only discord and a waste of national resources.
Address racism experienced by the multicultural communities in Australia, particularly people of faith and colour. Racism often goes unreported as victims are fearful of complaining so that it does not jeopardise their visa situation, gaining permanent residency or employment. Government agencies must be more proactive in speaking out against racism/discrimination of multicultural communities.
Our educational, legislative and judicial framework must be configured towards entirely eliminating racism and white supremacy. Even low-level tolerance has a negative national economic impact.
Cultural diversity should have the ultimate goal of promoting peace and thus make our society a better place to live. Peace-building and social cohesion is the only way to make Australia and the world a better place to live. As part of the multiculturalism initiative in Australia, it is important to support education (both in schools and in higher education) that promotes and contributes to human values and cultural diversity. Furthermore, as we live in an AI revolution era, the importance of humanities can be neglected. Education is fundamental in building peace and harmony amongst different groups of people. Humanities, human values and bettering human relationships should be placed within the core of education. Deepening people’s knowledge and fostering respect toward different cultures and languages (including cultural heritage and classical languages) is not only beneficial but indispensable.
Government needs to have a vision to support education in schools and institutions that facilitate peaceful and trusted engagement with all parts of the community. University education should go beyond simply skill-based training for students and aim to broaden our citizens’ cultural knowledge (including history, literature, philosophy) that would make us better humans and this world a peaceful place. Studying cultures, languages and humanities should be supported in Australia as a long-term undertaking. For the benefit of human co-existence and flourishing, let’s support what the United Nations promotes – peace and peace education. One way is through cultural diversity and learning from different cultures.
INDIGENOUS ART AND CULTURE: AUSTRALIA’S HERITAGE
The Multicultural Communities Council of Australia acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia in our Constitution. MCCA believes it is important to provide this acknowledgement as a sign of respect and in the spirit of truth telling. Aboriginal cultures and peoples are the oldest continuous surviving humanity on earth. This is a point of pride for all Australians. Australia is a vibrant nation made up of many cultures. Our collective story weaves the blanket that embraces all of us and creates the narrative of the whole nation.
The most unique aspect of Australia different from other parts of the world is that it has the oldest living culture in the world – our indigenous culture. To our unique landscape, environment, native species of fauna and flora, Indigenous Australians attribute tremendous spiritual, cultural, symbolic and practical value. They feature prominently in indigenous knowledge, including language, ceremonies, lore, identity and narratives, sources of food or medicine, are considered cultural icons and indicators of health of Country. There is also so much depth here with each locality or home Country having a diversity of language, spirituality, art and cultural significance. All this needs to be brought into Australia’s international image and to enhance the way of life in Australia, both socially and economic.
Visitors to Australia expect to see our Indigenous Heritage. It should be made obvious to all visitors that this is the land of the oldest living culture on earth, and all visitors on leaving should be taking that experience and memory with them.
As indigenous leaders have stated, this 60,000+ year old culture is not just their heritage, it is now the heritage of all Australians. Australian indigenous culture should be put to the forefront of all aspects of our national social and commercial framework.
Most importantly is the use of traditional indigenous cultural approaches to embracing diversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts, practices and knowledge can be drawn on to drive Australian creative productive thinking. This is a framework through which community, business and government can capitalise on the incredible cultural diversity of Australia.