Australia a Multicultural Nation 1 2 (1)

8/20/2019 Australia a Multicultural Nation 1 2 (1)

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INTRODUCTION

Australia is a unique and diverse country in every way - in culture, population, climate,

geography, and history. It is a migrant country and to put it boldly there would not be

contemporary Australia without mass migration. Every person who LIVES I A!S"#ALIA

with the e$ception o% Aboriginal and "orres Strait Islander Australians is either a migrant or a

descendent o% a migrant. &aving said this, it must be ac'nowledged that since the very early days

Australians have developed a strong national identity, separate %rom their (ritish nationality and

on the )Australian way o% li%e*.

Australian culture is as broad and varied as the country+s landscape. Australia is

multicultural and multiracial and this is re%lected in the country+s %ood, li%estyle and cultural

practices and e$perience.

"his diversity o% in%luences creates a cultural environment in Australia that is lively,

energised, innovative and outward loo'ing.

CHAPTER 1 – HISTORY

I.1. IMMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA3


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It is estimated that humans %irst arrived in Australia appro$imately , years

ago when ancestors o% Australian Aborigines and "orres Strait Islanders arrived on the

continent via the islands o% /aritime Southeast Asia and ew 0uinea.

1ontact between aboriginal Australians and south Asian people, over the last years,

led to interbreeding, and probably contributed to cultural change. Europeans %irst landed in

the 2th and 3th centuries, and colonisation by the (ritish commenced in 233.Since 45,

more than 2 million people have come to Australia as new settlers. "he trigger %or a large-

scale migration program was the end o% 6orld 6ar II. Agreements were reached with (ritain,

some European countries and with the International #e%ugee 7rgani8ation to encourage

migration, including people displaced by the war in Europe.

Appro$imately .9 million migrants arrived between 7ctober 45 and : ;une 49,about .: million in the 49s, about 49, in the 42s, about . million in the 43s,

over 4, in the 44s and over 4, since the year


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"he 0old rush era, beginning in 3, led to an enormous e$pansion in population,

including large numbers o% (ritish and Irish settlers, %ollowed by smaller numbers o%

0ermans and other Europeans, and 1hinese.

"his latter group were subect to increasing restrictions and discrimination, ma'ing it

impossible %or many to remain in the country. 6ith the Bederation o% the Australian colonies

into a single nation, one o% the %irst acts o% the new 1ommonwealth 0overnment was

the Immigration #estriction Act 4, otherwise 'nown as the 6hite Australia policy, which

was a strengthening and uni%ication o% disparate colonial policies designed to restrict non-

6hite settlement.

(ecause o% opposition %rom the (ritish government, an e$plicit racial policy was avoided

in the legislation, with the control mechanism being a dictation test in a European language

selected by the immigration o%%icer. "his was selected to be one the immigrant did not 'nowC

the last time an immigrant passed a test was in 44. Derhaps the most celebrated case

was Egon Erwin @isch, a le%t-wing 18echoslova'ian ournalist, who could spea' %ive

languages, who was %ailed in a test in Scottish 0aelic, and deported as illiterate.

I.$. Pos%#a" I&&!'"a!on o Aus"al!a

A%ter 6orld 6ar II Australia launched a massive immigration program, believing that

having narrowly avoided a ;apanese invasion, Australia must populate or perish. &undreds

o% thousands o% displaced Europeans migrated to Australia and over ,, (ritish

subects immigrated under the Assisted Dassage /igration Scheme, colloquially becoming

'nown as "en Dound Doms."he scheme initially targeted citi8ens o% all 1ommonwealth

countriesC a%ter the war it gradually e$tended to other countries such as the etherlands and

Italy.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_gold_rusheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Chinesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Restriction_Act_1901http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Restriction_Act_1901http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_policyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_policyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Erwin_Kischhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Erwin_Kischhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_war_immigration_to_Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_war_immigration_to_Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_Passage_Migration_Schemehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Pound_Pomshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Pound_Pomshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_gold_rusheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Chinesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Restriction_Act_1901http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_policyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Erwin_Kischhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_war_immigration_to_Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_Passage_Migration_Schemehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Pound_Poms


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"he quali%ications were straight%orwardF migrants needed to be in sound health and under

the age o% 5 years. "here were initially no s'ill restrictions, although under the 6hite

Australia Dolicy, people %rom mi$ed-race bac'grounds %ound it very di%%icult to ta'e

advantage o% the scheme.

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CHAPTER 2 – CURRENT GO(ERNMENT IMMIMGRATION

PROGRAM

II.1. M!'"a!on p"o'"a&

"here are a number o% di%%erent types o% Australian immigration, classed under di%%erent

categories o% visaF

a) Employment visas

Australian wor'ing visas are most commonly granted to highly s'illed wor'ers. 1andidates

are assessed against a points-based system, granting points %or certain standards o% education.

"hese types o% visas are o%ten sponsored by individual states, which recruit wor'ers

according to speci%ic needs. Visas may also be granted to applicants sponsored by an Australian

business. "he most popular %orm o% sponsored wor'ing visa is the 52 visa.

b) Student visas

Boreign students are actively encouraged to study in Australia by the Australian 0overnment.

"here are a number o% categories o% student visa, most o% which require a con%irmed o%%er %rom

an educational institution.

c) Family visas

Visas are o%ten granted on the basis o% %amily ties in Australia. "here are a number o% di%%erent

types o% Australian %amily visas, including 1ontributory Darent visas and Spouse visas.

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II.2. Hu&an!a"!an p"o'"a&

a) Refugee

Bor people who are subect to persecution in their home country, who are typically

outside their home country, and are in need o% resettlement. "he maority o% applicants who are

considered under this category are identi%ied and re%erred by !&1# to Australia %or

resettlement. "he #e%ugee category includes the #e%ugee, In-country Special &umanitarian,

Emergency #escue and 6oman at #is' visa subclasses.

b) Special Humanitarian Program (SHP)

Bor people outside their home country who are subect to substantial discrimination

amounting to gross violation o% human rights in their home country, and immediate %amily o% persons who have been granted protection in Australia. Applications %or entry under the S&D

must be supported by a proposer who is an Australian citi8en, permanent resident or eligible

ew =ealand citi8en, or an organisation that is based in Australia.

"he &umanitarian program %or


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CHAPTER $% Culu"al D!*+"s!, !n Aus"al!a

III.1. G+n+"al Cons!d+"a!ons

"he culture o% Australia is essentially a 6estern culture in%luenced by the unique

geography o% the Australian continent, the diverse input o% Aboriginal and "orres Strait

Islander peoples, the (ritish colonisation o% Australia that began in 233, and the various waves

o% multi-ethnic migration that %ollowed.

"he predominance o% the English language, the e$istence o% a democratic system o%

government drawing upon the (ritish traditions o% 6estminster 0overnment,Darliamentarianism

and constitutional monarchy, American constitutionalist and %ederalist traditions, 1hristianity as

the dominant religion, and the popularity o% sports originating in >or in%luenced by? the (ritish

Isles, are all evidence o% a signi%icant Anglo-1eltic heritage. Australian culture has diverged

signi%icantly since (ritish settlement in 233.

III.2. A"s

"he arts in Australia H %ilm, music, painting, theatre, dance and cra%tsHhave achieved

international recognition. 6hile much o% Australia+s cultural output has traditionally tended to %it

with general trends and styles in 6estern arts, the arts as practiced by indigenous

Australians represent a unique Australian cultural tradition, and Australia+s landscape and history

have contributed to some unique variations in the styles inherited by Australia+s various migrant

communities.

III.2.1. L!+"au"+

As the convict era passedHcaptured most %amously in /arcus 1lar'e+s For the Term o

!is atural #ie >325?, a seminal wor' o% "asmanian 0othic Hthe bush and Australian daily li%e

assumed primacy as subects. 1harles &arpur , &enry @endall and Adam Lindsay 0ordon won

%ame in the mid-4th century %or their lyric nature poems and patriotic verse. 0ordon drew on

Australian colloquy and idiomC 1lar'e assessed his wor' as the beginnings o% a national school

o% Australian poetry.Birst published in serial %orm in 33


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A signi%icant contemporary account o% the e$periences o% Indigenous Australia can be

%ound in Sally /organ+s 'y (lace. 1ontemporary academics and activists including /arcia

Langton and oel Dearsonare prominent essayists and authors on Aboriginal issues.

III.2.2. Mus!-

/usic is an integral part o% Aboriginal culture. "he most %amous %eature o% their music is

the didgeridoo. "his wooden instrument, used amongst the Aboriginal tribes o% northern

Australia, ma'es a distinctive droning sound and it has been adopted by a wide variety o% non-

Aboriginal per%ormers.Aboriginal musicians have turned their hand to 6estern popular musical

%orms, o%ten to considerable commercial success.

Dioneers include Lionel #ose and ;immy Little, while notable contemporary e$amples

include Archie #oach, @ev1armody, the 6arumpi (and, "roy 1assar-

aley and JothuJindi. 0eo%%rey 0urrumulJunupingu >%ormerly o% JothuJindi? has attained

international success singing contemporary music in English and in the language o%

the Jolngu. 1hristine Anu is a success%ul "orres Strait Islander singer. Amongst young Australian

aborigines, A%rican-American and Aboriginal hip hop music and clothing is popular.

III.2.$.Dan-+

ance in Australia includes a very broad variety o% styles, %rom Indigenous Australian to

the traditional Australian bush dance and %rom classical ballet, and ballroom

dancing to contemporary dance and multicultural dance traditions %rom the


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"he per%ormances were associated with speci%ic places and dance grounds were o%ten

sacred places. (ody decoration and speci%ic gestures related to 'in and other relationships >such

as to ream time beings with which individuals and groups?. Bor a number o% Indigenous

Australian groups their dances were secret and or sacred, gender could also be an important

%actor in some ceremonies with men and women having separate ceremonial traditions.

7ther Varieties o% ance

(ush dance has developed in Australia as a %orm o% traditional dance, it draws on

traditions %rom English, Irish, Scottish and other European dance. Bavourite dances in the

community include dances o% European descent, such as the Irish 1Kilidh Dride o% Erin and

the quadrille "he Lancers. Locally originated dances include the 6aves o% (ondi,

the /elbourne Shu%%le and ew Vogue.

/any immigrant communities continue their own dance traditions on a pro%essional or

amateur basis. "raditional dances %rom a large number o% ethnic bac'grounds are danced in

Australia, helped by the presence o% enthusiastic immigrants and their Australian-born %amilies.

It is quite common to see dances %rom the (altic region, as well as Scottish, Irish, Indian,

Indonesian or A%rican dance being taught at community centres and dance schools in Australia

III.2..Th+a"+

"he ceremonial dances o% Indigenous Australians recount stories o% the reamtime and have

been per%ormed %or thousands o% years. European traditions came to Australia with the Birst

Bleet in 233, with the %irst production being per%ormed in 234 by convicts.In 433, the year

o% Australia+s bicentenary, the circumstances o% the %oundations o% Australian theatre were

recounted in "imberla'e 6ertenba'er +s play )ur Country*s +ood .&obart+s "heatre #oyal opened

in 3:2 and is Australia+s oldest continuously operating theatre. Inaugurated in 3:4,

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the /elbourne Athenaeum is one o% /elbourne+s oldest cultural institutions, and

Adelaide+s ueen+s "heatre, established in 35, is today the oldest purpose-built theatre on the

mainland. "he mid-4th century gold rushes provided %unds %or the construction o% grand

theatres in the Victorian style, such as the Drincess "heatre in /elbourne, established in

35.Bounded in Sydney 43, the ational Institute o% ramatic Art boasts %amous alumni

including 1ate (lanchett, /el 0ibson and &ugo 6eaving. 1onstruction o% the Adelaide Bestival

1entre began in 42 and South Australia+s Sir #obert &elpmann became director o% the

Adelaide Bestival o% Arts. "he new wave o% Australian theatre debuted in the 42s. "he (elvoir

St "heatre presented wor's by ic' Enright and avid 6illiamson. "he Sydney 7pera &ouse,

inaugurated in 42:, is the home o% 7pera Australia and the Sydney "heatre 1ompany.

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III.$. /+s!*als !n Aus"al!a

III.$.1. Na!onal Mul!-ulu"al /+s!*al0 Can+""a /+"ua",)

"he ational /ulticultural Bestival is held over %our days and %eatures the very best in

local, national and international music, dance, %ood and creative arts. Bestival %avourites include

the Bood and ance Spectacular, the 0ree' 0lendi, 1arnivale, the International 1oncert and the

Daci%ic Islander Showcase. "he Bestival Bringe complements the mainstream %estival, and

provides a place %or artists who brea' traditional barriers to bring their wor' to a wider audience.

III.$.$. Ch!n+s+ N+# Y+a" /+"ua",)

'any Australians cele%rate Chinese ew ,ear- also nown as the /pring Festival

or the #unar ew ,ear. t mars the irst day o the ew ,ear in the Chinese calendar .

6hat do people doM

Li'e in many countries around the world, 1hinese ew Jear celebrations in

Australia include the %ollowing events and activitiesF

Street %estivals %eaturing arts, entertainment and children*s activities.

1hinese ew Jear mar'ets showcasing arts, cra%ts and %ood stalls.

ancing, music and people wearing color%ul costumes to welcome the 1hinese ew Jear.

Vibrant displays o% 1hinese lanterns, %irecrac'ers and %irewor's.

/any 1hinese Australian %amilies spend 1hinese ew Jear by gathering together

%or a %estive meal. 1hildren o%ten receive red envelopes with money > !ong ao, Ang(ao, or #ai13

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/ee?. "he 1hinese ew Jear celebrations can last %or about days. It is usually a busy time

%illed with %estive programs across di%%erent communities in Australia.

1hinese ew Jear has various symbols and traditions. Bor e$ample, %lowers are an

important part o% ew Jear decorations. 6ritings that re%er to good luc' are o%ten seen in homes

and business environments. "hey are usually written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece o% red

paper. "angerines and oranges are also displayed in many homes and stores as a sign o% luc' and

wealth.

III.. Th+ /ood o3 h+ Aus"al!ans

Australia has a rich variety o% %oods and drin's, adopted and adapted since colonisation

and developed as part o% a multi-cultural society. 6hat was once new and %oreign has been

trans%ormed with new ingredients and styles into distinctly Australian %ood."he end o% 6orld

6ar II brought about signi%icant change in Australian cuisine. Deople %rom Europe and Asia

brought new crops, seasonings, and coo'ing methods with them.6heat, rice, oranges, bananas,and grapes are ust a %ew o% the crops that grow in abundance throughout the country. /eat has

always been a large part o% the Australian diet, although Australians >li'e others around the

world? began to be concerned about controlling cholesterol and %at in their diet, and decreased

their consumption o% meat slightly toward the end o% the twentieth century. @angaroo, though

once a popular meat in Australia+s early history, is no longer widely consumedC bee%, lamb, por',

poultry, and sea%ood are more common in twenty-%irst century Australia.

CONCLUSIONS

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Australia is one o% the most multi-%aith, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural countries in the

world. "his multiplicity o% cultures brings with it diversity and di%%erencesF religious belie%s %orm

one, but arguably an increasingly important, point o% distinction within Australian society today.

#ecent and current events G local and global G emphasise the importance o% maintaining

adequate means o% mediating between di%%erent and divergent interests in matters o% religion and

%aith.

"he history o% multiculturalism in Australia re%lects a long ourney. "he aim o%

contemporary multiculturalism in Australia is %or all to participate on equal terms, to access

opportunities and %ocus on nation building without need %or ethnic ghettos or separateness %rom

the community at large.

In other words, contemporary Australian multiculturalism must be seen as a compact or

two way street between the Australian society and newcomers that requires both give and ta'e.

As recently the Australian Drime /inister ;ulia 0illard, introducing the Australian

/ulticultural 1ouncil Lecture at Darliament &ouse, statedF N/ulticulturalism is not only ust the

ability to maintain our diverse bac'grounds and cultures. It is the meeting place o% rights and

responsibilities. 6here the right to maintain one*s customs, language and religion is balanced by

an equal responsibility to learn English, %ind wor', respect our culture and heritage.O

4I4LIOGRAPHY

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Australia a Multicultural Nation 1 2 (1)