| Multicultural Conference – Strengthening Diversity
May 2013 in Melbourne
The Australian Multicultural Community Services Inc. initiated and conducted yet another high profile multicultural conference which included a range of speakers representing the state and federal government as well as academia and several community service providers. More than 150 participants became captivated by a key note speech delivered by Prof. Jan Pakulski from the University of Tasmania.
In his address, Prof. Pakulski referred to the four principles which formed the original version of multiculturalism in 1977.
These “core principles and goals of Australian multiculturalism included:[1]
1. social cohesion understood as national integration, that is, institutional arrangements for allocating resources and resolving conflicts (Australian Ethnic Affairs Council (AEAC 1977:3);
2. equality of opportunity and access (AEAC 1977:3);
3. the freedom to choose and maintain one’s own cultural identity understood as ‘the sense of belonging and attachment to a particular way of living’ (AEAC 1977:3); and
4. the social duty of shared ‘responsibility for, commitment to and participation in society’ (ACPEA 1982:12). “ (quotation from Prof. Pakulski’s conference speech)
Footnote: [1] As formulated in the 1977 AEAC paper published by the Australian government—the first document that clearly spells out the meaning of Australian multiculturalism—and the subsequent 1982 ACPEA paper, both drafted by Jerzy Zubrzycki and published under his chairmanship.
What is interesting about these principles that more than 35 years later, these principles and goals are as relevant today as they were in 1977.
Other speakers included: The Hon Nicholas Kotsiras – Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship in Victoria, The Hon Kate Lundy – Minister for Multicultural Affairs in Australia and Senator Dr Richard di Natali – Spokesperson for Multicultural Affairs for the Greens Party.
Also a highlight of the conference was Magda Szubanski as the Master of Ceremony of the conference, who performed this role on a probono basis.
Elizabeth Drozd
CEO
AMCS
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