Cultural Diversityand

Economic Developmentin Four Regional Australian

Communities

Research Summary with Key Findings

Chapter 1

Researched by:

Associate Prof Danny Ben-Moshe Principal InvestigatorDr Susan Feldman Project Manager and Site ResearcherDr Santina Bertone Site Researcher Dr Christopher Sonn Site Researcher Dr Segu Zuhair Economics ResearcherLeo Martin Research Assistant and Site ResearcherHarriet Radermacher Research Assistant and Site ResearcherKristy Davidson Research Assistant

Institute of Community Engagement and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA)Victoria UniversityMelbourne

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The research team would like to acknowledge the ongoing support and guidance from the Department of Transport and Regional Services and their Regional Women’s Advisory Council. We would also like to thank all the participants, and other members of the communities, not only for being so generous with their time, but also for their valuable insights.

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FOREWORDDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL SERVICESAustralia has a highly diverse population, and this is reflected across all of its regions. The Department believes that this diversity is a source of economic, social and environmental strength for rural and regional areas.

The Regional Women’s Advisory Council recognised that many local communities already actively support inclusion. This research takes a snapshot of the effectiveness of informal networks, neighbourhood groups, economic and cultural activities in four regional communities and also attempts to identify what some of the costs of exclusion might be.

The findings suggest that the more socially inclusive the community, the more economically productive and entrepreneurial it is. This research is an important contribution to the current debate on immigration to regional Australia and identifies conditions essential to sustain effective intervention or development programs.

Daniel OwenGeneral ManagerRegional and Indigenous Policy Branch

REGIONAL WOMEN’S ADVISORY COUNCILIn January 2005, the Regional Women’s Advisory Council published a paper on improving welcoming strategies to support communities in welcoming new families working and settling in rural and regional Australia.

The welcoming strategies paper was sent to the Australian Government and the Australian Local Government Association and received very positive feedback from rural and regional local governments interested in attracting and retaining skilled migrants.

This new research, Cultural Diversity and Economic Development in Four Regional Australian Communities, considers the outcomes of immigrants settling in regional areas, the continued contribution of their descendants and the local Indigenous population; specifically asking how diversity and inclusion impact on the economic development and social cohesion of the area.

Through this research, and other activities, the Council hopes to encourage regional communities to be inclusive and enable the diversity of their people to strengthen their economies as well as their communities.

Anne DunnChairRegional Women’s Advisory Council

CanberraNovember 2005

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KEY FINDINGSIn brief, the study suggests that building community capacity in regional areas will lead to greater community harmony, which in turn leads to greater economic success, thus making it more likely to attract and retain immigrants in regional communities.

This study confirmed that immigration, if properly managed, can provide a stimulus to the local economy. The study found that harmonious communities were more likely to be entrepreneurial. These communities tended to create local initiatives to address social problems as well as initiatives of a socio-economic nature. The findings support and extend those of other research undertaken by the Department and the Council, such as The Success Factors – managing change in regional and rural Australia, a report outlined in chapter 3.1 The dividends of building community capacity in regional areas are clearly fed back to the community as economic returns.

If the integration of immigrants is poorly handled, however, the results may result in social exclusion of certain groups leading to a host of social problems which impact upon economic growth and development. Isolation of culturally diverse groups, within a community setting in particular, restricts the economic and social benefits of immigration and can, in turn, generate anti-social behaviour that compounds the problems of both the immigrant group and the community at large. Social exclusion contributes to diminished community leadership, limiting bridging social capital which is a key component of optimal economic outcomes.

It is important to recognise that communities can still experience economic growth despite exhibiting elements of social exclusivity. However, the negative impact of social exclusion means that these communities fail to realise their full economic potential. Further, communities may incur a range of other costs associated with the resultant social problems arising from exclusion. The community may experience a lower level of wellbeing, partly due to the diversion of community and economic resources to mitigate the negative outcomes of social exclusion.

Those communities that fail to integrate immigrants and to utilise their skills potentially restrict opportunities for economic growth. The failure to utilise immigrants’ skills not only reduces the potential of the local economy to grow, it also undervalues and further isolates immigrant communities. This isolation may work to decrease the prospects of immigrants completing formal training and increase the chances that they will become welfare-dependent. Further, the isolation may contribute to mental health and behavioural problems within immigrant communities.

The report notes that those communities that have a sense of civic responsibility and a willingness to identify problems and formulate solutions concerning exclusion appeared to be far more successful in integrating and retaining immigrants. Mechanisms for encouraging the integration of immigrants may be formal in nature, for example, local government to informal, such as community groups. Both of these mechanisms should be supported at a local and Australian Government level.

In terms of the Indigenous community, it is clear from this study that this is a sector of the population that continues to be both unemployed and underemployed despite 1 Department of Transport and Regional Services. “The Success Factors: Managing Change in Regional and Rural Australia”; available from www.dotars.gov.au/regional/rwac/projects.html; accessed 12 May 2005.

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residing in areas with labour shortages. Given the history and complexity of this issue, considerations are quite different to that of immigrant communities and these are beyond the scope of this study. However, Indigenous Australians are clearly not being fully integrated into the wider community, either economically or socially. The Indigenous representatives interviewed as part of this research made it clear that they wanted their communities to participate in wider social and economic life as it would benefit their specific communities.

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GLOSSARYBTRE Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics

CALD Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

DOTARS Department of Transport and Regional Services(the Department)

ESL English as a Second Language

ICEPA Institute for Community Engagement and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA), at Victoria University in Melbourne

Immigrants An immigrant is someone who intends to reside permanently, or for a prolonged period, in another country or region and not a casual visitor or traveller. Immigrants do not always speak languages other than English.

Immigration Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently, such as, the movement of people to Australia from other countries.

LOTE Languages other than English

NAIDOC National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

NESB Non-English Speaking Backgrounds

Refugees Refugees flee their country for their own safety and cannot return unless the situation that forced them to leave improves.

RWAC Regional Women’s Advisory Council (the Council)

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TABLE OF CONTENTSFOREWORD.......................................................................................................................................... 3

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL SERVICES........................................................................3REGIONAL WOMEN’S ADVISORY COUNCIL.............................................................................................3

KEY FINDINGS...................................................................................................................................... 4GLOSSARY........................................................................................................................................... 6STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT...........................................................................................................8BACKGROUND..................................................................................................................................... 9OVERVIEW.......................................................................................................................................... 10

ECONOMIC BENEFITS...................................................................................................................10SOCIAL CAPITAL............................................................................................................................ 11LINKS – CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT...........................................13SOCIAL INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT..............................................................................13

Labour Market.............................................................................................................................. 13Culture......................................................................................................................................... 13Business Development................................................................................................................14Community Harmony and Social Capital.....................................................................................14

SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT............................................................................15Labour Market.............................................................................................................................. 15Culture......................................................................................................................................... 16Business Development................................................................................................................16Community Harmony and Social Capital.....................................................................................17

CASE STUDIES................................................................................................................................... 18SHEPPARTON................................................................................................................................ 18

Labour Market.............................................................................................................................. 18Culture......................................................................................................................................... 19Business Development................................................................................................................19Community Harmony and Social Capital.....................................................................................20Summary..................................................................................................................................... 21

GRIFFITH......................................................................................................................................... 21Labour Market.............................................................................................................................. 21Culture......................................................................................................................................... 22Business Development................................................................................................................24Community Harmony and Social Capital.....................................................................................25Summary..................................................................................................................................... 25

KALGOORLIE.................................................................................................................................. 26Labour Market.............................................................................................................................. 26Culture......................................................................................................................................... 27Business Development................................................................................................................28Community Harmony and Social Capital.....................................................................................28Summary..................................................................................................................................... 30

ROBINVALE..................................................................................................................................... 30Labour Market.............................................................................................................................. 30Culture......................................................................................................................................... 31Business Development................................................................................................................32Community Harmony and Social Capital.....................................................................................33Summary..................................................................................................................................... 33

METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................................. 35CASE STUDIES............................................................................................................................... 35SCOPE............................................................................................................................................. 35LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................................................................36INTERVIEWS....................................................................................................................................... 36QUANTITATIVE DATA........................................................................................................................... 37QUALITY CONTROL (TRIANGULATION)..................................................................................................37ANALYSIS........................................................................................................................................ 37

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STRUCTURE OF THE REPORTThe full research report can be accessed on the web site: http://www.dotars.gov.au/regional/rwac/.

Chapter 1 provides an overview of the research, a background to the study and methods used, an analysis of the links between cultural diversity and economic development and a summary of the key findings.

Chapter 2 reports on the case studies in each community in detail, and outlines comparative quantitative data for each case study site.

Chapter 3 is a literature review of the links between cultural diversity and economic development.

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BACKGROUNDThe Department of Transport and Regional Services is committed to assisting regional communities in managing change, realising their potential and leading their own development. The Regional Women’s Advisory Council, whose secretariat resides in the Department, is also strongly committed to the development of vibrant and sustainable regional communities.

One way of assisting regional communities is through the provision of applicable and timely research.

The purpose of this study is to inform policy on the role and impact of the acceptance of diversity and inclusion in contributing to economic development and social cohesion. In answering this, the key research questions were:

How has inclusion contributed to the economic development of community?

Does the inclusiveness of diverse groups add to economic prosperity or not?

This research was commissioned to:

1. explore the role of the acceptance of diversity and inclusiveness within four Australian communities;

2. understand the implications for regional/local social and economic development; and

3. identify the policy and program implications of these findings.

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OVERVIEWThis report documents the results of a pilot study, based on data collected from four regional communities. While recognising the limited results of the study, the report found clear and strong patterns that support and advance the literature about the subject matter2. While the findings in this report relate to the local context of these communities only, they do, however, provide a basis for the consideration of their applicability and testing in the wider Australian community.

On the basis of this research, this study indicates that communities which are more socially inclusive:

lead to greater investment and diversity of economic activity. Economic activity and concomitant recreational activity have a positive impact on economic, social and cultural life of these communities thus making them more viable, sustainable, and adaptable to economic change;

develop more positive learning environments and better educational and training outcomes and skills development;

lead to less reliance on service agencies, for example, police, housing associations, transport services, educational programs, health and financial counselling etc;

lead to more local initiatives across the community which address local social and economic issues of concern;

lead to greater recruitment and retention of professionals including in health and education;

help empower communities to be self-reliant; build stronger regional communities; attract immigrants and refugees that choose to settle and remain in the

community; assist in the better delivery of services and outcomes for Indigenous

Australians; and are strong and sustainable and have more community leadership.

ECONOMIC BENEFITSThis study confirmed that culturally harmonious and socially inclusive communities appear to experience two types of positive economic benefits:

1. Receiving the economic dividend of social inclusion: such as investment, consumption, volunteerism, knowledge transfer, cultural enrichment, and building social capital.

2. Avoiding the costs of social exclusion: such as the non-use and underutilisation of labour, welfare dependency, limited education and skills training, extra policing, non-investment, and leakage (i.e. people going elsewhere to access services).

2 The Literature Review is chapter 3 in the web version of this report: http://www.dotars.gov.au/regional/rwac/

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The links between economic productivity and socially inclusive societies have been conceptualised in figure 1. The model illustrates how socially inclusive societies can contribute to enhanced economic productivity, while less socially inclusive societies are less likely to achieve optimal economic productivity.

SOCIAL CAPITALOn the basis of this research, the study found that social capital and volunteering by community members plays a pivotal role in building harmonious and inclusive communities. The study supports the contention that optimal economic benefit to regional communities is more likely to lie in ‘bridging’ social capital.

Bridging social capital refers to relations between people of different backgrounds, that is, in networks and ties amongst culturally diverse rather than homogenous groups. This results in relatively diverse networks that strengthen interaction across heterogeneous groups, increase levels of social cohesion and provide all groups with access to a wider range of resources. Networks and relations are therefore established between different sections of the community, for example, Vietnamese immigrants mixing socially and economically with other ethnic communities and the established mainstream community.

Bonding social capital refers to relations amongst relatively homogeneous groups (such as ethnic, religious or socio-economic groups) that are characteristically strong, protective and inward looking, for example, Vietnamese immigrants helping other Vietnamese immigrants in settling and remaining in a city but not extending their support networks beyond the Vietnamese community.

Bonding capital plays an important role within communities, for example, more established immigrants help those that are more newly arrived to settle and give ethnic group members an ongoing sense of identity. However, bonding capital is not enough in itself, and the bridging capital is necessary for broader positive impacts across the entire regional community.

Ultimately, however, while there is clearly strong qualitative evidence of a link between cultural diversity and economic development, the chances of the benefit being maximised appear to depend on the successful mix of bridging and bonding social capital, as illustrated in figure 1.

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Cultural Diversity in Regional

Communities

Bridging and Bonding Social Capital

Bonding Social CapitalOnly

Enhanced Economic Development

Sub-optimal Economic Development

Figure 1. Conceptualising the links between cultural diversity, social capital, and economic development

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LINKS – CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTThe qualitative data gathered in the four case studies, the available quantitative data, and the review of the literature together support the following summary about the links between cultural diversity and economic development. These links have been grouped into four interconnecting categories:

1. Labour market (skills, knowledge, labour, education and renewal);

2. Culture (cultural values and community attitudes);

3. Business development (consumption, niche marketing and development and renewal); and

4. Community harmony and social capital (civil and political capital, volunteerism, networks, and access to resources).

These categories will be addressed, firstly, in relation to social inclusion and, secondly, according to the impacts of social exclusion.

SOCIAL INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTLabour MarketNew arrivals to regional communities are essential to maintaining and expanding a labour force to support the economy, as is the case in Robinvale (agriculture) and Kalgoorlie (mining).

The knowledge and experiences brought into a region by immigrants encourages the development of new industries. For example, in Shepparton, plant-grafting techniques introduced by immigrant communities were shared and are now widely used throughout the region and consequently have lead to substantial economic benefits to the community.

The creation of new industries provides jobs for the whole community.

Immigrants frequently start new industries. For example, in Shepparton, the transport industry (now Shepparton’s third largest industry) was reported to have been established by immigrants who travelled to Melbourne to supply fresh fruit and vegetables to the markets.

CultureImmigrants were said to have enriched cultural and business relationships through the perpetuation of positive social values such as thrift, hard work, faith, courtesy and devotion to family.

Immigrants also added to the cultural life of their towns through their business practices, such as opening restaurants and cafes offering culturally diverse cuisine.

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Immigrant groups often establish cultural and sporting festivals to reflect their own interests and traditions. Such festivals attract all community members, as both participants and spectators. The influx of people to sporting and cultural events generates a demand for local goods and services such as accommodation and meals.

The contribution and participation of immigrant and Indigenous communities to the cultural life of a region is a factor that makes living in regional communities viable. For example, when members of these groups join in to make up the numbers for a local sports team.

Cultural festivals were described as events that not only provide economic benefits to the town or region, but as community events with ongoing social benefits to all.

Business DevelopmentThe arrival of immigrants into a region stimulates demand for a wide range of goods and services and allows for the growth of local businesses.

Immigrants bring capital to communities and some start culturally specific businesses to cater for the needs of other new settlers. For example, two Asian grocery stores have opened in Robinvale.

The establishment of immigrant businesses creates a more diverse and, therefore, more durable economy. For example, in Griffith the development of industries with strong immigrant participation, such as the poultry and wine industries, has made the economy less reliant upon traditional agricultural industries. In contrast in Kalgoorlie the failure to develop a diversified economy means that the economy is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in commodity (gold and nickel) prices.

Many industries, which were developed and expanded by immigrants at a local level, now operate nationwide (for example, the transport industry in Shepparton). The development of these businesses supports the continued growth of the local economy.

Immigrants were seen as bringing an entrepreneurial culture and drive, as well as new capital, into a regional centre or town. They add to the local economy through their consumption of a wide and diverse range of goods and services. Through the combination of many of the factors outlined above, immigrants are seen as playing a key role in economic renewal.

Community Harmony and Social CapitalNew immigrants create formal and informal social and economic networks. These networks not only support the immigrants themselves, but can also provide the basis for social and economic interaction within the broader community. For instance, ethno-specific clubs and organisations evolve over time to include all people of other nationalities and as a result enhance broader social capital and cultural life of a community.

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In terms of the receiving community, immigrants were perceived to have stimulated the growth of positive social networks by encouraging the formation of local service organisations, networks and voluntary committees within the area. These committees were described as being a response to a perceived lack of services for settling immigrants. In the longer term, these community-based initiatives continued as ongoing vehicles for community harmony building in their capacity to address the concerns of the broader population.

The needs of new arrivals were often, in the first instance, met by ethno-specific volunteer organisations. However, other more general service organisations such as Rotary also provided valuable support to newly arrived members of the community.

It would seem that communities that are more inclusive of their cultural diversity have a greater sense of civic responsibility and a willingness to identify problems and formulate solutions, including policies and practices that relate to the local economy. They are more organised, resourceful and entrepreneurial.

Furthermore, communities that are more inclusive of their cultural diversity develop local networks that lead to inclusion and thus more successful integration and retention of immigrants. For example, in Shepparton, the local TAFE college developed a program to teach immigrant women to drive so that they could participate in social and commercial aspects of community life.

SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Just as economic benefits to communities flow from social inclusion, conversely, there are negative economic impacts associated with social exclusion.

While these issues are not necessarily new, they appear to be compounded and more significant when they occur in smaller sized communities. These impacts are experienced both at an individual level and at the level of the economy.

Labour MarketThere was evidence that social exclusion meant communities were failing to utilise the skills of immigrants, thus limiting their potential contribution to the local economy. The skills of many recent refugees were said to have been overlooked or under utilised, possibly resulting in the unemployment or under-employment of some immigrant groups.

Social exclusion decreases the prospects of immigrants completing formal training and increases the chances that they will become welfare-dependent. The isolation can contribute to mental health and behavioural problems within immigrant communities with flow on medical and law enforcement costs.

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Further, social exclusion in the wider community resonates in schools and, as educators pointed out, exclusion has a negative impact on student learning outcomes, and in some cases leads to students failing to complete in high school.

Although there are labour shortages in all of the four case study areas, combined with high Indigenous unemployment rates, the mutual resolution of these problems was not occurring in part because of social exclusion.

Additional recruitment and retraining costs are incurred because people – often the middle class and retirees who have disposable income and civic leadership potential – chose to leave the town because of the consequences of the social problems within the community. Participants identified the lack of English language skills, in particular, as one reason for cultural exclusion and limited opportunities in the workplace. There was extensive evidence that language barriers and lack of training and skills development for non-English speakers further contributed to a sense of exclusion.

Indigenous people were found to have limited education and access to workforce participation in all of the four case study areas.

CultureParticipants, from communities in which members were excluded socially, reported that there was a lack of culturally appropriate community activities and festivals. As a result, participants said that residents spent only a limited amount of time on local recreational activities and instead travelled to other locations for their recreation. Others reported that some people had left the community permanently so that they could experience an enhanced cultural life in other regional locations.

Social exclusion of groups from mainstream activities results in extra costs being incurred in the provision of culturally separate events and facilities, for example, in Robinvale, there were plans in progress to develop a separate sports ground for the use of an Indigenous team, despite the existence and availability of another public oval in the town.3

Business DevelopmentWhere there was evidence of social exclusion, there appeared to be fewer commercial initiatives and uptake of ideas brought by those from culturally diverse groups, resulting in lost entrepreneurial opportunities.

It was reported that some immigrants, who had moved to the case study sites and had opened businesses, were closing them and planned to return to capital cities because of racial tensions in the community.

3 One participant noted during the quality control stage of this study that, following a recent community meeting, it is unlikely that this will be going ahead.

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Local and external people were not investing in existing or new businesses because of instability and tensions between different sectors of the population.

There were extra costs incurred in attracting, recruiting and retaining professionals deemed necessary for economic development and stability. It was evident that individuals do not want to relocate and live in a place that experiences social exclusion and all its concomitant social problems.

Indigenous communities were not benefiting from and participating in economic activity that leads to the generation of wealth.

By comparison with socially inclusive locations, there was much less entrepreneurship in socially exclusive locations.

Community Harmony and Social CapitalLocations with higher levels of social exclusion failed to provide civic leadership and local responses to issues of need. There were examples of activities being provided which reflect social capital, such as mother and baby groups and library reading hours, which were not utilised because, in the opinions of the organisers, residents are uncomfortable with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. People limited themselves to bonding social capital (see Figure 1).

The lack of social capital in a community means that alternative services must be paid for, usually by a government agency.

There was a perception that the case study communities were not safe because of racial tensions and the social consequences of exclusion. The result of these tensions was that people were reluctant to leave their homes for social engagement and, due to fears for their personal safety that they would travel instead to other towns for social and economic activities. Often business people will not invest in the town and local business people reported that, in some cases, the racial tensions, social problems and leakage were leading them to close or sell their businesses.

Social isolation was seen as a major contributor to poor mental and physical health. The associated medical and societal costs, such as alcohol and drug abuse, were also noted.

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CASE STUDIESThis section of the report is based on the data from the case studies (reported in more detail in chapter 2) and analysed according to the four categories discussed above, to specifically consider the links between cultural diversity and economic development. Each community is analysed in turn.

SHEPPARTON

Labour MarketMost interviewees believed that there was a positive link between the supply of immigrant labour and Shepparton’s economic development. Interviewees emphasised that, in the absence of immigration, the local labour market could not supply all the workers or skills required to generate growth. By way of illustration, the regional hospital was said to rely upon immigrant health and other professionals to staff its departments. Similarly, participants maintained that horticulturalists required a regular, large influx of immigrants to harvest fruit and vegetables.4

Historically, immigrants to the Shepparton area were considered to have contributed a range of skills, including horticultural, trade, for example, building, concreting and tiling, and professional skills. More recently, the introduction of grafting techniques, originally developed in Albania, by members of the Albanian community was reported to have provided significant benefits in the valley by shortening the time taken for fruit trees to mature to harvest. Immigrants were also identified as providing linguistic and cultural skills for example, as interpreters, which in turn reduced reliance by Shepparton service providers on Melbourne-based language services.

On the negative side, the skills of many recent refugees were said to have been overlooked or under-utilised, possibly resulting in the unemployment or under-employment of some immigrant groups. Groups of immigrants that had arrived recently, for example, Iraqis, Turks, in particular were believed to suffer from lower levels of labour market participation than more established immigrant communities.

In the area of education and training, interviewees reported that immigrant families were enthusiastic about encouraging their children to pursue post-secondary education. While tertiary education opportunities in Shepparton were limited, it was reported that many second generation immigrants had returned to the town after their studies to practice as doctors, accountants, lawyers and so on.

4 Comments made during the feedback process, however, indicate that the ‘immigrants’ that horticulturalists employ are primarily international backpackers and Australians, on working holidays.

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CultureInterviewees identified a wide range of multicultural events that were held in the region. All interviewees agreed that, by attracting tourists and utilising local services, these events enhanced economic activity. The events included: the Rotary Club New Year’s Eve festivities (where ethnic groups gave performances), concerts by the United Multicultural Youth Group, Albanian Summer Harvest, Harmony Day celebrations, religious festivals, the annual Shepparton Arts festival (where ethnic groups participated through exhibitions and performances), the Italian race day in Tatura, and a Fruit Salad festival. No negative comments were made about the impact of these cultural events, which were universally believed to provide social and economic benefits.

More broadly, immigrants were felt to have enriched cultural and business relationships in the town through the perpetuation of positive social values such as thrift, hard work, courtesy and devotion to family.

Business DevelopmentParticipants saw the immigrant population as being largely responsible for the development of Shepparton’s entrepreneurial culture. Immigrants were reported to have developed large and thriving businesses in the areas of horticulture, restaurants, retail businesses, hotels, transport and logistics, food processing, construction and property development. Their businesses were thought to employ a large percentage of the local workforce, with some immigrant-based businesses extending throughout Victoria and other states. Some respondents went as far as to suggest that Shepparton owed its dynamic economic development to the drive and entrepreneurship of its immigrants.

Immigrants were also considered to have boosted the local economy in two ways: firstly, through the volume of their consumption expenditure (for example, on food, housing, education) and secondly, through increasing the diversity of consumption in the area. With respect to the diversity of consumption, interviewees referred to the wide range of cafes, restaurants and food shops now available that had not previously existed before large-scale immigration to the area. This diversification was seen to reduce the pressure on the agricultural industry as the main regional employer and ensured that the town was less vulnerable to harvest failures or reductions in crop prices.

Economic renewal was said to be promoted by ongoing inflows of immigrant labour. For example, some interviewees described how immigrants brought renewal to farms by buying up older farms that family units could no longer run (this phenomenon has recently been seen amongst the Punjabi community). Immigrants were also seen to have brought renewal to the retail centre, by establishing shops and restaurants, and by adopting and disseminating new techniques in horticulture and food processing. In addition, immigrant farmers were said to have been instrumental in developing cool storage and trucking ventures during the 1970s to reduce their dependence on the SPC cannery. According to some interviewees, immigrants were also

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active in raising funds to support the SPC cannery during a critical time in its operations.

Finally, immigrants were said to have contributed much-needed capital to the area. Many immigrants were said to have arrived with capital from their own countries, or generated capital locally and invested it in new enterprises within the Shepparton region and beyond.

Community Harmony and Social CapitalThe link between immigration and social capital was less frequently mentioned. Amongst those interviewees who did identify this link most noted the tendency of some groups, particularly recent immigrants, to stick together in their communities (a form of bonding capital). Several interviewees also suggested a range of ways in which immigrants contributed to the community through their initiation of and participation in community and religious festivals (bridging capital).

More established immigrant groups, such as the Italians, Greeks, Turkish and Albanian communities, were reported to provide invaluable and ongoing social support to later arrivals, such as the recent waves of Turkish, Albanian and Iraqi settlers. This occurred both informally for example, through individual and family networks, and more formally, for example, through the Ethnic Communities Council.

In terms of the receiving community, immigrants were thought to have stimulated the growth of positive social networks by encouraging the formation of local provider networks and voluntary committees within the area. These were formed in response to a perceived shortfall in services for settling immigrants, but later continued as ongoing vehicles for community harmony and adjustment. For example, the formation of the New Settlers Committee (formed in 2002), which had incorporated ethnic community representatives, local government and service providers, was cited as being a positive consequence of the concerns around refugee immigration. As a result, the community now has an ongoing network that continues to deliver benefits for example, by addressing hardship cases, averting ethnic violence, planning for new settlers and addressing the broader population’s concerns. In the aftermath of the September 2001 events in the US, some interviewees mentioned the public statements made by a multi-faith group of religious leaders. Arguably, these examples of bridging social capital helped to limit the economic costs of any negative consequences of cultural diversity, for example, poverty, social exclusion and inter-ethnic conflict.

Immigrants were also reported to have formed their own bridging networks (for example, United Multicultural Youth Group, Ethnic Communities Council, Italian Club, Dutch Club, Greek Club). These groups invited non-nationals to participate and, as a result, were seen to enhance social capital. Social capital was also said to have been enhanced by the emphasis of most immigrants on family networks and businesses.

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Having said this, some interviewees felt that more newly arrived immigrant groups could contribute more to the social infrastructure of the region by volunteering their time and involvement. The Ethnic Communities Council was seen as a focal point of volunteerism among the Shepparton ethnic communities. From here, a number of voluntary outreach activities occurred with youth, Rotary Club, TAFE, the police, local government, state government providers and so on.

Finally, there were positive indications from interviewees that the general perception of the social environment in Shepparton was of a safe, coherent and harmonious community. Most interviewees reported positive community attitudes in terms of feeling safe, accepted and having opportunities to have a say. However, a number of interviewees felt that Indigenous people were largely excluded from economic and social life in Shepparton, and a few interviewees felt that young people, including ethnic and Indigenous youth, made the streets unsafe at night.

SummaryThere was consensus among interviewees that immigration had contributed to the strong economic development in the region. Specifically, immigration was seen to have provided both a skilled and an unskilled workforce which had, in turn, contributed knowledge and fuelled business development, entrepreneurship and economic diversification.

The cultural and broader social benefits of immigration were recognised to produce bridging links, allowing for the development of social networks, which produced a more cohesive society. This, in turn, acted to stimulate economic development.

While participants generally held favourable views about the levels of social cohesion within the community, some reported ongoing social exclusion of the large Indigenous population and some of the more newly arrived groups, such as Iraqi refugees. Yet, in spite of these concerns, the Shepparton region was thought to have the necessary social networks and goodwill to deal constructively with such challenges.

GRIFFITH

Labour MarketParticipants suggested that over the last 60 years the expertise and knowledge of all groups, regardless of ethnic origin, has been essential to the development of a strong economy and vibrant community in Griffith. People from multicultural backgrounds were described as being resilient and eager to develop and contribute their skills. In the words of one participant there is ‘...a will to do good, and diversity ensures there are more ideas from different people and this in turn leads to a more effective economy’. To this end respondents identified two key drivers of the economy: education and immigration.

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A number of participants noted a strong link between the economic development of the region and participation in the educational and training opportunities available in Griffith (through TAFE and higher education). Most of those interviewed suggested that there is an urgent need for technically skilled people (such as those who service machinery and infrastructure, agronomists, IT specialists, etc.) to encourage the diversification of the region’s economic base away from the agricultural, viticulture and poultry industries.

Those interviewed also noted the importance of attracting new residents to Griffith. A number of participants observed that full labour participation guarantees continuing and higher economic productivity. However, while many immigrant communities were able to develop the necessary skills to participate in the economic and social life of the community, participants identified several groups that were not benefiting from the town’s relative prosperity, namely: those with poor English skills amongst Indigenous Australians/Pacific Islanders and seasonal workers (in particular women).

The lack of English language skills, in particular, was seen by participants as a reason for cultural exclusion. Participants identified women as less likely to be able to participate in (or to choose to participate in) language training services. Groups that were least likely to possess English language skills included Indian, Muslim and also older Italian women who, despite often spending many years in Australia, had little English.

Indigenous people were also identified as a disadvantaged group within the community. Interviewees asserted that Indigenous people frequently failed to complete year 11 and 12 schooling and were seen as slow to take up traineeships or apprenticeship training. As a result often they could only find work in the lowest unskilled agricultural environments The position within the Pacific Islander community was also seen to be problematic, with few members of the community accessing further education; although several respondents noted that the position was less severe because large numbers of Islanders were able to find basic work in the poultry industry.

Finally, seasonal workers were identified as also being disadvantaged. During the harvest season Griffith experiences an influx of people who, according to some, are willing to do the work that others wouldn’t undertake, for example, ‘...working picking onions in that dreadful heat’. Some people indicated that ‘...Islanders do unskilled work – Italians don’t do that anymore – there is a hierarchy in this town’. These seasonal workers were identified as having few formal support mechanisms and little contact with the town’s residents or welfare services.

CultureAs a town, Griffith was described as a ‘melting pot’ of cultural activities. Cultural events were not simply seen as desirable but a necessary part of a balanced community life. Nearly all of those interviewed expressed the view that the highly successful multicultural sporting day organised by the Indian

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community was both an economic success, and an event that brought the whole community together because, in the words of one participant, ‘...everyone shares the love of sport in this place’. Similarly, the largest community festival in Griffith - La Festa – was broadly recognised as culturally and economically important.

Indigenous community leaders also discussed how public festivals were open to all members of the community and cited the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) ball and Kids Disco as events that were designed to promote good relationship between the broader and Indigenous communities. Indigenous workers were cited as having developed cultural programs that not only provide entertainment but also alert other ethnic communities about Indigenous cultural traditions and sensitivities.

Most people who participated in the project expressed the view that Griffith was a town built on the Australian and Italian tradition of solid hard work and family values. Interviewees indicated that people in Griffith appreciate their cultural identity, their history and are proud of the multicultural tradition that has been established over many years. The Italian community in particular was nominated as having played, and continuing to play, a significant role in shaping the values and culture in the region.

Italian immigrants were described by most people in the study as historically setting the foundation for past and future growth of Griffith but were, according to some, not always welcoming of newer arrivals. Although some ethnic groups were perceived to keep to themselves, it was the view of many of the participants that all social clubs and community activities were multi-national now, and open to all members of the community ‘...with no segregation like it used to be in the old days’.

The strong work ethic of many other culturally diverse groups was admired and respected by most of the long-standing residents and many of the participants said that this attitude was also conveyed to new arrivals. According to one participant ‘...having work promotes inclusion’.

The church, as a whole, also played an important role in this regard and participants noted that it had worked hard to develop an atmosphere of inclusion and to provide opportunities for people to come together through religious and cultural festivals. Some described the churches as ‘...doing a good job to make sure all people are part of the congregation’. However, there was perceived animosity from some longer-term members regarding different cultural expressions within the traditional service. Islander people were singled out for particular criticism.

Once again there are some members of the community that were identified as excluded. Many people described how women from a range of ethnic backgrounds seemed to be bound by cultural practices that forbade them to work or have independent lives. These women were described as being isolated and not participating in community activities because they often accompany their men when they worked as seasonal labourers in the fields

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and accordingly they are largely itinerant and do not have an opportunity to establish links within the community. Similarly, Indigenous people were recognised as being the subject of exclusion; a number of participants cited the perceived lack of work ethic amongst the Indigenous community as partially responsible for this exclusion.

The exclusion of some sections of the community was broadly recognised as a problem that could lead to anti-social behaviour amongst marginalised groups. There was recognition amongst participants of the need to combat exclusion and a general consensus that regardless of ethnic background, people can only be productive when they feel they can be themselves and are accepted.

Business DevelopmentHistorically, Griffith has been a town that has encouraged smaller scale agricultural endeavour, beginning with the Italians and currently extending to groups such as the Sikh community. The town’s long history of immigration was overwhelmingly seen to have been positive and most interviewees recognised the importance of continuing to attract immigrants to the region. According to one commentator people from multicultural backgrounds ‘...bring money into the town through spending and consuming and they also add to the social fabric of the town’.

People from Indian or Sikh backgrounds were perceived by many members of the wider community to be ‘the new Italians’ - enterprising, very astute/sharp business people, with similar family values as those held by the older, and more established, Italian community. Indian communities, according to some, placed the same emphasis on education of their children and family enterprise as do the Italian community: ‘...they help each other, educate their children and then they buy their own farms’.

The lack of public and private transport was described as a key factor in the exclusion of individuals. Women, who do not drive, regardless of their ethnic background, were nominated by most of the participants as excluded from community activities. Similarly, despite being familiar with Australian cultural practices and possessing excellent English language skills some young people who lived ‘out of town’ and did not drive had difficulty finding transport to access support networks and employment and were, accordingly, similarly identified as excluded.

A number of participants observed that there is also a growing divide between rich and poor in the town especially in the area of affordable housing. Rents are very high in Griffith and home ownership is beyond the reach of many of the agricultural workers, especially the poorly paid Pacific Islander community who predominantly are employed in the poultry industry. The high rentals of the private market were also acknowledged to be beyond the reach of many members of the Indigenous community.

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Community Harmony and Social CapitalThe majority of participants recognised the importance of community life. As one pointed out ‘...without participation in the life of the town then people from all groups suffer and in the end the town would cease to exist’. A good level of social harmony was not only seen to be of general benefit to existing residents but was also understood as an important factor in attracting and retaining new immigrants. To this end there have been a number of initiatives developed to assist community development both formally and informally.

In a formal sense the Local Government Authority has developed a 10-year social plan and established an Indigenous advisory committee. The Local Government Authority has also recently sought Indigenous participation in the establishment and management of art projects. Other participants pointed out the existence of neighbourhood houses, crisis centres, and multicultural centres as being particularly significant.

In a less formal sense the various church denominations in Griffith play a role in building community and harmony. The church offers support where there is social dysfunction and provides a point of social contact for recent immigrants.

However, despite the identification of these initiatives by some participants others suggested that generally there are few visible strategies in place to promote social harmony; although, even amongst participants who were unable to identify the existence of such programs there was general agreement that Griffith is a tolerant community. In the words of one participant: ‘People bring with them family, friendships and networks of their own and these encourage like cultural groups to come settle and in this way extend the community through their work and networks’.

SummaryIn summary there is a broad recognition of the value of immigration in the community. The immigration of the Italian community is seen to have been critical in the town’s economic development. The more recent Sikh community is also seen to have brought substantial economic benefits. Both the Italian and Sikh communities are seen to possess strong, and similar, moral values. These values were also seen as broadly consistent with those held by the wider population, and have played an important part in assisting the integration of these groups into the community.

There were a number of instances cited by interviewees of immigrants who were isolated from the community. Indigenous people were identified as isolated. Similarly, those without English and immigrant women were also identified as excluded. The problem for some immigrant women was exacerbated by the presence of a cultural system that prevented them from participating in certain community acts, for example, playing sport etc.

There was consensus among those interviewed that while immigration had contributed to the strong economic, cultural and social development of Griffith, it is imperative that younger people with a range of new skills be attracted to

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the region. Many people talked about developing strategies to encourage new industries to the community and this included talk about diversification in agriculture, particularly in light of the looming water shortages.

One of the main tasks discussed by participants was to attract people from other parts of Australia to the region and this could only be achieved by selling the Griffith lifestyle to potential settlers regardless of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Finally, most of those interviewed recognised that it was important to the future economic success and development of the community to continue to welcome and encourage multicultural diversity in the region by attracting groups of people from diverse age and ethnic backgrounds to work in a range of industries.

KALGOORLIE

Labour MarketThe significance of immigration to the local economy was recognised by all interviewees and each believed that the wealth of the region was dependent on the area’s capacity to attract both skilled and unskilled immigrants, those from overseas and those from other cities. Interviewees suggested that many of the immigrants who arrive are highly skilled (trade and professional) and have been recruited specifically to work in the mining industry. In this context the economic benefits of immigration were seen to extend beyond the mining industry to act as a catalyst to growth within the service sector and the region’s economy as a whole.

In both the public and private sectors a number of strategies have been developed to encourage the broad participation of all members of the community in the economic and social life of the region.

Talks between Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders has lead to the development of a protocol that deals with race relations and establishes a framework and set of guidelines aimed at improving race relations and the wellbeing of the community. These guidelines have been signed by government organisations, private businesses and individuals and are displayed on the walls of public offices and a number of private businesses. In addition, to ensure that its own decisions are better able to meet the needs of Indigenous people the Local Government Authority has established a reconciliation sub-committee from which it regularly seeks guidance.

Within the private sector individual businesses have developed strategies for passing on skills and teaching employees about Indigenous history. A number of the mining companies have started history classes and organise for Indigenous people to come in and speak to workers about Indigenous history/culture. There has also been a conscious effort by employers to take on more Indigenous employees. Within the public sector similar efforts have been made.

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However, despite the improvements identified above a number of difficulties remain. Some participants spoke of a general failure to value the Indigenous community or to recognise its past or achievements and identified the high levels of Indigenous unemployment as problematic. The Indigenous unemployment rate was estimated by some participants to be between 40 per cent and 60 per cent in some areas. The high level of Indigenous unemployment was seen to perpetuate the existing poverty within the Indigenous community. Particular problems were identified amongst members of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population aged between 15 and 17 years of age – many of whom had ceased to attend formal schooling and were not actively involved in training. In fact, a training provider pointed out that opportunities for this population were limited.

CultureThere are a series of festivals organised by the community. The St Barbara’s (the patron saint of mining) festival has been expanded to encourage participation from a broader range of ethnic groups. In addition to developing a series of practical strategies to encourage participation the Local Government Authority has also adopted a system of mechanisms that symbolically seek to recognise traditional ownership of the land. The development of Peace Park, Reconciliation Park, and the establishment of an Indigenous Interpretive garden are significant in this regard as are the formal adoption of Indigenous place names. Sporting events are popular and presence of numerous sporting clubs testifies to the centrality of sport in the community. Sport was cited by all participants as a critical mechanism for breaking down cultural barriers and eliminating prejudice. On a broader level the town celebrates its rich cultural history through a series of national events including Harmony day and NAIDOC week.

Despite the efforts of the local government and section of the local community there remain a number of difficulties within the town. Typically, the difficulties relate to the local Indigenous population. While there are a large number of ethnic groups working in the town, and a broad acceptance of immigrants, attitudes towards Indigenous people were more ambivalent. A number of participants stated that there was a broad failure amongst some sections of the community to recognise the significance of Indigenous cultural practices.

Indigenous people were seen to be responsible for their own exclusion and high unemployment rates. Most of the incidences of violence that were mentioned by participants involved Indigenous people either as perpetrators and/or victims. Although it was noted that non-Indigenous people also engage in antisocial behaviour, the link between the transient Indigenous population, alcohol abuse and violence led participants to comment that people avoid approaching Indigenous people, particularly when they (the Indigenous people) were intoxicated.

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Business DevelopmentKalgoorlie is seen as successful – it provides 17 per cent of the State Revenue for Western Australia. All participants interviewed recognised that because many people leave it is vital for the town’s future to attract new residents. Members of the community expressed pride in being productive and of giving rather than taking. In this regard participants identified the capacity of the region to generate wealth through mining and observed that wages in the area are extremely high, for example, $130,000 a year to drive a truck in the superpit. There was a wide feeling that anybody willing to work had the opportunity to make a lot of money. High incomes in the area were reflected in the increase in housing prices, which are now comparable to Perth.

Most participants spoke of Kalgoorlie as a ‘can do’ town. Innovation was seen as overwhelmingly positive and both the local government and local community were extremely supportive of business. Many immigrants have had the opportunity to establish local businesses that provide culturally specific services.

However, the success of some immigrant communities in establishing such businesses highlights the absence of similar Indigenous institutions. Despite its economic success all participants identified the failure of the Indigenous population to benefit from the town’s wealth or to fully participate in its social or cultural life as problematic. Indigenous people were less likely to be employed and therefore less likely to earn an income and were not seen to contribute to the town’s wealth. While participants identified a number of improvements in Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations, a number suggested that the Indigenous community remains on the social and economic periphery as a result of social exclusion they are experiencing. Several participants suggested that the perceived reluctance/inability of Indigenous people to work is one of the major reasons for hostility towards them.

However some commented about business initiatives that are driven by Indigenous people and the need to support these as part of the process of becoming self-sufficient. In this respect, the regional development bodies also play an important role in facilitating small business development for Indigenous people by creating awareness of infrastructure and financial support.

Community Harmony and Social CapitalAll participants maintained that Kalgoorlie was a friendly town and that its citizens recognised the economic and social importance of attracting new residents and the need for cultural and social tolerance. There are a variety of social and cultural institutions that assist immigrants to ‘settle in’ and then encourage them to stay.

The relative isolation of the town combined with its active sporting and cultural life have enabled the development of a wide-ranging and largely inclusive

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community. All participants commented that immigrants come to Kalgoorlie to work and are, as a result, very much defined by their jobs and their capacity to contribute. Within each immigrant community there are naturally occurring support structures in place. Various immigrant communities possessed their own individual networks which often revolved around social activities or clubs – participation in these groups was encouraged. Participants noted that members of immigrant communities were encouraged to participate, and generally did so, within the broader community.

Programs have also been established to assist the integration of the Indigenous community. At a local government level, the creation of a reconciliation sub-committee has provided an important platform for Indigenous people to express their views. At a less formal level Indigenous and non-Indigenous people regularly participate in sporting and cultural events.

However, despite the existence of these initiatives participants still identified a number of problems relating to the integration of the Indigenous community. Many Indigenous people live well outside town and come in every few months. In many of these communities alcohol is prohibited. When they arrive in town Indigenous people have few support networks and frequently nowhere to stay. They tend to drink heavily and sleep rough. There are a number of reports of Indigenous people assaulting other members of the community. Many Indigenous people do not have enough money to return to their communities and are effectively stranded in Kalgoorlie, often for several weeks at a time. The lack of facilities and social institutions to care for these people creates further difficulties.

The failure of many Indigenous people to integrate into the broader community was seen by some participants to be the result of a clash of cultural values. Work was identified as not just important financially but also as providing social links and a social status in the community. Participants suggested that Indigenous people were more likely to be unemployed because they were economically and socially ostracised. One participant suggested that the isolation of Indigenous people was compounded by the fragmentation of the Indigenous community itself and another suggested that many Indigenous people did not trust and were uncomfortable seeking the support of government agencies; another noted that many Indigenous people may have fewer English language skills and that local Indigenous translators were often difficult to find.

In addition, despite the Local Government Authority establishing the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Reconciliation Committee, Indigenous people remain under-represented in government at all levels. There is, for instance, no elected Indigenous person on the Local Government Authority; nor for that matter in State or Federal Parliament, who can specifically represent Indigenous needs.

On a more encouraging note while unemployment rates were quite high amongst Indigenous people one participant identified a growing tendency for

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Indigenous people to undertake volunteer work. Volunteering was seen as useful and fitted well with the strong work ethic of the town. Women made up 70 per cent of the volunteering community and men 30 per cent. CALD communities made up 6 per cent of the volunteer participation and Indigenous people comprised 9 per cent of the volunteer population.

SummaryThe immigrant experience in Kalgoorlie needs to be differentiated from that of the Indigenous population. Immigrants are typically skilled and are enticed to the region by generous salary packages and other benefits. The large numbers of immigrants present in the community and the regular ‘turn over’ of the immigrant population creates an environment in which members of the community are used to meeting new people and interacting with them. A series of social and cultural events provide further opportunity for new immigrants to participate in the community and the presence of a number of ethnic clubs provides immigrants with a further, and different, means of interacting with segments of the broader community.

The Indigenous experience is very different. Indigenous unemployment rates are extremely high (between 40 and 60 per cent unofficially) and several participants mentioned anti-social behaviour by Indigenous people. A number of participants suggested that the town was not racist but simply expected members of the community to ‘pull their weight’. The high unemployment rate of Indigenous people and the relative shortage of labour led a number of people to conclude that Indigenous people were not willing to work.

Prompted by a series of recent incidents the Local Government Authority has developed and implemented a number of strategies to encourage Indigenous participation in decision making processes and to acknowledge Indigenous concerns. The processes have had a positive impact but despite these initiatives Indigenous people remain severely disadvantaged.

ROBINVALE

Labour MarketRobinvale has a shortage of both skilled and unskilled workers. In regard to unskilled workers one participant noted that during the harvest employment agencies can fill only 50 per cent of those jobs advertised. However, while there is a clear labour shortage some interviewees stated that ‘locals’, including the Indigenous community, refuse to perform unskilled work and that it was the newer arrivals, for example, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Afghan and Pacific Islanders that tended to undertake unskilled work.

While participants recognised the economic importance of the contribution made by these unskilled workers they also noted the failure of immigrant groups to integrate into the broader community. Two primary reasons were cited for this failure; firstly the lack of English language skills amongst immigrant groups and secondly their lack of disposable income.

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Many immigrants arrive in Robinvale with few English language skills. The local neighbourhood house offers some free courses to the older, illiterate and innumerate members of the community and the local TAFE provides ESL training for immigrants; however, participants noted that most immigrants, particularly those employed seasonally, work long hours for comparatively low rates of pay and, as a result, have little time to attend these courses. The immigrants’ lack of English restricts their capacity to gain better-paid employment, restricts their level of social participation within the broader community and can make them vulnerable to exploitation.

A number of participants also stated that immigrant groups saved money and sent it back ‘home’ to their country of origin. This process deprived the local economy of resources and also denied the immigrants a disposable income. The absence of a disposable income, in turn, precluded immigrants from accessing certain community resources and participating in community life.

More broadly, participants also noted that Robinvale has particularly low school graduation rates. One participant explained this by noting that the lack of cohesion and tensions occurring in the external community were filtering into the school environment and consequently hindering educational objectives. The low graduation rates were then seen to create a number of further problems within the community. Many of the town’s youth, with a lack of education, go straight on to government unemployment benefits, while participants noted the extent of substance abuse and the large numbers of teenage pregnancies. One participant noted the recent suicide of a teenager from the town. The low academic success rate of the schools further discourages people from settling in the area.

A number of participants suggested that the high level of youth unemployment had led to a higher crime rate and that the town was ‘...not safe at night’. A law enforcement officer noted that police numbers are three times greater for Robinvale than for an average town of Robinvale’s size. Participants clearly related these observed levels of crime to the ongoing tensions between the Pacific Islanders and the Indigenous communities.

CultureParticipants recognised the importance of cultural events to the community. Every participant mentioned the multicultural festival as providing an opportunity for cultural interaction. One participant, who was involved emphasised how it also presented an opportunity for children and the elderly to interact and learn about event management. However, while the benefits of the festival were acknowledged, one participant noted that it has been ‘…impossible to attract sponsorship from the businesses around the district including some of the wealthier farming businesses. Although there is wonderful participation from the Islander communities, there is poor participation from the Italian and Greek communities’.

Many participants noted the impact of discovering the Tongan brass band. The band has now become a feature in a range of different community activities and enjoys widespread support. This is particularly evident in the

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school environment, where it has provided a positive focus for learning outcomes. The interaction resulting from the multicultural festival and the establishment of the band was seen to have assisted in the development of a more tolerant society.

In addition to these cultural activities, participants also identified the importance of sport to the community. Sport, was recognised as central to the identity of the town and its citizens. It was seen to provide a forum for the various immigrant groups to meet and, was a place where they could participate and ‘succeed’ on more equal terms. Indeed, some participants suggested that, ‘…if you’re not good at sport, you’re nothing in this town’. However, while sport could act as a unifying force it could also be divisive. Recently, the Indigenous community was allocated $1.2 million to build a separate football oval and team. This is despite there being insufficient numbers of players for the current town team, and the existence of a good quality oval.5

Finally, church was seen by many participants to provide an environment that allowed for the development of cultural and social ties within the community. Religion was particularly significant amongst the Tongan community and most participants referred to the Tongan churches in town. While the presence of strong religious values within a community was potentially seen to assist its integration, a number of participants noted that it also has the potential to lead to isolation of immigrant groups from the rest of the community.

Business DevelopmentRobinvale has a long history of immigration and its benefits were broadly recognised. The entrepreneurial skills of past Italian immigrants have now left the Italian community in a powerful economic position and more recently other immigrants have started to invest in the area. Several of the town’s local businesses are now owned or run by Asian immigrants, for example, a pub, restaurants and the supermarket.

The presence of two Asian supermarkets and two Chinese restaurants, in a community of Robinvale’s size, provides evidence of the contribution of Asian immigrants to the local economy. These services were noted to be frequented and enjoyed by most groups which suggests a level of acceptance by the larger community.

Despite some progress there are still substantial problems. Participants from all backgrounds reported having to travel to Melbourne or Mildura for health services that were unavailable in Robinvale and a lack of culturally relevant care services was identified amongst immigrant communities as a significant problem. The difficulty accessing services was compounded by the lack of public transport. A shortage of culturally appropriate housing services was also identified as problematic; in this regard, participants noted that those houses that were available rarely had the space to cater for the larger Vietnamese and Afghan families. 5 One participant noted during the quality control stage of this study that, following a recent community meeting, it is unlikely that this will be going ahead.

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There was also evidence to suggest that because of perceptions that Robinvale was not safe, people are being deterred from further investment in the community. For example, one participant noted that a local pub was about to change hands again, and this was specifically due to alcohol being a constant catalyst for the violence that occurs.

Community Harmony and Social CapitalInteraction and communication between groups was reported to vary depending on the context, but was acknowledged to generally be limited. The failure of communities to interact was widely seen to have a negative impact and several participants suggested that this, combined with the difficulty and expense of ESL training, acted to deter future immigrants to the area.

One of the central problems identified by participants was a difficulty in determining the identity of community leaders and recognising who to contact to discuss a particular issue. In this regard, neither the recently arrived immigrant communities nor the broader Australian-born community were reported to have developed strong structures for community participation and leadership. One respondent, in particular, suggested that, while leadership is needed, often the elderly members of the community and the middle classes, who are most suited to lead, leave - and that they are leaving specifically due to racial tensions. The participant suggested that this lack of civic leadership has resulted in a lack of development initiatives, such as exploring the potential for tourism and local recreational activities.

The lack of leadership, together with the lack of English language skills was also seen to restrict interaction between immigrant groups and to force them to become increasingly self-dependent. While Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and Asian groups are excluded from many political, social and economic processes because of these problems, some commented that because they are generally present in big enough numbers they tend to be self-sufficient and support each other.

SummaryAll interviewees recognised the significance of immigration to the local economy and a number cited the historic successes of the Italian community in developing the regional economy. The multicultural festival provides a good example of the ways in which the community has the potential to interact and the economic and social benefits of cooperation. Similarly, sport was seen to provide an important opportunity for cross-cultural interaction and a mechanism to permit the development of friendships and broader community interaction.

However, despite this widespread recognition, various ethnic groups within the community remain isolated. The high level of unemployment sits uneasily with the shortage of labour and has led a number of residents to conclude that certain ethnic groups – notably Indigenous people – are not prepared to work. The presence of a large proportion of the population that does not speak

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English creates further problems and restricts the employment opportunities of a large section of the community.

The absence of both formal and informal mechanisms for inter-ethnic cooperation was present to the point that participants were unaware of the identity of community leaders. Thus, while there was no direct and inherent opposition to the inclusion of immigrants in any area of community life within Robinvale, the structures and community dynamics necessary in order to make it a more inclusive community were lacking. Furthermore, while some community attitudes appeared not to be overly encouraging and accepting of social inclusion, there was an overwhelming consensus that ‘...it is only a matter of time’.

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METHODOLOGYCASE STUDIES6

The four case study communities include:

Shepparton, Victoria Griffith, New South Wales Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Robinvale, Victoria

The selection of the four communities was based on:

the criteria specified in the tender brief; the need to reflect a national distribution; ICEPA familiarity and existing networks in these communities; locations where the Department felt research was needed and/or

appropriate; an ICEPA suggestion to select communities that according to ARIA7

classification as accessible, moderately accessible, highly accessible, and very remote; and

accessibility for research purposes, as determined by the project budget.

SCOPEThe researchers were asked by the Department and the Council to develop a methodology that would clarify:

The link between the acceptance of diversity and inclusion and local economic development;

The extent to which acceptance of diversity and inclusion of all community members contributes to social cohesion;

The factors that promote or hinder the acceptance of cultural diversity and inclusion; and

Results from Australian and international research into the role of the acceptance of diversity and inclusion and its measurement.

6 Case study research typically combines data sources and uses obtrusive and unobtrusive data. Thus, interviews, reports, observation, and surveys, both quantitative and qualitative data, are all valued in case study research. The multiple data sources are valuable because it provides depth to understanding as well as a check for credibility, that is, triangulation (Miles & Huberman, 1994). Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: A source book of new methods (2nd ed.). Beverley Hills, CA: Sage.

7 Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) which was developed for the former Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (now Department of Health and Ageing) by the National Key Centre for Social Applications of Geographical Information Systems (GISCA). ARIA measures the remoteness of a point based on the road distances to the nearest town (service centre) in each of five population size classes. The basic premises of ARIA are that there are more services available in larger towns than small towns and that remoteness is a factor of the relative distance one must travel to access a full range of services. http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/C8C6AEE630ACC105CA256E5C0016FFAA?Open accessed 18/10/05.

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LITERATURE REVIEWInternational and national literature was reviewed to develop an understanding of the broader issues involved in the links between social inclusion and economic productivity. Literature specific to each of the Australian regional communities that dealt with issues of diversity and inclusion-exclusion were also sought. The literature provided a basis from which to construct domains for interview questions as well as an additional source of data.

INTERVIEWSA key guiding principle was to recruit participants who were able to illuminate the research question and, as such, this was a central consideration. Therefore in qualitative research, sampling is not random, it is purposive.

In this research, ICEPA adopted a strategy of purposive sampling in all the communities to recruit key informants. Potential key informants were identified in a variety of ways, with the majority being determined through existing contacts that members of the research team, as well as the Department and the Council, had in those communities. These contacts included the Local Area Consultative Committees, Ethnic Communities Councils, the Country Women’s Association, and Migrant Resource Centres. Additional participants were identified during interviews through the ‘snowball’ method, which involves interview participants identifying and/or recruiting other potential interviewees.

The final number of interviews, and range of participants, was limited according to time and availability of all those involved. Between 10 and 20 interviews were conducted for each region. These lasted up to 3 hours in some cases.

All potential participants were contacted by phone or email, and provided with information about the study. In the event that a key participant was not available for a face-to-face interview, phone interviews were arranged. Members of the research team conducted all the interviews, all of whom have extensive experience doing qualitative research. All interviews were tape-recorded, and interviewers made additional notes. This data, along with the interviewers’ own perceptions of each community, were used to write up a profile of each region.

All participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule that was informed by the literature review and developed by the research team in collaboration with the Department and Council. It was piloted in a regional centre for one of the chosen communities, and as a result revisions were made. The interview schedule was based on issues and gaps identified in the literature, and on the key research questions. It explored three basic domains:

Sense of community; Diversity; and

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Economic development.

QUANTITATIVE DATAQuantitative data were collected for the four case study communities on information such as education, income, and occupation. The primary data source was the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Secondary data sources, to clarify these statistics, were obtained from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website and from the ABS Expanded Community Profiles, 2003 (Catalogue No. 2005.0) which are based on 2001 Census data. Definitions of Census classifications and concepts are available in the 2001 Census Dictionary (ABS Catalogue No. 2901.0).

Data on the educational levels and occupations were obtained from the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (BTRE) Education, Skills and Qualifications database (which are also based on Census data).

Data for the Statistical Local Areas have been matched to the specific study areas as closely as possible.

QUALITY CONTROL (TRIANGULATION)To enhance the rigorousness of the research, we employed a strategy of triangulation. Data triangulation is the process of using different data sources, theories, or methods to explore the question under investigation and thereby enhancing the trustworthiness of interpretations. In this case, we used ‘member checking’, which involved sending each case study to all communities to ask for feedback about the verification and accuracy of researcher interpretation of the data. We also engaged a critical reader, that is someone knowledgeable about the community but who was not interviewed, to offer feedback on the face validity of the summary statements and researcher interpretations.

Feedback rectifying factual errors was incorporated into the report. Comments regarding the analysis and interpretation of the data were taken into account and amended accordingly. The majority of interviewees and critical readers in each case study region agreed with the broad interpretations and the summary statements.

ANALYSISThis report and research focuses on the impact of immigration on a whole range of social and economic phenomenon, and upon economic growth specifically. This report is based on the perceptions and opinions of the people interviewed for this project.

ICEPA analysed the research data in four categories based on a simple thematic analysis of the interviews conducted in the four regions, and thus generated a range of items that were broadly grouped into the following over-arching categories. Within these themes other sub-themes also emerged

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which were grouped under the headings as agreed with the management committee. These were:

Labour Market (including skills, knowledge, language, labour, and education);

Culture (including cultural values and community attitudes); Business Development (including consumption, niche marketing,

development and renewal); Community Harmony and Social Capital (including civic and political

capital, volunteerism, networks and access to resources).

This research was initially conceived as a preliminary piece of work that could lead to further study about social inclusion and exclusion and economic development. The authors believe that the findings merit further research in this area, such as using an action research model to develop and evaluate effectiveness in community building on economic development. For example, investing in community building in a given regional community and measuring, in a quantitative and qualitative way, how this impacts on economic development. Such research has the potential to make a meaningful social and economic difference to the life of communities in regional Australia.

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