A new report released by SBS has shone a light on some of the most important factors contributing to the feeling of belonging within Australia’s ever-growing multicultural landscape. This report continues the work of an original survey conducted in 2023. It reflects the continued experiences, developments and attitudes of those various cohorts, and the way those increasingly multicultural cohorts now perceive their place within broader Australian society.
The survey included over 1,800 participants who were interviewed across seven different languages: Arabic, Cantonese, Italian, Mandarin, Punjabi, Vietnamese, and English. In today’s world, the more than 130 other languages spoken in Australia reveal the multicultural ethnicity of the continent. As of the 2021 census, almost a quarter of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Thu Nguyen, one of the report’s co-authors, said that representation in media plays a vital role in making people feel like they belong. The findings indicate that factors such as residency status, media representation, and English proficiency significantly impact the overall sense of belonging among respondents.
“In terms of representation in the media and in the news, they are however more critical about feeling fairly represented, covered in the media. And we know, from the previous research, again, the finding this time confirm there’s such a strong connection between feeling represented in the media in the news and feeling that they belong in Australia.” – Thu Nguyen
The report highlights a notable correlation between individuals’ feelings of being represented in media and their sense of belonging in Australia. Individuals with greater English skills tend to report higher levels of attachment to their communities. We want them to feel a deeper sense of home. On the flip side, there are gaps between various linguistic groups in how at home they feel. Punjabi speakers came out on top overall with their feelings of belongingness, while Mandarin speakers tended to feel the least connected.
These realities can be further understood through the concept of collective efficacy. Most importantly, it gives us insight into how these communities view their contribution to the wider Australian society. This term refers to individuals’ beliefs about the influence their cultural or language communities have within the broader landscape of Australia. From this analysis, the report recommends that with greater English proficiency comes a greater belief in community efficacy.
Multilingual Australians’ civic engagement Omnivorousness among multilingual Australians also uncovers more complexities in their perceived sense of belonging. Approximately two-thirds of these people engaged in at least one civic action. Their degree of engagement was dramatically unequal across language communities. For instance, Mandarin and Punjabi speakers had the highest relative rates of civic participation. By comparison, only 49 percent of Cantonese speakers participated in civic life—the lowest percentage.
These results shed light on the most significant facets of social connection and engagement among Australia’s diverse populace. Other people are very passionate about their cultural identities. How they experience civic engagement opportunities and representation in the media affects their broader feelings of belonging.
