Australia's multicultural policy and the Australian Intercultural Society

Organization Policy in Australian Company

Australia is illustrious for its multicultural population and country's steady commitment in holding back equality and insertion of national interest in Australia's multicultural environment. Since 1945, the total number of people migrated to Australia is estimated to be seven million. Millions of people speak different languages within the same land that is approx 260 languages. Australia from its origin has evolved as a multicultural society and will be like that forever. Multiculturalism calls for maintaining diversity in culture, religion and language of its population and Australia identifies this multiculturalism and benefits from the potentials of diversity. Australia's Multicultural Policy promotes pluralistic values and cultural traditions. It permits people to practice their religion in their own way, to carry out rituals and cultural traditions and speak languages of their native land under the laws and principles of multicultural policy. This policy has been designed after taking consideration of different cultures and people from different backgrounds thus making it discrimination free to its optimum level (Young, 2009).

The Australian Intercultural Society-AIS

The Australian Intercultural Society established in the year 2000. It is an association of young professionals from Australia and Turkey with the motto of "Building Bridges Through Information, Interaction & Cooperation." The objective behind the establishment of Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) is to encourage and support Australia's diversified cultural values and norms on a national and international scale. It serves in building pleasant and smooth relationship among its member communities across various cultures and maintains high level of efficiency by promoting ethical standards in the field of education, business, industry, professions, public and private duties. It specifically supports and initiates sponsorship for educational projects. Its agenda on public awareness and social justice issues includes organizing and planning various programs on the national and international levels like workshops, campaigns, art and religious festivals, cultural ceremonies, educational trips, intercultural projects, public awareness on sensitive issues, promoting women associations and last but not the least conducting public events (Kellow, 1988).

Rising above Discrimination and Ignorance

The Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) from the root of its establishment, is working for social harmony and taking measures to attack discrimination and ignorance existing in the society and replacing it with harmonized diversity and pluralistic culture where rights and values of each individual is respected.

Understanding through interaction

Till today, AIS has initiated various events and projects whose sole purpose was to create harmony in Australian community. Under the campaign of "understanding through interaction" AIS has successfully incorporated intercultural relations and build trust among the various cultures beyond boundaries (Spitzer, 1987). AIS has set forth various programs that supports in building cross cultural relationships with other organizations and individuals and networking with people from diverse backgrounds. This is the very heart of establishing Multicultural Policy in Australia where people, communities, societies and association from different backgrounds come together as a single unit and work for the benefit of all individuals. Such program has taken the form of lectureships, cultural exhibitions, respecting religious ceremonies and publications of cross culture harmonious relationships. This has been formalized by AIS in their yearly plans of events and activities.

AIS Vision

The Australian Intercultural Society has set up its strategic vision on harmonizing the people from diversified cultures where rights and responsibilities of each individual is laid down without compromising the interest of other individuals. No discrimination to be made on the grounds of society, race, culture, religion or social status. Emphasis is put on the elements of human rights that are core to the establishment of fair just society where individual rights are being protected on the basis of truth and fairness. Human life is to be protected and given full liberty for freedom of choices and maintaining a private lifestyle. There is no tolerance for the violence, terrorism and anarchy in the society and all the cultures and communities should be vigilant about such activities and measures to be adopted for its complete abolition.

Government Response on Multicultural Environment

Accepting the cultures of other regions and following a practice that allows everyone to accept open handedly and respect the culture of people belonging to different regions is what multiculturalism is all about. A region is said to be multi-cultured if there is an existence of different ethnic cultures and they are in coexistence peacefully. A region that is multicultural does not promote any particular religion or does it condemns any religion. Everyone in such a region is given equal rights and there is huge diversity. In Australia also Government is keen to have a multicultural environment.

Government in support of the multicultural Australia has taken major steps in promoting the rights and responsibilities of its citizens especially of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are called as first Australian people. This has been done by building string relationships via National Apology, through United Nation's Declaration on the Rights of indigenous people, launching the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. Government multicultural policy is based on four principles (Smith, 2002).

Principle 1: Diversity should be considered as strength and opportunity not a weakness to the national interest or any sort of threat in its development. With this aim government of Australia always augment the importance of multicultural environment and have designed its national laws and regulation aiming the national unity, harmony and creatively upholding the democratic values so that no individual interest is harmed.

Principle 2: Equality of rights in government services. Australian government has given equal rights to all the citizens to participate in the national, economic and social development of its nation by making contributions through various public services.

Principle 3: Australian Government has always given importance to international relationships. International trade is healthy for the economic development and immigrants from varying cultures and backgrounds are vigorous for workplace creativity and development. Government believes that multicultural environment gives competitive edge to the country.

Principle 4: Australian government strictly opposes racism and discrimination. These two elements hinder national equality in participation of public services for national interest. Therefore government has taken strict measures over anti-discrimination policies.

Government Initiative on Multicultural Society

In response to multiculturalism in Australia and promoting equal rights and responsibilities of its citizens, Australian government has put diversity in its legal framework by establishment of various councils, legislative bodies and enforcement of laws and regulations supporting it.

Introduction of Australian multicultural council: the government is in the view of incorporating new multicultural council that will replace the existing Multicultural Advisory Council (AMAC) under the banner of Australian Multicultural Council (AMC). The objective of Australian Multicultural Council is to act as an independent body in formulating the multicultural policy and strengthening equity and access of justice to all citizens. It will be supporting cultural diversity by executing 'multicultural ambassadors' programs.

National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy: Australian government strictly opposes racism and discrimination made under this name. For this purpose it has set-up National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy (Stone, 2008). This strategy will be making alliance with various departments like Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the Australian human rights commission and the Race Discrimination Commissioner, Australian multicultural advisory council etc.

Multicultural Arts and Festivals Grants: In response to multicultural Australian society, Australian government to take care of all its citizens have decided to execute Diversity and social Cohesion Programs from multicultural arts and festivals small grants. This provides a platform for all Australians to learn about each other's cultures and traditions.

Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program: For the purpose of creating network and connection between the youth from diverse cultural backgrounds, Australian government has taken a step in establishing Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Programs. Australian Sports Commission (ASC) will be managing this program (Howard, 2005).

Conclusion

Australia with its cultural mix has adopted Multicultural Policy with the optimum level. Each participant of the society whether it is individual, groups, organizations, informal bodies and public associations have been supporting the nourishment of Australian Multicultural Policy. The core element of development in the free economic system is the promotion of diversity and anti-racist cultures where every individual is given equal rights and opportunities to utilize the resources and get equally benefited from it. Multicultural initiatives have also been taken by the government through its various programs on promoting anti-racism, social justice, youth partnerships and nourishing diverse art and culture. These initiatives have taken the form of programs like Introduction of Australian multicultural council, National Anti-Racism, Partnership and Strategy, Multicultural Arts and Festivals Grants and Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program. Australia will be having everlasting diversified culture with population not limited to geographic boundaries. Australia with its multicultural policy will be taking it as an advantage for its development and opportunity for growth in new horizons. Therefore it is very important for Australia to have strong hold on Multicultural policy.