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Mapping Social Cohesion 2023

A tear in the fabric?

Continuing economic pressures alongside often contentious debates over local and geopolitical issues have created challenging national and global circumstances for social cohesion in 2023.

Australians have remained remarkably resilient, however findings from the 2023 Mapping Social Cohesion survey reveal our social cohesion is under pressure and declining on several fronts, straining the fabric of our communities.

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2023 in review

Mapping Social Cohesion Report 2023

Seven­teenth survey since 2007

Compre­hensive survey of 100+ questions

7,500+ survey participants from across Australia

50+ in-depth qualitative interviews

01

Financial Pressures &
Social Inclusion
Heightened financial pressures and growing concerns over economic inequality are negatively impacting Australians’ sense of worth, social inclusion and justice. These are among the most significant factors weighing down Australian social cohesion in 2023.

Financial and cost-of-living pressures are affecting more Australians in 2023.

The proportion of people who are either

‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their finances

has dropped in the last three years
The proportion of people who are either

‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their finances

has dropped in the last three years

1 in 10

people struggled to pay their rent or mortgage ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ in the last 12 months

1 in 10

people struggled to pay their rent or mortgage ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ in the last 12 months

1 in 5

people found it difficult to afford healthcare ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ in the last 12 months

1 in 5

people found it difficult to afford healthcare ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ in the last 12 months

I feel people are really, really struggling big time. Even like my husband and I, we’re on a pretty decent income, and even now I feel like for the first time ever it’s pay-check to pay-check with the mortgage and groceries.

— Interview 3.1

Australians aren’t just more worried about their own household budgets – concerns about economic inequality across society are growing too

A record low

84% agree

the gap between those with high and low incomes is too large

A record low

38% agree

that Australians on low incomes receive enough financial support

Increased financial stress and concern over inequality have broad implications for social cohesion — in particular, people’s sense of worth, and their connection to and participation in Australian society

People who are ‘poor’ or ‘struggling to pay their bills’ are much:

Less likely

To feel a great sense of belonging in Australia

(36%, compared to 48% of all Australians)

More likely

To feel pessimistic about Australia’s future

(64%, compared to 41% of all Australians)

Community social events, people don’t have them… So the social fabric, how it operates, is disappearing. So that’s one of the biggest challenges… It’s the fabric of the way we live, which is the important part for social and mental wellbeing.
— Interview 3.7
I think one point is that we miss things. No one is going for a holiday *laughs*, no one goes to the cinema… So we just sit at home, go to work, come back, and then pay bills… That’s a challenge.
— Interview 1.17

02

Declining Belonging & Trust in Government
In 2022, Australians’ sense of belonging – that sense of pride and connection people feel in Australia and in Australian life and culture – dropped to its lowest recorded level since 2007. In 2023, belonging has slipped further still, strongly related to declining trust in government and growing concern over inequality.

Over the last year, the sense of national pride and belonging in Australia has continued its downward trend

A record low

48%

of people felt a great sense of belonging in Australia in 2023

A record low

33%

of people took great pride in Australia’s culture and way of life

Declining national pride and belonging coincides with declining trust in government.

Trust in the Federal government

to do the right thing for Australian people ‘all’ or ‘most of the time’ dropped to 36% in 2023

Close to

1 in 3

people (30%) in 2023 believe leaders abuse their powers ‘most’ or ‘all of the time’

84% think it happens at least ‘some of the time’

So trust in the government I think is not there at the moment… Yeah, politics is a bit of lying, but it’s just been so full on in the last two to three years that people don’t trust them anymore.

— Interview 3.1

Results across the survey suggest our trust in government and perceptions of economic fairness shapes our sense of national pride and belonging

Feeling a great sense of belonging in Australia is:

Much more likely

among those who trust the government ‘all’ or ‘most’ of the time
(61%, compared to 48% of all Australians)

Much less likely

among those who disagree that Australia is a land of economic opportunity
(36%, compared to 48% of all Australians)

Heightened concern about economic inequality and social justice have seen more Australians questioning governments and their ability to do the right thing by those who are struggling. Both of these things then contribute to people feeling less of a sense of connection to Australian values and society, and less pride in how we’re tracking as a nation.
— Report author, Dr James O’Donnell

03

Reasons for
optimism
Despite challenging national and global circumstances, key research findings around support for diversity, strong neighbourhood connections, and active political participation and engagement give us reason for optimism when contemplating Australia’s future.

Australians’ support for multiculturalism and immigration remains strong in 2023, as does belonging and cohesion at the local, neighbourhood level.

The majority of people agree that:

Immigrants are good for Australia’s economy (86%)

Multiculturalism has been good for Australia (89%)

4 out of 5

people feel that they belong in their neighbourhood

64%

of people feel their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community
My community is a culturally diverse one, with neighbours from Western, Australian-Korean, Australian-Vietnamese, and Australian-Chinese backgrounds. I have a harmonious and enjoyable relationship with my elderly Vietnamese neighbour, who doesn’t speak English, but we communicate well through body language and gestures.
— Interview 1.13, written response

We continue to support and engage in democracy through our words and actions

35%

of people have written or spoken to an MP, attended a protest or joined a boycott in the last three years.
Up from 33% in November 2020

More than 9 in 10

people (92%) agree that democracy is a good way to govern Australia

The proportion of people who communicate with Members of Parliament, join boycotts, gather to resolve local problems, or post about politics online is consistent with previous years.

I love how in Australia, sometimes the opposition or even the people can come up with ideas and propose those ideas and they can be heard. Whereas in other countries you have to be careful.

— Interview 3.11
Our participation and support for democracy is key to our future social cohesion. They show we are prepared to fight for change for the better and that we can debate and fight for our ideas in a free and open society. The Voice Referendum was a difficult debate and there is much healing still to be done. The Referendum itself, though, ought to be a cherished example of our democratic system, particularly where in the coming months, we can see through our differences, recognise that we are connected and continue to fight for what we believe in.
— Report author, Dr James O’Donnell

Conclusion

In the richness of the Mapping Social Cohesion survey data, we begin to understand the patchwork of factors that contribute to Australia’s social fabric, and how its many pieces interlink and influence one another.

In 2023, we have seen higher levels of financial stress and concern for economic inequalities and fairness, less trust in government, and a weaker sense of national pride and belonging.

In spite of these challenges, we continue to recognise and celebrate our ethnic and cultural diversity; we remain strongly connected in our neighbourhoods; and we remain engaged in our democracy.

While the challenges Australians face are substantial and varied, the 2023 findings help to identify where future efforts to strengthen social cohesion are best focused — and where solutions could be found.

Our results indicate that many of the challenges are connected. Cost-of-living pressures are likely contributing to increased financial stress and increased concern for economic inequality. These, in turn, are connected to a declining sense of national belonging, increased pessimism for the future and declining trust in government. Community and government efforts to strengthen economic wellbeing, while supporting and drawing on the strength of our social connections and wellbeing, can go a long way to ensuring a cohesive, resilient and vibrant society in the years to come.

— Report author, Dr James O’Donnell

Interested in diving deeper into this report?

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Media enquiries:

Jen Sharpe  |  jen@think-hq.com.au  |  (03) 9682 0259

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