The COVID-19 lockdowns of Melbourne’s high-rise towers have painted a picture of a community in crisis. But what is life really like in “the Flats”? A generation of young African-Australians grew up in public housing. Their confident voices shed new light on a rapidly changing nation.
Six months ago, no one had heard of the coronavirus. Now, several months into the pandemic, much of our daily lives have been transformed by its spread. In Australia, religious communities were one part of society expressly impacted by the ‘lockdown’ directives introduced to stem the spread of the virus. This essay describes the ramifications of the closure for some of Australia’s religious communities and considers what might be the long-term impact of the lockdown and our new social reality on the way these communities contribute to social cohesion in Australia.
While the economic risks of declining international student enrolments have been recently reported, this narrative explores how the divide between Australia and its Chinese students, exacerbated by broader political tensions arising from the “China debate,” also pose a threat to social cohesion – both on campus and beyond.
About the research
This report presents the findings of the twelfth Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion national survey, conducted in July-August 2019. The report builds on the knowledge gained through the eleven earlier national surveys (2007, 2009-18), which provide the context for interpretation.
Australia’s diverse culture is one of its most defining characteristics. In an era of globalisation, where ‘global citizens’ are on the rise and immigration continues to be a prominent issue in the news cycle, it is timely and important to consider public attitudes about a changing and increasingly diverse society, and how this affects our social cohesion.
This narrative explores the current landscape of English language learning among migrants and refugees in Australia and, in particular, examines the state of Australia's Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
Australia's temporary migrants are not officially part of the nation, but they are changing it.
Learn about our on-going, independent, primary research program undertaken in conjunction with Monash University and the Australian Multicultural Foundation.
This paper for the Scanlon Institute for Applied Social Cohesion Research draws on recent research and writing from Australian and international universities, think tanks and media to shed light on the great transformation that mass migration is producing in nearly all western societies, along with great anxiety in some.
In its tenth year, the Scanlon Foundation’s Mapping Social Cohesion Report has reinforced Australia’s consistently high level of support for immigration and cultural diversity.
Despite an ageing population, the number of young people (12-25 years) in Australia is steadily growing, predicted to rise by approximately 50% by 2050.
The 2016 Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion Survey is the ninth survey undertaken in an annual series, which – for the first time in Australian national social research – provides detailed longitudinal data on social cohesion, immigration and population issues.
Communities are crucial as they are key to building and maintaining a sense of belonging and contribute to our sense of support and self-worth.
Australians Today highlights findings of the largest ever survey of people born in Australia and recent migrants, on their experience of Australian life. More than 10,000 respondents completed the survey across 20 languages. The report outlines public attitudes to key issues, by pathway of immigration and country of origin. While Australia is generally considered as a good country for migrants, analysis of the findings is not positive across all groups, with some experiencing high levels of dissatisfaction and discrimination.
The Scanlon Foundation surveys, together with a number of international indicators, find that Australia remains a stable and highly cohesive society.
Australia is proudly a diverse, multicultural society, and one that has experienced significant population growth in recent years. A large proportion – close to 60 per cent of that growth between 2000 and 2013 – can be attributed to immigration.
Australia remains a highly cohesive society with upward movement in four of the five domains of social cohesion, the exception the domain of social justice and equity.
This report presents the findings of the sixth Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion national survey, conducted in July 2013.
This report presents the findings of the fifth Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion national survey conducted in June–July 2012. A separate report covers the 2012 local surveys.
The 2011 survey was conducted at a time of economic recovery, in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis whose impact in Australia was relatively minor.
The survey was conducted at a time of improved economic activity, with a decline in the level of unemployment from 5.6% to 5.2% between December 2009 and June 2010.
The 2009 survey was conducted in a period of declining economic confidence, with predictions that Australia, along with all Western economies, would face the most severe challenges since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
The Scanlon Foundation Surveys (2007) adopted a wide-ranging approach to enable consideration of fi ve key elements relating to attitudes, reported experience and behaviour.