When we talk about Australia, our cultural diversity is one of the first things that pops into our minds. Multiculturalism is a huge, vibrant part of our collective identity! The relationship, however, between our rich and multifaceted cultural identity and the key features of urban life, such as house prices and income disparity, is woefully misunderstood. This lack of clarity can lead to difficulties making wise policy decisions, particularly regarding urban planning and infrastructure.

Thus, we completed our new research paper, “Cultural Diversity and Urban Features: An Australian Case Study“.

We used data from the 2021 Australian Census to look at Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) regions such as Melbourne – Inner South, Sydney – Blacktown. Then, we figured out how culturally diverse these areas are based on the following traits: religion/worldview, language, and country of birth. Finally, we compared the area’s diversity to other assorted characteristics of those areas.

Our findings demonstrate some clear links, and go against some common thinking. What was revealed were some surprising hot-spots of cultural diversity right across the country. To find out how cultural diversity and urban life connect in Australia – and why it matters – read on!

What We Found: Peeling Off the Layers of Urban Diversity

We found there is a nuanced relationship between cultural diversity and Australia’s urban landscape. Urban areas, especially within major cities, tend towards being the most diverse with regards to languages spoken and the countries in which inhabitants were born. This diversity, however, does not necessarily follow a consistent pattern across the entire country: generally, language and country of birth diversity levels are higher in urban areas and are lower in regional areas.

Religious diversity, however, reveals a different picture. While the range of religions is not as wide as it is for languages spoken and countries of birth in Australia, the religious diversity is generally consistent across the country.

What is indicated here is a more uniform religious landscape, with variations that fall within a modest 20% difference in the least diverse and most diverse areas. This indicates that – despite regional differences – there is a definite cohesion in the way faith and religiosity are expressed and practiced country-wide. This highlights both the uniqueness and the commonality in threads that bind different communities.

Interestingly, there is a notable prevalence of religious and, particularly, language diversity in regional areas of Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland than other regional areas of the nation. We can possibly attribute this to smaller datasets found in these regions, which have smaller populations. It could, however, also indicate the nature and demographics of the workforces in these areas. For policymakers, employers and businesses, this suggests a need to consider the unique requirements of diverse populations.

New Perspectives on Diversity: Fostering Social Cohesion

A particularly compelling finding in this study was the relationship between cultural diversity and what we call social disorganisation – which includes incidents of family disruption, lower levels of education, and high levels of income inequality within the community. Interestingly, our analysis reveals the consistent trend: the more culturally diverse the area, the less social disorganisation we tend to see.

Here are the key facts:

• Diversity speaks volumes: Across all measures of cultural diversity examined (country of birth, language, religion/worldview) we found a negative correlation with social disorganisation. This means as cultural diversity increases, the indicators of social disorganisation tend to decrease!
• Birth country leads the way: The strongest correlation we observed was between diversity of country of birth and low social disorganisation. This suggests that areas with a wider mix of people born in different countries tend to be more socially cohesive. Family stability, educational attainment and income equality are better.
• Language and religion also play a role: While the relationships weren’t as strong as with birth country, we still found that higher language and religious diversity tends to lead to lower social disorganisation.

This finding is fascinating especially because it goes against what are some stereotypical ideas of social disorganisation – specifically, the idea that a wide cultural mix can lead to social fragmentation and poorer social outcomes. The results of this study indicate the opposite of this, at least within the Australian urban context.

Why Diversity Matters to Leaders: Cultivating Connected Communities

For leaders in both the private and public sectors, from government employees to urban planners and community organisations, understanding the nuanced relationship between cultural diversity and social concerns are crucial. In order to build thriving and resilient communities, it is important to understand this interplay.

Here is what we advise:

• Develop targeted funding and resource allocation plan: Based on the specific needs and challenges identified in culturally diverse SA4 regions (and the anomalies we found in the research – see the paper for details on this), we should consider creating funding models such as grants for language support services or culturally appropriate infrastructure development.
• Commission research in other regions: Allocate funding for further research at the SA3 and SA2 levels within SA4 regions. Use these research findings to advocate for fair and equitable distribution of resources across different SA4 regions, considering the specific needs and strengths of their diverse populations.
• Partnerships with local cultural and community organisations: Establish meaningful and long-term collaborations with local cultural organisations and the community. Provide funding, resources, and platforms for these organisations to deliver programs and initiatives that foster cultural diversity.

So, the key take away from this post? If there’s one thing we want people to know, it’s that our cultural diversity brings people together more than it doesn’t. The bottom line comes down to understanding how culture and urban living connect, helps us to build better, happier communities for everyone.

Thanks for reading!