Building multicultural social capital in regional Australia
Kerry Carrington
Centre for Applied Research in Social Sciences, University of New England, NSW
Neil Marshall
Associate Professor, School of Social Science, University of New England, NSW
PP: 117
Abstract
Over the last decade the Commonwealth government has directed increasing numbers of humanitarian migrants to non-metropolitan areas. The objective of this regional settlement plan has been an attempt to ensure that country areas also enjoy the economic and cultural benefits that migrants can bring.
This article provides case studies of Greater Shepparton and Toowoomba; two of the centres which received influxes of new arrivals. The experience of Greater Shepparton has been very positive; Toowoomba much less so. We draw on social capital theory to explain why the program in Greater Shepparton has been more successful than Toowoomba.
The analysis demonstrates that Greater Shepparton had built extensive reserves of both bonding and bridging social capital, while Toowoomba had only limited reserves of bonding social capital. We argue, however, that if the regional settlement program is to be effective in the longer term, it must be seeded in communities that have developed elements of not only bonding and bridging social capital, but also institutional social capital as well.
Keywords
multicultural, social capital, regional migrants, networks
Article Text
Since the mid-1990s the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has directed a small but steady stream of migrants to selected provincial centres across Australia. Between 1997 and 2002 some 33,000 new settlers were located outside the capital cities. Most were 'unlinked' entrants (those who arrive without any prior links in Australia), and about 10 per cent were humanitarian migrants (DIAC 2002). This program was expanded early in 2004 when the federal government decided to increase migrant numbers in non-metropolitan areas. Several factors underpinned the Australian Government's thinking. First, it would lead to a more balanced dispersal of migrants across the nation and help prevent a 'cultural chasm' opening up between the country and capital cities (DIAC 2002: 322). Second, not only would unlinked settlers be more likely to stay in provincial areas, but they would also create a flow-on effect whereby future arrivals would follow the lead of their compatriots. Third, new migrants - especially those entering through the humanitarian stream - would help meet demand for less skilled labour in rural economies. Finally, the migrants themselves would find early employment and thus more rapid integration into the host community (DIAC 2002).
To enhance the likelihood of success of the regional settlement program, DIAC chose its centres carefully. Designated locations needed to have good employment opportunities, be of adequate size and diversity, possess appropriate rental housing, have in place mainstream and specialist services, and be able to demonstrate a 'welcoming environment' (DIAC 2007). In addition, the Department itself, either directly or through contracted organizations, would provide assistance with accommodation, household formation, health assessment, trauma counselling, language translation and interpreting, and English language tuition. With these measures in place, DIAC was confident that the program would take root; 'Managed effectively ... this strategy will help to build sustainable regional communities' (DIAC 2002: 9).
... continues ...
References
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2004) Migration, Cat. No. 3142.0, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Australia First Party (2007) The Eight Core Policies of the Australia First Party, National Website. Retrieved 17 September from http://www.australiafirstparty.com.au
Bourdieu P (1983) The Forms of Capital, in JG Richardson (ed) Handbook Of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education, Greenwood Press, New York.
Carrington K, McIntosh A and Walmsley J (eds) (2007) The Social Costs Benefits of Migration into Australia, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Centacare, Lifeline and Social Justice Commission (2006) Finding a Home On the Range: A Profile of Toowoomba's Sudanese Community, Toowoomba City Council.
Coleman JS (1988) Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital, American Journal of Sociology 94(Supplement S): 95-120.
Coleman JS (1990) Foundations of Social Theory, Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA.
Coomes Consulting (2005) Background and Analysis Report No 1: Demographic Profile, Greater Shepparton 2030, Greater Shepparton City Council.
Cox E (1999) Can Social Capital Make Societies More Civil? Australian Planner 36(2): 75-78.
DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) (2002) Fact Sheet 16 - Immigration Research, Canberra, DIAC.
DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) (2004) Report of the Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants, Canberra, DIAC.
DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) (2007) Fact Sheet 97: Humanitarian Settlement in Regional Australia, Canberra, DIAC.
Donaghey K (2006) Australia First head wants her grandchildren safe, Toowoomba Chronicle 15 June.
Edwards B and Foley M (1997) Social Capital and the Political Economy of Our Discontent, American Behavioural Scientist 40: 669-78.
Field, J (2003) Social Capital, Routledge.
Fiorenza E (2005) Emilio Fiorenza, in Shepparton Key Solutions Team (eds) A Suitcase Full of Dreams, Shepparton Key Solutions. Shepparton.
Fukuyama F (2001) Social capital, civil society and development. Third World Quarterly 22(1): 7-20.
GSCC (Greater Shepparton City Council) (2005a) City of Greater Shepparton: Family And Childrens' Services Directory, Shepparton, GSCC.
GSCC (Greater Shepparton City Council) (2005b) Greater Shepparton: Public Health Plan 2006 - 2008, Shepparton, GSCC.
GSCC (Greater Shepparton City Council) (2005c) Annual Report 2004 - 2005, Shepparton, GSCC.
GSCC (Greater Shepparton City Council) (2005d) Council Plan and Strategic Resource Plan 2006 - 2010, Shepparton, GSCC.
GSCC (Greater Shepparton City Council) (2008) Community Profile, http://www.greatershepparton.com.au/ourregion/profile last accessed 28 February.
Hall B (2005) Families arrive in a Brave New World, Shepparton News 21 October.
Hardy C and Phillips N (1998) Strategies of engagement: Lessons from the critical examination of collaboration and conflict in an interorganizational domain. Organization Science 9(2): 217-230.
Hindmoor, A (1998) The Importance of Being Trusted: Transaction Costs and Policy Network Theory, Public Administration 76: 24-43.
Kickert WJ, Klijn E and Koppenjam JFM (eds) (1997) Managing Complex Networks, Sage Publications, London.
Liamputtong P and Ezzy D (2005) Qualitative Research Methods 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Loury G (1977) A Dynamic Theory of Racial Income Differences, in PA Wallace and ALe Mund (eds) Women, Minorities, and Employment Discrimination, Lexington Books MA.
McIntosh K (2006) Racism raises its ugly head with pamphlet, Toowoomba Chronicle 09 June.
Missingham B, Dibden J and Cocklin C (2006) A multicultural countryside? Ethnic minorities in rural Australia, Rural Society 16(2): 131-149.
Morgan DL (1997) Focus Groups Qualitative Research 2nd edn, Sage, Newbury Park.
Portes A (1998) Social capital: its origins and applications in modern sociology, In Annual Review of Sociology 24, Palo Alto CA.
Punch K (1998) Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, Sage, London.
Putnam RD (1993) Making democracy work: civic traditions in Modern Italy, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Putnam RD (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Schlicht E (1984) Cognitive Dissonance in Economics, in Normengeleitetes Verhalten in den Sozialwissenschaften, Dunker and Humblot, Berlin.
TCC (Toowoomba City Council) (2004) Toowoomba: A Community Profile 2003, Toowoomba City Council.
TCC (Toowoomba City Council) (2007a) Community Information Directory, Toowoomba City Council.
TCC (Toowoomba City Council) (2007b) Multicultural Directory, Toowoomba City Council.
TCC (Toowoomba City Council) (2007c) Website www.toowoomba.qld.gov.au
Upham L and Martin J (2005) Understanding Toowoomba's Diversity: A Report for Toowoomba City Council, Queensland, Lucid Consulting.
Warner M (1999) Social Capital Construction and the Role of the State, Rural Sociology 64(3): 373-393.
Wallis J and Dollery B (2002) Social Capital and Local Government Capacity, Australian Journal of Public Administration 61(3): 76-85.
Webb T and Cary J (2005) Social Capital and Natural Resource Management: An Application to Landcare, Rural Society 15(2): 119-131.
Woolcock M (1998) Social capital and economic development: Toward a theoretical synthesis and policy framework, Theory and Society 27: 151-208.
eContent Home
