a multicultural Research Library

Making multicultural Australia

Search the complete site: ... Sitemap » ... Links to other sites »

multicultural Audio »

Category: Audio Interviews »

Subject: Sociology »

thumbnail

At the crossroads... Social Justice

Paula Abood.

Paula Abood, speaks about the governments accross the board and their commitment to multiculturalism.

Created:

1995

Date Added:

19 July 2002

Source:

Interview for Making Multicultural Australia, 1995.

Format:

mov (Quicktime);

File size:

--

Length:

30 secs

Transcript

PAULA ABOOD
Writer and performer, and former Executive Officer, Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association of NSW

We (from a community perspective) would critique governments across the board, whether it’s Federal, State or Local. We would critique their commitment to multiculturalism, and implementing access and equity policies. We could argue a very strong case that most government departments pay lip service to multiculturalism and there is no real commitment to actually providing culturally-sensitive services, and providing services that target the diversity of people in Australian society.

CONTINUATION OF INTERVIEW AS TEXT

We support the principles of multiculturalism, and we are committed to the practices of multiculturalism.

And I think that there's resistance from people who think that multicultural means divisions, and not a cohesive society. I dispute that because I think that multicultural policies, or a committed multicultural policy, means that all people share in the resources in one’s society, all people fully participate in society. I think people embrace difference in that way, rather than in past practices of assimilation and integration, which is denying one part of people. I think that creates divisions, I think that creates a potentially non-cohesive society.

Interview for Making Multicultural Australia, 1995.