One City Many Cultures Brisbane, Australia

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One City Many Cultures Brisbane, Australia

• By Susan Ferguson
• 072 363 6081
• sferguson_at_mweb.co.za

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Introduction and purpose

• To provide examples of local government responses
  to cultural diversity from Australia
• To highlight similarities and differences with
  South Africa
• To discuss what worked and what didnt

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Background to Brisbane

• Brisbane 1,000,000 people
• Fastest growing region in Australia
• Stable and skilled left leaning local
  government administration until recently
• Largest local government in Australia like a
  Metro
• Increasing cultural and social diversity, though
  historically Australia is very diverse

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Cultural diversity profile in Brisbane

• 50 increase in Indigenous population since 1986
• gt28 of people in Brisbane are born overseas
• gt18 speaking a language other than English at
  home
• Over 130 countries represented
• Largest populations Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek,
  Italian
• Continued refugee intake

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Similarities with South Africa

• Diverse populations
• Xenophobia
• Lack of support services
• Varying interest by leadership
• Long term patterns of social exclusion
• Restrictive immigration policies
• Both are signatories to the UN Conventions
  relating to human rights and refugees
• Both share values of freedom, human rights,
  justice

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Differences with South Africa

• The volume of refugees to Australia is much less
• South Africa has less resources to provide
  support
• South Africa is in a process of transition
• Different history influences policy and
  strategies
• Australia has strong capacity in NGOs

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Brisbane City Council strategies

• Brisbane recognises that migrants and refugees
  share some similar issues but also their needs
  differ
• Therefore, BCC has 2 strategies
• One City Many Cultures
• Working with Refugees Strategy

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Problems migrants and refugees experience in
Brisbane

• Social exclusion and isolation
• Difficulty accessing government services
• Poverty
• Major mental and physical health problems
  (refugees)
• Lack of understanding of the role of different
  sheres of government.

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One City Many Cultures strategy

• Endorsed by the Lord Mayor
• Linked to Living in Brisbane 2010 vision
• Strategic doc to improve access, equity and
  participation for culturally diverse populations
• Aim is to create more harmonious and inclusive
  society
• Extensive consultation
• 4 areas of focus leadership inclusive service
  delivery community partnerships productive
  diversity

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One City Many Cultures strategy content
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Working with Refugees strategy

• Endorsed by the Lord Mayor
• Linked to Living in Brisbane 2010 vision
• Strategic doc to define Councils role in refugee
  affairs
• Aim is to increase participation and
  opportunities for refugees -- create a welcoming
  city
• Extensive consultation
• Developed as the national govt decreases support
  for refugees
• 4 areas of focus leadership inclusive service
  delivery community partnerships productive
  diversity

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Working with Refugees strategy content
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What conditions helped in Brisbane?

• External conditions were right
• Internal conditions were right
• Strong links with NGOs
• Partnerships with Provincial government

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What strategies worked in Brisbane City Council?

• Use of mechanisms in Municipality to push through
  reforms
• Creation of multiple access points to
  municipality decision making for migrants and
  refugees
• Partnerships with Provincial government
• Advocacy inclusive of migrants and refugees
• Inclusive strategies

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Opportunites for South African Cities?

• Coordination role
• Leadership role
• Mainstreaming of access to existing services
• Welcoming role
• Informational and orientational role
• Policy role in IDPs
• Economic development strategies.

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Advantage of these sorts of ideas

• Low cost
• Not new and different but inclusion and
  mainstreaming
• Aimed at decreasing xenophobia, so long term
  benefits for all
• Economic advantages

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Conclusion

• Municipalities will need
• skilled staff who can use the existing system
• political champions as allies
• greater understanding of migrant and refugee
  issues
• robust relationships with migrant and refugee
  communities to enable participation
• Municipalities, Province, National govts and NGOs
  will need to create partnerships