Racial and Cultural Exclusivism in Melbourne Neighbourhoods: webinar slides

Australia, and the rest of the world, is experiencing one of the most significant social, economic and health crises in history with the coronavirus. And there are signs that racial and ethnic discrimination is on the rise. Given the current challenges that Australia and other countries will face in the aftermath of COVID-19, creating and sustaining a welcoming culture is ever more pressing.

The Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre, in collaboration with the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Australian Catholic University, and Australia Multicultural Foundation, sought to better understand the contextual dynamics that shape inter-ethnic relationships across 140 neighbourhoods in Melbourne. The report Understanding the context of racial and cultural exclusivism: A study of Melbourne neighbourhoods led by Associate Professor Rebecca Wickes, provides a critical look into the processes that include or exclude migrants in Australia’s most multicultural city.

On 21 April 2020, the Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre hosted a webinar where we discussed the main findings of this report within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our panelists considered the impact of this crisis for inclusion and discussed how we might mitigate the social distance that may occur as a result of the physical distancing underway in our workplaces and communities. Professor Sharon Pickering, Dean of Arts, Monash University hosted this online event. Dean Pickering was joined by our discussant, Professor Alex Piquero, and panelists Associate Professor Rebecca Wickes (Monash University), Professor Karen Farquharson (University of Melbourne) and Aleem Ali (Welcoming Australia). These slides are from the presentation by Associate Professor Rebecca Wickes (Monash University) during the webinar.