Kelly White
27 November 2025: A new report, Belonging in Australian Democracy: A Multicultural Perspective, launched by the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥’s Centre for Deliberative Democracy (CDD) in partnership with the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) at Old Parliament House, shares insights into the challenges faced by multicultural Australians – with research-informed recommendations to enhance meaningful belonging and democratic participation.
Research fellow at the CDD and lead author on the report, Dr Adele Webb, facilitated a day-long deliberative workshop with 13 young, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people living in Australia, from first generation migrants to Australians whose parents were born overseas.
The resulting conversations, had against the backdrop of the Museum of Australian Democracy, provided rich qualitative insights into the lived experiences, reflections, and aspirations of young multicultural people in Australia, with relevant application for policymakers, advocates and institutions operating to enhance belonging and social cohesion in Australia.
Dr Webb said the report highlighted the mismatch between participants’ lived experiences of belonging, and how policymakers define it, with consequences for social cohesion and democratic resilience.
“Belonging is not only a fundamental human need, but it plays a crucial role in shaping our society. It is the foundation for building social cohesion – which is commonly overlooked in policy discourse,” Dr Webb said.
"Our research highlights the need to reframe belonging: It’s not about assimilation, it’s not something granted by institutions through citizenship or formal procedures and it’s not the sole responsibility of migrants.
“Advancing belonging requires active steps to help people to feel ‘at home’ in our democratic society. It is a shared, ongoing process of weaving our stories together through everyday encounters, the assurance of cultural safety, and the building of mutual respect.”
While workshop participants generally held a strong understanding and confidence in Australia’s democratic structures, they also highlighted opportunities to enhance inclusion.
“While democracy is often equated with formal procedures such as the right to vote, participants stressed that it is equally about being respected across differences, feeling culturally safe, and sharing responsibility for the well-being of others,” Dr Webb said.
“Feeling safe to be fully oneself is a precondition for meaningful political and social inclusion. Without it, there cannot be genuinely equitable participation in the democratic system.”
These findings echo recent research from the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ and SBS, showing that a genuine sense of belonging is central to meaningful civic and political inclusion.
The case studies of Mark and Farizma, highlight the realities of living in Australia, while maintaining a diverse cultural identity.
Mark, aged 25, was born in The Netherlands and has lived in Australia since he was a child.
“Mark reported that he and his family fit in well, but that it meant he felt less connected to his culture of birth. His story is a reminder that even well-integrated migrants carry layered identities, and that maintaining this requires constant, active effort,” Dr Webb said.
Farizma was born in Bangladesh, and moved to Australia within the last five years. Each day, Farizma navigates the expression of her Bangladeshi identity, with Australian social norms.
“Farizma wears traditional earrings, jhumkas, to feel grounded in her culture, even in spaces where other traditional clothing might feel inappropriate or marginalised. She describes being aware of the risks of being “too visible”,” Dr Webb said.
“Her experience illustrates how belonging in Australia is not only about inclusion, but about navigating the right to be seen, heard, and respected on one’s own terms.”
The report advocates for more qualitative research, and the prioritisation of intercultural dialogue, as a means for improving multicultural communities’ democratic representation in Australia.
“It’s only through qualitative work that we can understand the deeply personal, complex and interconnected ties of belonging, political participation, social cohesion,” Dr Webb says.
“When we endeavour to facilitate meaningful intercultural dialogue, we can begin shaping a stronger, more resilient Australia, for the benefit of all.”
Recommendations from Belonging in Australian Democracy: A Multicultural Perspective, include:
- Designing public messaging that affirms cultural diversity as integral to Australia, rather than something to be accommodated.
- Creating institutional spaces where multicultural Australians are safe to actively engage in intercultural dialogue.
- Strengthening civic education to teach democracy not simply as a system of rules and procedures but as an evolving space for inclusion, shared responsibility and mutual respect.
- Prioritising cultural safety and cultural expression in policymaking, ensuring that diverse communities feel not only formally included but substantively valued.
Visit the report or contact the report authors via adele.webb@canberra.edu.au