Multicultural Framework Review – An Opportunity for Change

In March 2023, the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) 2 submitted feedback to the Australian government’s Multicultural Framework Review – Draft Terms of Reference. The Council emphasised that “diversity within diversity” and “intersectionality” should be fundamental principles underpinning the review process and its results. However, current government protocols tend to sweepingly categorise multicultural communities under the “culturally and linguistically diverse” umbrella. This generalisation effectively merges an array of unique cultures and languages into one perceived uniform group, sidelining their individual identities and challenges. Particularly concerning is the fact that such an approach obscures the distinct struggles faced by caste-oppressed communities, thereby failing to address their experiences of social exclusion and discrimination