Does Multiculturalism make a city liveable?

Gargi Gupta

Australia is home to people from diverse backgrounds and is one of the very few lands across the world that enjoys the benefits of being able to celebrate the abundance and essences of cultures from around the world. It can be hardly thought of as a co-incidence that Australia’s two greatest cosmopolitan cities Sydney and
Melbourne have a lasting record in the ‘World’s most livable cities’ and that the two cities delightfully hold the Australian flavors and values with shared ideas, beliefs and global trends. One can actually experience a way of life like none other in the cities of Australia which is very hard to find. There is a sense of harmony in the ways different cultures reside next to each other in suburbs of these multicultural cities.

When people coming from various origins blend together, there is perhaps a lot that happens; and a walk through the breezy streets on a cold winter morning on the laneways of Melbourne manifests the feeling. Known to be as the world's most well-dressed cities, both Melbourne and Sydney take pride in their strongly cultivated sense of fashion. Whether it is the bustling street of Melbourne or the breathtaking views across the oceans in Sydney; there is food and coffee that will always lead you to love. Like most of us say, coffee is a way of life in Australia. Even if you’re grabbing a quick breakfast to work or enjoying meal of any of your favorite global cuisine, the service is always warm, welcoming and relaxing. There will never be a day where one feels away from home in these cities because there will always be something for someone around the corner.

Furthermore, this multicultural population enjoys sports, art, education, work and entertainment just as much together. There is plenty of obsession and love when it comes to sport, whether it is about watching a footy-match together or perhaps sharing beers with a barbeque on any given sporting occasion. Being able to have
people from all over the world in the same group, helps everyone enjoy new and different traditions and gain insights into different cuisines, life.

Multiculturalism in Australia is about sharing a sense of cross-cultural understanding and being able to break the stereotypes. Activities that involve a number of communities coming together helps understanding one another better. A knowledge share can happen in such situations that lead to helping one another out in need.

For Australia the sense of shared nation is something that makes the multi-culture so unique, it breeds a sense of common values, mutual respect for communities and decency towards one another. In a way ethnicity and religion play an important role to get everyone closer as there is something new to learn for everyone. Being a part of a multicultural city, poses as an enhancement and enrichment into the way a different culture works. A multicultural background for a city means that it has more to offer to its own people and makes it a place that foreigners would love to visit. A sense of unity in diversity is the way most Australian
cities tend to sway with. This message comes across through art in most of the allies of the cities which hold treasure behind the spray paint.

Over the years, Australia has attracted a lot of new comers who seek a better life. Students prefer a city in Australia because they are able to experience a whole new
way living and feel included and be what they please. This goes on to people who simply come to Australia to work, seeing a work life balanced that has influenced
all communities equally gives more time for social activities. Work places are one of the simplest ways to experience the melting pot of culture that Australia really is; there are people from almost every corner working in the same space and people can share stories over lunch and tea breaks.

Intercultural interactions take place in a city which is hope to different nationalities, this inclusion helps make migrates feel better adjusted to a new place. Even though multiculturalism is a post-modernist idea (Paracha, 2014) it helps impose a sense of single nationalistic idea which encourages institutionalization of a cultural diversity.

Putting things on the world map, what attracts so many people from all across the world to these populous cities in Australia comprises of work, travel, leisure and
education. There is increasing growth in the concept of a global culture and it will only flourish if more cultures start interacting and engaging with each other. Partially or predominantly, it can be said that multiculturism has been one of the significant factors in shaping up the future of Australia and its success. Interestingly, multiculturism also stands to be an important pillar for the people who shape the nation and are committed to build a united, strong and successful
Australia. Being a part of intercultural groups has become a daily routine for Australians, this may lead to a lot of discrimination in many places but the government continuously works to combatting such situations.

As a part of the story behind modern Australia’s foundation, there is very little that has been foregone from its existing culture. In fact, there has been extensive
additions made to the country. Significant contributions in the fields of infrastructure, community building and economic opportunities has expanded the
horizon of Australia on the world map. There remains adequate emphasis on the sharing values, rights and responsibilities. The country's cultural policies in terms of promoting diversity is a testimony to why few of Australia's leading cities repeatedly make it to the list of the World's most liveable cities.

References:

Paracha, N. (2014).Multiculturalism will eat itself. [online] DAWN.COM. Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1079945