Religious diversity and social policy: an Australian dilemma

Bouma, Gary D.

doi:10.1002/j.1839-4655.2012.tb00249.x

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This was not unlike similar exclusivist resistance to religious diversity as experienced in Australia (Bouma, 2012(Bouma, , 2013. Closer Economic Relations (CER) protocols between Australia and New Zealand, and other bilateral arrangements, are not the only forms of cultural connections that link these two countries-otherwise separated by over 1200 miles of ocean, as well as very different colonial histories and governmental arrangements.…”

Section: Reception Of the Statementmentioning

confidence: 82%

Secular New Zealand and Religious Diversity: From Cultural Evolution to Societal Affirmation

Pratt

2016

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About a century ago New Zealand was a predominantly white Anglo-Saxon Christian nation, flavoured only by diversities of Christianity. A declining indigenous population (Maori) for the most part had been successfully converted as a result of 19th century missionary endeavour. In 2007, in response to increased presence of diverse religions, a national Statement on Religious Diversity was launched. During the last quarter of the 20th century the rise of immigrant communities, with their various cultures and religions, had contributed significantly to the changing demographic profile of religious affiliation. By early in the 21st century this diversity, together with issues of inter-communal and interreligious relations, all in the context of New Zealand being a secular society, needed to be addressed in some authoritative way. Being a secular country, the government keeps well clear of religion and expects religions to keep well clear of politics. This paper will outline relevant historical and demographic factors that set the scene for the Statement, which represents a key attempt at enhancing social inclusion with respect to contemporary religious diversity. The statement will be outlined and discussed, and other indicators of the way in which religious diversity is being received and attended to will be noted.

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Section: Reception Of the Statementmentioning

confidence: 82%

Secular New Zealand and Religious Diversity: From Cultural Evolution to Societal Affirmation

Pratt

2016

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“…To this day the means for settling conflicting demands and claims of breach of freedoms are not in place. 44 Our study goes to the heart of the problem of freedom from discrimination and equitable access to job opportunities. In this article, the authors use the term 'equity' in a way that recognizes its social justice origins while, at the same time, leveraging the study data to examine slippage away from social justice ideals; in this way, we actively interrogate labor market 'equity' in practice.…”

Section: Equity and Eeomentioning

confidence: 99%

Australian Muslim Jobseekers: Equal Employment Opportunity and Equity in the Labor Market

Lovat¹,

Nilan²,

Hosseini³

et al. 2013

Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs

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The experience of job market disadvantage is not a novel phenomenon for some in contemporary Australia, even in the face of embedded equal employment opportunity (EEO) ideals. This article addresses the phenomenon of persistent job market disadvantage for some minority groups by presenting new data from a major multi-method study on labor market obstacles for Muslims seeking jobs in Australia. Responses from jobseekers and employment service providers are analyzed together to consider how EEO principles are experienced by Muslims who engage with employment services and move in and out of the labor force. The article proposes that key EEO tenets-freedom from discrimination and support to overcome disadvantage-are not represented at present in many Muslim jobseeker experiences. Furthermore, these same EEO principles appear to be somewhat compromised in employment service provision to Muslim jobseekers and, by extension, to other disadvantaged minority jobseekers. We offer some suggestions as to how the spirit of EEO legislation might be better reflected in support of Muslim jobseekers. It is concluded that an all government approach may be needed to counter deep mistrust of Muslims in Australian society.

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“…By 2008, Australia ranked as one of three main countries for resettlement of refugees (USCRI, 2009), with the major religious affiliation of refugees in 2006 being Christianity (53%) and Islam (33%) (ABS, 2010). As Bouma (2012) points out, the increase in religious diversity produced by the global movement of people and cultures and the proliferation of internal difference within religious communities raises social policy issues in Australia but at present we seem to lack mechanisms for considering and resolving these issues.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discrimination in the Labor Market: Exposing Employment Barriers among Muslim Jobseekers in Australia

Lovat¹,

Nilan²,

Hosseini³

et al. 2013

ISS

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This article reports the findings of a multi-method study to assess barriers to employment among Muslim jobseekers and the relative effectiveness of employment services designed to support them. In August 2010, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination noted with concern reports from Austra lia that highlighted 'ongoing issues of discrimination and inequity … experienced by members of certain minority communities including African communities, people of Asian, Middle Eastern and Muslim background' (United Nations, 2010: 3). For Muslims in Australia, a point of concern is seen in unusually high unemployment rates, especially given the relatively strong qualification rates to be found in the Australian Muslim population. Using survey and interview data, we describe and interpret this phenomenon using both the jobseeker and service provider perspectives. We found Muslim jobseekers struggle to deal with structural obstacles such as inadequacy of services, as well as subjective misunderstandings and discriminatory behaviours.

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Religious diversity and social policy: an Australian dilemma

Cited by 15 publications

References 9 publications

Secular New Zealand and Religious Diversity: From Cultural Evolution to Societal Affirmation

Secular New Zealand and Religious Diversity: From Cultural Evolution to Societal Affirmation

Australian Muslim Jobseekers: Equal Employment Opportunity and Equity in the Labor Market

Discrimination in the Labor Market: Exposing Employment Barriers among Muslim Jobseekers in Australia

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