Culturally diverse migrant and refugee communities significantly contribute to Australia’s civic life through various forms of engagement and support. Their engagement often begins within their own communities, not due to segregation, but because these are the spaces where social
gaps are most apparent and where they are well placed to make valuable and practical contributions. However, these contributions are frequently unseen, overlooked, and underappreciated because they occur within diaspora and faith communities.
The submission highlights that migrant and refugee communities make strong civic contributions, and in fact there is evidence to suggest they may be more engaged than Australian born populations. However, these contributions are frequently unseen, overlooked, and underappreciated because they occur within diaspora and faith communities – often without much fanfare, and without much formal structure.