Centre for Research on Social Inclusion

Everyday Multiculturalism Conference

28th and 29th September 2006

Centre for Research on Social Inclusion, Macquarie University and the ARC Cultural Research Network

Keynote speakers

Professor Ien Ang
ARC Professorial Fellow, Centre for Cultural Research, University of Western Sydney

Associate Professor Ghassan Hage
Department of Anthropology, University of Sydney

Dr Greg Noble
School of Humanities and Languages, University of Western Sydney

Themes

While research on Australian multiculturalism and racism is well developed in Australia, qualitative research into everyday modes of lived multiculturalism, remains fairly limited. This two day conference brings together researchers exploring everyday experiences of cultural diversity and difference.

DAY ONE: Everyday Multiculturalism - Open theme
Day one will be an open themed day on Everyday Multiculturalism. Papers in this section will engage with the quotidian dimensions of living with diversity. Quotidian diversity has variously been described as 'togetherness-in-difference' (Ang 2000), and 'inhabiting difference' (Hage 1998). We take the term to mean those perspectives on cultural diversity which recognize the embodied or inhabited nature of living with cultural difference. There is a special emphasis on papers that focus on the intersections and relationships between cultural groups, rather than research taking a single ethnic group as a focus. Papers in this stream explore the interconnections between the everyday and larger discourses; everyday interconnections, affinities; solidarities everyday disjunctures; discomforts, and racisms; modes of living with and across difference in suburbia or regional Australia such as through food, neighbouring, shopping or sport, or issues such as multicultural place-sharing, and battles over place identity and belonging.

DAY TWO: Cronulla and the Everyday Politics of Cultural Difference in Suburbia
The Cronulla riots caught many commentators by surprise. Some commentators argued that the riots were a symptom of everyday tensions; others argued that Cronulla represents a failure of multiculturalism, while still others argued that it was a result of a decade of 'dog-whistle' politics in Australia. Racism, ethnocentrism and other forms of prejudice are often born out of everyday encounters with difference intertwined with national and global politics and discourses. Day two papers will present a collection of new work reflecting on the Cronulla riots - the causes, the riots themselves, and their ramifications.

Special Panel:
A panel featuring representatives of some of the more innovative government and community interventions developed since the riots.

Presenters come from a range of disciplinary perspectives, each exploring an aspect of 'everyday multiculturalism' with a special focus on those employing grounded methodologies such as fieldwork, interviews, focus groups and ethnographic participant observation.

Non-presenting audience members from within and outside academia are encouraged to attend.

Registration

Registration fee

$120 or $60 single day rate

NB: This is a heavily subsided rate and as such, there is no reduced postgraduate rate.

To Register, download the registration form here, and fax to (02)9850-9559, or email to crsi@scmp.mq.edu.au

Conference Dinner

Thursday 28th September

The Brook Room (from 7.30 p.m.)
The Stamford Grand North Ryde
Cnr Epping & Herring Roads (next door to Macquarie University)
Cost $60

Conference Venue

Macquarie University
Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM)
99 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park North Ryde

Getting to Macquarie

Regional Map - https://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/maps/regional_map
Campus Map - www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/maps/campus_map

Note: MGSM offers free parking to conference delegates

Accommodation

We have reserved a number of accommodation options at special conference rates. Please mention 'Everyday Multiculturalism conference' when you book.

Travelodge Macquarie North Ryde
81 Talavera Road North Ryde NSW 2113
Tel: +61 2 8874 5200
Fax: +61 2 8874 5300
Conference special rate: $125
Room booking: www.travelodge.com.au (click on the Travelodge Macquarie North Ryde link) or by phone on (02) 88745200 or email - tmqr@travelodge.com.au

Robert Menzies College
136 Herring Road North Ryde NSW 2113
Tel: +61 2 99366012
Fax: +61 2 99366005
Conference special rate: $55 (shared bathroom)
Room booking: accommodation@rmc.nsw.edu.au
web: www.rmc.org.au

Conveners & Contacts

The conference is convened and organised by Dr Selvaraj Velayutham and Dr Amanda Wise
And hosted by the Centre for Research on Social Inclusion, Macquarie University.
The conference is sponsored by the Australian Cultural Research Network.

Enquiries

Conference Program: selvaraj.velayutham@scmp.mq.edu.au

Registration and administrative enquiries: crsi@scmp.mq.edu.au

Macquarie University