Australia has been shaped by waves of migration, from British colonisation, to post-WWII migration from Europe, to the end of the White Australia Policy in the 1970s, which had previously restricted non-European immigration. Since then, official multiculturalism policy has recognised and supported cultural diversity as a valued part of Australian society, rather than expecting migrants to abandon their heritage entirely.
Example
Under the White Australia Policy, immigration was heavily restricted based on race until it was formally dismantled by the mid-1970s — since then, Australia has become one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, with around half of Australians born overseas or having a parent born overseas.
Key terms
Multiculturalism:
A policy recognising and supporting cultural diversity within a society.
White Australia Policy:
A former set of policies restricting non-European immigration to Australia.
Migration:
The movement of people from one country or region to settle in another.
Questions
1. Multiculturalism means:
Recognising and supporting cultural diversity in society
Requiring everyone to have identical cultural backgrounds
Banning all migration
A type of environmental policy
2. The White Australia Policy:
Restricted non-European immigration
Encouraged unrestricted migration from all countries
Was about environmental protection
Had nothing to do with immigration
3. Migration refers to:
People moving to settle in another country or region
A type of festival
A type of tax
A type of law about the environment
4. The White Australia Policy was formally dismantled by around:
The mid-1970s
The 1800s
2020
It was never dismantled
5. Post-WWII migration to Australia included many people from:
Europe
Nowhere; migration stopped after WWII
Only Antarctica
Only within Australia itself
6. Roughly what proportion of Australians were born overseas or have an overseas-born parent?
About half
Almost none
Exactly 100%
About 1%
7. Modern multicultural policy generally:
Supports migrants maintaining their cultural heritage
Requires migrants to abandon their heritage entirely
Bans all cultural diversity
Has no connection to migration at all
8. Why did the end of the White Australia Policy significantly change the makeup of Australia's population?
It allowed migration from a much wider range of countries, increasing diversity
It had no real effect on migration patterns
It restricted migration even further than before
Population diversity was unaffected by immigration policy
9. Why might a country adopt multiculturalism policy rather than expecting migrants to fully assimilate into one single culture?
It values the cultural contributions and diversity migrants bring to society
Multiculturalism policy has no real purpose or effect
Assimilation and multiculturalism are the exact same policy
Cultural diversity is considered undesirable in a multicultural policy
10. Post-WWII migration to Australia was partly driven by:
A need for population growth and labour after the war
A complete ban on all immigration at that time
No practical or economic reasoning at all
Only wealthy migrants being allowed to enter under any circumstances
11. Why might migration bring both economic and cultural benefits to a receiving country?
Migrants can contribute skills, labour and cultural diversity to their new society
Migration only ever has negative effects on a country
Migrants contribute nothing of value to their new country
Economic and cultural benefits are unrelated to migration
12. Why is Australia often described as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world?
A significant proportion of its population has migrated from a wide range of countries
Australia has had no significant migration in its history
Cultural diversity has no connection to migration patterns
Australia has always had a single, unchanging culture with no diversity
13. Why might understanding Australia's migration history help explain its current cultural make-up?
Different waves of migration over time have each contributed to Australia's diverse population
Migration history has no connection to current demographics
Australia's population has remained completely unchanged throughout history
Cultural make-up is entirely unrelated to historical migration patterns
14. The 1973 Universal Migration Policy under the Whitlam government is significant because it:
Removed the ability to discriminate against migrants based on ethnicity
Introduced new race-based restrictions on immigration
Banned all further immigration to Australia
Had no connection to the White Australia Policy
15. Why might the shift from restrictive immigration policy to multiculturalism be seen as a significant social change in Australian history?
It represented a fundamental shift in how Australia defined itself and welcomed newcomers
This policy shift had no meaningful social impact
Immigration policy has remained completely unchanged throughout Australian history
Multiculturalism policy was identical to the White Australia Policy
16. Why might migration policy be shaped by a combination of economic, humanitarian and social factors?
Governments often balance labour needs, humanitarian obligations, and social cohesion considerations together
Migration policy is based entirely on one single factor, with no other considerations
Economic and humanitarian factors have no connection to migration policy at all
Migration policy has always been identical regardless of context
17. Why might second- and third-generation descendants of migrants still identify with their family's cultural heritage, even after being born in Australia?
Cultural identity and heritage can be passed down and valued across generations, supported by multicultural policy
Cultural heritage always disappears completely after one generation
Being born in a country automatically erases all connection to family heritage
Generational cultural identity has no connection to multicultural policy
18. Why might studying the history of restrictive immigration policies (like the White Australia Policy) be important for understanding modern Australia?
It provides context for ongoing conversations about identity, inclusion and social policy today
Historical immigration policy has no bearing on modern Australian society
This history serves no educational or social purpose
Immigration policy has never changed throughout Australian history
19. Why might multicultural policy be seen as connected to social cohesion, not just cultural diversity?
Recognising and valuing diverse backgrounds can help build an inclusive, connected society rather than division
Diversity and social cohesion are always in direct conflict with no possible connection
Multicultural policy has no relationship to how a society functions together
Social cohesion is entirely unrelated to how cultural diversity is managed
20. Why might comparing Australia's migration and multiculturalism history to other countries' approaches be a valuable exercise for HASS students?
It highlights different approaches to diversity and their differing social, economic and political outcomes
All countries have managed migration and diversity in an identical way throughout history
Comparing different countries' approaches provides no educational value
Migration policy has never varied between different countries
21. Why might refugee and humanitarian migration be treated differently in policy from general skilled migration?
Refugees are often fleeing danger or persecution, which involves different obligations and considerations than economic migration
All forms of migration are treated completely identically under Australian policy
Humanitarian migration has no distinct policy considerations at all
Skilled migration and refugee migration are the exact same category
Answer key (parent copy)
1. Recognising and supporting cultural diversity in society
2. Restricted non-European immigration
3. People moving to settle in another country or region
4. The mid-1970s
5. Europe
6. About half
7. Supports migrants maintaining their cultural heritage
8. It allowed migration from a much wider range of countries, increasing diversity
9. It values the cultural contributions and diversity migrants bring to society
10. A need for population growth and labour after the war
11. Migrants can contribute skills, labour and cultural diversity to their new society
12. A significant proportion of its population has migrated from a wide range of countries
13. Different waves of migration over time have each contributed to Australia's diverse population
14. Removed the ability to discriminate against migrants based on ethnicity
15. It represented a fundamental shift in how Australia defined itself and welcomed newcomers
16. Governments often balance labour needs, humanitarian obligations, and social cohesion considerations together
17. Cultural identity and heritage can be passed down and valued across generations, supported by multicultural policy
18. It provides context for ongoing conversations about identity, inclusion and social policy today
19. Recognising and valuing diverse backgrounds can help build an inclusive, connected society rather than division
20. It highlights different approaches to diversity and their differing social, economic and political outcomes
21. Refugees are often fleeing danger or persecution, which involves different obligations and considerations than economic migration