UNESCO Chair Research
This page outlines the research program for the UNESCO Chair, Cultural Diversity and Social Justice.Projects and Grants
A Transcultural Approach to Belonging and Engagement Among Migrant Youth (2024)
Australian Research Council – Discovery Project
A comparative study mapping the experiences of migrant youth in developing and accessing trans-cultural capital, a set of skills, resources and knowledge accessed through multiple cultural repertoires, across three highly diverse urban contexts: Melbourne, Birmingham and Toronto.
Intercultural Dialogue Index (ICDI) Report (2019-24)
Special project of the UNESCO Chair of Cultural Diversity and Social Justice, Deakin University
The first composite index for measuring the extent to which Intercultural Dialogue is being pursued and implemented as a diversity management tool within different countries. Currently, the ICDI uses publicly available data to measure indicators of intercultural dialogue across 150 countries.
Mapping Social Services in Multicultural Societies (2020-23)
Australian Research Council Linkage Project in partnership with Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights; Victorian Multicultural Commission and Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria
investigating differences in service delivery from community-specific to mainstream organisations, informed by Australian policies.
Mapping Ordinary Anti-racism and Pro-sociality in Victoria (2024)
Funded through the Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS)
This project determined the rates of everyday anti-racism in Victoria, and how they vary across demographics and places. Also identified important pro-social, intercultural actions in everyday life and the everyday language of anti-racism among Victorians
Diaspora Humanitarianism (2021-24)
Partnership with the Australian Research Council, Australian National University, Refugee Council of Australia, IOM, SSI and Australian Red Cross
Mapping the extensive humanitarian activities and contributions of Australia-based migrants to crises abroad, with a specific focus on: Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, Lebanon and the Pacific Islands.
Examining the perspectives of multicultural youth on social justice issues (2022-24)
Partnership with the Centre for Multicultural Youth
Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS) (2019-2024)
Partnership with Department of Premier and Cabinet, Western Sydney University, Victoria University, Resilience Research Centre-Dalhousie University, Australian Multicultural Foundation, Centre for Multicultural Youth, RAND Australia, Institute for Strategic Dialogue-UK
Visit the Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS)
Dissecting Islamaphobia: Understanding the varied racialisation of Islam using Latent Class Analysis (2019-20)
Partnership with Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety, Challenging Racism Project, Western Sydney University and the Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies
Survey of the prevalence and type of Islamophobia in the Victorian population.
An Arab Exception? The Role of Civil Society in Tunisia's Democratic Transition (2019-20)
Partnership with the Council for Arab-Australian Relations
In 2015, the UNESCO Chair, Cultural Diversity and Social Justice partnered with the Council of Arab-Australian Relations (CAAR) to host a series of events exploring the role of civil society organisations in Tunisia’s transition to democracy.
Building Capacity for Tunisian NGOs working with disadvantaged communities (2019-20)
Partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Council for Australian-Arab Relations
Intensive workshops and interactive programs for Tunisian NGOs engaged in advocacy and service provision to Tunisians with multiple forms of disadvantage.
Democracy Education in Tunisia – Building Capacity among Youth Leaders (2017)
Partnership with the Council for Arab-Australian Relations (CAAR)
Supporting youth leaders from Tunisia, recruited through the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) to build capacity around electoral parliamentary democracy education and engagement in Tunisia.
Democracy and Local Governance in Tunisia: Australian and Indonesian Perspectives (2016)
Partnership with the Council for Arab-Australian Relations (CAAR)
An international speakers program, aiming to bring together expertise and experience from Australia, Indonesia and Tunisia to share perspectives and reflect on lessons from Indonesia’s path to democracy to support Tunisia’s efforts towards stable democracy.
Islamic Religiosity in the West: Belonging and Political Engagement in Multicultural Cities (2016-19)
Funded by the Australian Research Council
A three-year comparative study exploring the everyday experiences of practicing Muslims in three Western countries: Melbourne (Australia), Lyon, Grenoble and Paris (France) and Detroit (USA).
Social Networks, Belonging and Active Citizenship Among Migrant Youth in Australia (2009-13)
Partnership with the Australian Research Council and the Centre for Multicultural Youth and the Australian Red Cross
Investigating how young people use formal and informal networks to develop a sense of social connectedness and belonging in a multicultural social environment.
Intercultural Understanding in Primary and Secondary Schools (2013-16)
Partnership with Together for Humanity, Victorian DEECD, VCAA and Pukunui Technology
A large-scale research project to build appreciation for Australia’s social, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, and the ability to relate to and communicate across cultures. The ICU Project works with schools and systems to help them build ICU.
Teaching Diversity (2009)
Partnership with the Australian Research Council, Victorian Arabic and Social Services, and the Scanlon Foundation
An online resource for teachers and the community to support student awareness of cultural diversity in Australia, including a Model of Best Practice, Teaching and Learning Resources and Community-School Engagement Models.
Research Agenda
The UNESCO Chair generates significant new research on cultural diversity and social justice. Research conducted under the purview of the Chair:
- promotes intercultural dialogue,
- develops new opportunities for higher education and training, and
- in collaboration with partners, ensures that building capacity and knowledge translation are central to research activities.
Cognisant of the importance of ‘sustainable human development’, and finding opportunities to engage with the Global South, the Chair’s research agenda focuses on capacity building in Australia and across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, in the key areas of:
- democratic governance,
- intercultural education,
- youth leadership training, and
- the management of cultural diversity.
By nurturing meaningful relationships with collaborators, funding partners, policy-makers, and communities, the UNESCO Chair team conducts and disseminates research which makes a tangible difference to the lived experiences of individuals and their communities. The UNESCO Chair has led many successful projects on topics including democratization, civil society and youth empowerment, and has ongoing partnerships with key organisations in the Global South.
Research training, mentoring and capacity building are core to the mission of the Chair and embedded in all activities and programs. Since its establishment in August 2013, the UNESCO Chair team has trained and mentored over 20 doctoral researchers, created numerous fellowships, scholarships, and internships for emerging scholars, and convened regular workshops, seminars and public lectures.