Research suggests strategies to address anxiety about race relations

A national 12 year study has provided a picture of racism, ethnic relations and cultural diversity in Australia. The results of 12 years of research by the 'Challenging Racism Project' were released today, providing a national picture of racism, ethnic relations and cultural diversity in Australia. The study, Challenging Racism Project, surveyed more than 12,500 people from all states and territories across Australia and was undertaken by a team of researchers including Dr Yin Paradies from the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne. The study, which was led by Professor Kevin Dunn from the University of Western Sydney's School of Social Science, found: * 86.8 percent of respondents across Australia agree that it is a good thing for a society to be made up of people from different cultures; * 84.4 percent believe all races are equal; and * 78.1 percent feel secure with people of different ethnic origins. The Project also found that 12.3 percent of respondents admit to being prejudiced against other cultures; and 11.2 percent believe that it is not a good idea for people of different races to marry one another. Dr Paradies, who collated data from Victoria and the Northern Territory said the report found racism against minorities was most common, but not always in areas that were more highly populated by those minorities. Professor Dunn said the findings indicated that the majority of Australians were positive about living in a multicultural country and that community relations in Australia were generally good.