Melbourne Conference

Conference Objectives

Background

In the past four years, Australian Intercultural Society have organised two major social conferences with multicultural and multifaith focus, as well as many other smaller public programmes.

In 2009, there is a need to extrapolate this discourse into the realm of “Islamophobia” at a time when the multicultural nature of the Australian Society is being questioned in light of the integration of the Muslim Community.

Objectives

1. Increase understanding among Muslim Australian’s about human rights principles focusing on but not restricted to racial and religious discrimination and vilification.

2. Increase understanding among the non-Muslim community about Islam and what it is like to be a Muslim in Australia.

3. Promote social inclusion, multiculturalism and zero tolerance to racism in order to avoid the continuing alienation of young Muslims.

4. Acknowledgement that social inclusion measures are likely to be much more successful at protecting the community from violence than many of the tough security initiatives advocated under the ‘war on terror’.

5. Improve social inclusion and combat racism with the aim of reducing frustration within Muslim communities and eliminate discriminatory perceptions of threats to national security among non-Muslim communities

6. Provide a platform for the presentation of new and existing research in the related subject matters.

7. Specifically engage the Muslim community and policy makers in an intellectual enquiry.

Outcomes

1. An organising committee made up of representatives from partnering organisations and universities is established.

2. One or two keynote speakers with academic and social experience in the field of integration and citizenship take part in the conference.

3. The event is attended by a large number of academics, policy makers, interest groups and members of Muslim community and general public.

4. Conference participants leave the event with greater understanding of theme and the underlying issues.

5. Papers are published on the internet or other suitable media or publications.

Method

The conference will be managed by an Organising Committee made up of representatives from participating organisations and universities. This has been done for expediency while maximising the involvement of universities as well as making the conference more affordable.

The conference will be held on Saturday and Sunday, in order to maximise academic and public participation. In order to engage the Muslim community and general public, there will be a Friday night symposium with three or four speakers – one AIS speaker representing the Muslim Community perspective and the prominent local academics.

• More information on this event can be found at: http://www.intercultural.org.au/events_2007/gulen_chair/index.htm