Summary

The question on ethnic background allows us to understand this sample group in more detail. One of the objectives of this research has been to interrogate the category, 'culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)' that dominates government reporting on migrants and ethnic identity in Australia. The CALD category tends to simplify difference and flatten out identities that are multi-faceted and complex. By asking young people to describe their ethnic background in their own terms, the Census data reveals a rich and detailed picture of hybrid identities and affiliations, not reflected in country of birth or ancestry data.

Details

Response Options: This was an open-ended question; it allowed the participants to identify their ethnic background using their own descriptors. The open-ended response format was chosen to avoid imposing pre-established ethnic categories on the participants.

Response: 1,878 respondents answered this question.

Results: Below is a snapshot of their responses:

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