The Complex Web of Australian Ethnic Segregation and Neighbourhood Change

• In Event: Neighborhood Change, Crime, and Prisoner Reentry

Abstract

Australia’s diverse population contains a number of visible minority groups that experience segregation, crime and victimisation, social isolation, and disadvantage. Yet, the vulnerability of these groups is often masked by conventional methods of measuring and examining differences between the majority white population and these often vulnerable groups. This has led to a belief that Australia does not have issues of race related disadvantage and vulnerability even in the face of rapid neighbourhood change across most of Australia’s major cities. Brisbane, Australia has experienced a high degree of such change over the last ten years particularly with an increase in visible minorities and refugees along with migrants from Australia’s southern states seeking employment and affordable living. We examine how this rapid change in population from 2001 to 2011 influenced changes in both property and violent crime using a range of metrics to measure the isolation and segregation of groups within the city. We particularly focus on the consequences of this change for these vulnerable ethnic groups and highlight the importance of taking a more nuanced approach to examining their movement, placement and wellbeing in the Australian context.

Authors

• Suzanna Fay-Ramirez, The University of Queensland

• Michelle Sydes, University of Queensland

• Kathryn Benier, University of Queensland, Australia