"Trust in government and concern for inequality are contributing to a declining sense of national pride and belonging....Social cohesion has declined in almost all
domains over the last year." [Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, Mapping Social Cohesion Report 2023, pp. 8, 13]
Social cohesion in Australia has been remarkably resilient through the challenges of recent years. However, we continue to face difficult national and global circumstances, global conflict, economic pressures and uncertainty and division over issues such as the Voice referendum.
As a result – and while we remain connected – our social cohesion is under pressure and declining on some fronts.
Our sense of national pride and belonging has been
declining for some years, discrimination and prejudice
remain stubbornly common, while in more recent years,
we are reporting greater financial stress, increased
concern for economic inequality and growing pessimism for the future. However, in the strong connections we have in our neighbourhoods and communities and the way we increasingly embrace our differences and diversity, there is reason for optimism that we can respond collectively to the challenges we face and restore and strengthen our social cohesion.
Mapping Social Cohesion 2023
The Mapping Social Cohesion 2023 report comes
at a crucial time – a time to take stock and consider
the challenges ahead. In 2023, almost 7,500 people
participated in the Mapping Social Cohesion survey,
making it the largest survey in the series. As has been the case since 2018, the 2023 survey was administered to the Social Research Centre’s Life in AustraliaTM panel.
In preparing this year’s Mapping Social Cohesion report, we have taken extra steps to ensure we are reflecting the views of all Australians, particularly in view of our vast ethnic and cultural diversity. To do this, 251 targeted surveys were conducted with people from Indian, Middle Eastern and African backgrounds in four different languages (including English). We also conducted 55 in-depth qualitative interviews with people who have migrated to Australia over the years. This adds to the growing body of information on the attitudes and experiences of migrant Australians collected through the main Life in AustraliaTM survey, providing a greater, more in-depth and nuanced understanding than ever before.
More information on the surveys and interviews are
provided in the Appendix of this report.
Social cohesion in Australia is under pressure
and declining
In our 2022 report, we remarked that social cohesion
appeared to be at an important juncture. Our indicators
suggested that cohesion had been declining after a
COVID-related spike in 2020. While there were some
signs to suggest that cohesion was returning to a
pre-pandemic normal, declines in our sense of national
pride and belonging, increasing financial strain and a
weakening sense of social inclusion and justice were
warning signs of further weakening in our social fabric.
The results of Mapping Social Cohesion 2023 reinforce
these concerns and underline the precarious and
uncertain social environment of Australia in 2023.
In the last 12 months, the Scanlon-Monash Index of social cohesion declined by four points to 79, the lowest score on record. Since a peak in social cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020, social cohesion has declined by 13 points.
Read and download the full report at:
https://scanloninstitute.org.au/mapping-social-cohesion-2023
