Job Applicants Guide

The Principles of Multiculturalism

State programs in New South Wales are governed by the four Principles of Multiculturalism.

According to Part 1 of the Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Act 2000, these principles are:

(a) Principle 1
All individuals in New South Wales should have the greatest possible opportunity to contribute to, and participate in, all aspects of public life in which they may legally participate.

(b) Principle 2
All individuals and public institutions should respect and make provision for the culture, language and religion of others within an Australian legal and institutional framework where English is the common language.

(c) Principle 3
All individuals should have the greatest possible opportunity to make use of and participate in relevant activities and programs provided or administered by the Government of New South Wales.

(d) Principle 4
All institutions of New South Wales should recognise the linguistic and cultural assets in the population of New South Wales as a valuable resource and promote this resource to maximise the development of the State.

(2) Parliament also recognises that those principles are based on citizenship. The expression 'citizenship' is not limited to formal Australian citizenship, but refers to the rights and responsibilities of all people in a multicultural society in which there is:

1. a recognition of the importance of shared values within a democratic framework governed by the rule of law, and
2. a unifying commitment to Australia, its interests and future.

The principles of multiculturalism are to be construed accordingly.

(3) The principles of multiculturalism are the policy of the State.

(4) Accordingly, each public authority must observe the principles of multiculturalism in conducting its affairs.

(5) It is the duty of the chief executive officer of each public authority to implement the provisions of this section within the area of his or her administration.

Implementing the Principles of Multiculturalism in NSW public agencies

The framework for developing policies and programs to meet the needs of New South Wales' culturally diverse society is the EAPS (Ethnic Affairs Priorities Statement) program, which is administered by the Community Relations Commission.

The EAPS program began in 1983, and was named the Charter of Principles for a Culturally Diverse Society program from 1993-1996. In 1997 the public accountability component of the EAPS program was significantly extended requiring all NSW agencies to include an EAPS report in the annual report to their Minister.

The Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Act 2000 has extended EAPS responsibilities to a wider range of agencies. These are: government departments; statutory and state owned corporations; local councils; and bodies which have their accounts audited by the Auditor General.

EAPS is a measure of agency performance where the needs of culturally diverse clients are fully integrated into core business, which in turn results in quality service delivery within the framework of the Principles of Multiculturalism and social justice obligations.

EAPS Standards Framework

In 1998 the EAPS Standards Framework was implemented to help agencies develop policies in line with the NSW government's objectives, and to measure their progress over time. The Standards Framework encapsulates areas in which action must be initiated by agencies to fulfil their obligations under EAPS.

It enables agencies to assess their performance in five activity areas:

• planning and evaluation
• program and service delivery
• staffing
• communication
• funded services.

Key agencies are nominated on the basis of high client contact and the administration of major funding programs. They are required to submit detailed EAPS plans to the Commission, and to rate their progress against the EAPS Standards Framework based on their initiatives and outcomes in each activity area.

Key issues to be addressed in agency EAPS are:

• service delivery, as appropriate to a culturally diverse client group, is made part of core business;
• flexible, inclusive consultation processes are integrated into agency planning;
• all staff are trained on cultural diversity issues, as these issues apply in their jobs;
• the provision of language services and information is accessible to all clients.

Community Relations Report

The Community Relations Report is a yearly overview of community relations in New South Wales. It provides a picture of EAPS performance of key agencies, as well as the status of EAPS reporting compliance of NSW agencies as a whole (view a copy of the 2003 Report online).

What to do next

For further information on the implementation of the EAPS program in the agency where you are applying for a job, you should first check with the contact person nominated in the advertisement.

You may also wish to refer to the agency's annual report EAPS content and ask for a copy of its EAPS, or details of EAPS implementation in the section of the agency where the job is located.