TITLE:
Cultural Diversity and Urban Features: An Australian Case Study
AUTHORS:
Katie Ingelbrecht, Yastika Singh, Neha Durgadmath, Rezza Moieni, Nicole Lee
KEYWORDS:
Cultural Diversity, Urban Features, Socio-Spatial
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.12 No.7,
July
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: Cultural diversity is a key part of the Australian identity, and how this diversity interacts with urban features is useful for diversity research, urban planning and strategic policy intervention. This case study explores the relationship between cultural diversity and the urban landscape, focusing on Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) regions of Australia. The data were obtained from the 2021 Australian Census. The study calculated cultural diversity indices for religion/worldview, language and country of birth for each region. Spearman’s correlations were used as a framework to understand the relationship between diversity and urban parameters. The research revealed relationships between cultural diversity and economic indicators, social disorganisation and the ratio of low income to high income households within particular regions. Further, the study identified anomalies that deviate from conventional trends. This study lays a promising foundation for future research into cultural diversity in a socio-spatial context and highlights the need to understand cultural diversity within its broader context.