SCHOOL students are the first targets of a major new push for an acceptance of multiculturalism by "embedding" it in the national curriculum.

Young Australians will be trained in "cultural competency" as part of the Federal Government's plan to boost support for multiculturalism.

Under research entitled "Rethinking Multiculturalism/Reassessing Multicultural Education", thousands of teachers have already been surveyed about the policy.

The Gillard Government's multi-pronged plan also involves sending 40 "People of Australia Ambassadors" into the community to spruik the benefits of multiculturalism and a new offensive against racism.

The Government, responding to 10 recommendations made by the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council, has agreed multiculturalism should be infused in the high-school curriculum.

Teenagers should "understand and appreciate the value of other cultures", the Government says in its response.



"The Australian Government will ... work to ensure that our national curriculum recognises our multicultural character and our history of immigration and enterprise.

"We will endeavour to ensure that the development of students' cultural competency in a globalised world is embedded into our national curriculum."

Dr Megan Watkins from the University of Western Sydney, who is researching multiculturalism in schools, said an aim was to help students become "culturally competent citizens".

Prof Kevin Dunn, also from UWS, said it was good to have multicultural policy reconfirmed.

"There is racism, we know it, and that requires a response," Prof Dunn said.

Research shows about one in 10 Australians have racial supremacist beliefs, oppose inter-marriage and believe races should be kept separate.



A study by the Scanlon Foundation found about 9 per cent of Australians agreed with the statement that "ethnic diversity erodes a country's security".

The Department of Education and Communities would not discuss the $400,000 research project with the Herald Sun.

In its submission to the federal parliamentary inquiry into multiculturalism, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet says the Government is "working to build a stronger, fairer nation through its social inclusion agenda".

While tens of millions of dollars already are spent promoting multiculturalism, the policy has been reinforced by a new permanent Australian Multicultural Council with a broad mandate to champion the cause.

NSW is the most popular destination for immigrants to Australia, attracting 30 per cent of new arrivals while many more relocate to the state as secondary migrants.

Originally published as School classes to beat racism