The aim of the study was to develop an in-depth understanding of the migration
experiences of the Italian community of Australia, with a case study of the regional
Friulan community of Sydney. For the ways in which people identify themselves at
different times and in different environments may not always be consistent. The purpose
of the study was to add to the exploration of the diversity, cultural variety and richness
cultural communities have brought to Australia. The study set out to fulfill an important
function in adding to the accounts of the diversity of ethnic groups in Australia, their
structure and cultural backgrounds and the values of family members. Since culture is
concerned with meaning, there is of course a very close relationship between culture and
language, through which kin relationships, obligations and duties are expressed and
appropriate behaviour defined. It is that meaning and relationship that led me to
investigate the Italian and Friulan communities.
The study took on the form of an ethnography enabling me, the researcher, to participate
in order to develop an in depth understanding of the experiences of the Italian migrants,
in particular the Friulan community. The data was collected by using key informant
interviewing. The participants were encouraged to freely reflect on their past and present
experiences to enable them to make a comparative analysis of their experiences in
Australia and in their country of origin. This enabled the migrants to take on the role of
culturally knowledgeable informants supplying information which was significant to them
and which reflected their perceptions of their life experiences. The data has been
faithfully recorded to represent the immigrant's point of view.
The study revealed that many of the first and second-generation are highly involved with
their Italian heritage and operate comfortably with a bicultural ethnic identity. The
second generation have reconstructed the Italian-Australian family, thus changing the
Italian community and providing links between the Italian, the Anglo-Australian and the
other ethnic communities. Ethnicity is continually negotiated and is a constant source of
transformation for people of immigrant background. If Italian-Australians continue to
associate, both through family and cultural practices then the Italian-Australian identity
will continue. The big question is what will happen in the third and fourth Italian-Australian
generation. It is here that the question of ethnic and national identity becomes
highly relevant.
Cultural diversity presents challenging issues for Australia: what it means to be an
Australian; the relationship between national and personal identities; identifying and
working in both the cohesive and divisive forces in a multicultural society; and the form
and flavour of a future republic. None of these issues are new, yet all are of immediate
concern, and the symbolic importance of the approach of the twenty-first century invests
them with particular meaning.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/234044 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Bal, Louise, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Louise Bal |
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