Cabramatta is a popular suburb situated towards the western sides of New South Wales, Australia. The Cabramatta suburb falls under the jurisdiction of the City of Fairfield. The popularity of Cabramatta is due to its ethnic diversity. In general, Australia has been described as one of the most ethnically diverse countries as evident in Cabramatta suburb. The ethnic and cultural diversity in Cabramatta for many decades can be attributed to the government’s policies that welcome immigrants from different origins. Most of the residents of Cabramatta were not born in the suburb although they consider it as their permanent residence. Some of the major ethnic groups living in the district include the Chinese, Vietnamese, English speakers, Serbian, Russians, and Spanish. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the residents from Vietnam accounts for 27.7 percent while those of Chinese origin account for 27.0 percent (Ozdowski 2018). The concentration of ethnic groups in a place like the suburb of Cabramatta has both benefits and challenges as well. In this essay, I will evaluate the positives and negatives of the ethnic residential concentration in Cabramatta suburb. I will do my evaluation based on three photographs which I took during a field trip in the area.
The ethnic concentration in Cabramatta suburb has caused significant positive transformations. Many businesses have been established in Cabramatta although it was initially a deserted place. The entry of immigrants has increased the population of the region thus creating a viable market. The entrepreneurs have ventured into business enterprises that produce goods and services required by the increasing population (Koleth 2015). Most of the businesses focuses in providing social amenities such as learning institutions, water, food, and other infrastructural facilities. A good example of such social amenities is “Ideal smile dental surgery” as illustrated by the photograph in Figure 1. The dental facility caters for the needs of diverse ethnic groups which include the Vietnamese, English, Chinese and Tai. As evident in Figure 1, the dental facility has facilitated the social integration of the ethnic groups using the facility. They have embraced each other’s language due to close integration at the facility thus minimizing possible conflicts.
FIGURE 1: Ideal smile dental surgery sign, looking north on John Street, Cabramatta, 12:12pm, 12 September, 2018. Ideal smile dental surgery is a certified skilled service that caters to various languages such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and English. It reflects on the high presence on immigrants in Cabramatta and it is significant for people who cannot speak English. Source: iPhone/digital/exp.auto/LL
The ethnic concentration in Cabramatta has enabled the hospitality industry to flourish. The growth of the industry is a catalyst by the presence of key infrastructural facilities such as Cabramatta railway station. The station is strategically located at the central business district (CBD) of Cabramatta. The station facilitates the movement of different people to enter or leave the CBD with a lot of ease. The hoteliers, like “one Cake Shop shown in Figure 2, welcomes customers from a diverse ethnic background. The products of the shop are tailored to meet the expectations of customers speaking different languages. Figure 2 gives an illustration of how diverse culture of the resident people has been integrated thus facilitating coexistence amongst each other.
FIGURE 2: A One Cake Shop, looking east towards Railway Parade, Cabramatta, 12:19pm, 12 September, 2018. This shop is located beside the Cabramatta railway station amongst businesses on Railway Parade thus it is busy for people enter and leaving Cabramatta CBD. A One Cake Shop is a local bakery shop and it caters to different languages. It is significant because this bakery shop provides cultural maintenance to their traditional cakes and is inclusive to also provide westernised cakes. Source: iPhone/digital/exp.auto/LL
The population of Australia has been characterized as aging. This is because there is a higher proportion of older people when compared to the younger generation. An aging population is detrimental to the economic development of the country. The major problem associated with Australian’s aging population is the shortage of labor supply. Most of the aging individuals do not have a lot of enthusiasm for work as young people do. They are often absent from the workplace, for instance, as they vulnerable to old age diseases. In addition, the aging population does not consume most of the goods produced in the country thus reducing the market. The immigration of foreigners to Cabramatta suburb in Australia has helped to solve this problem by bringing in an energetic younger generation who are willing to work. The shortage of labor in Cabramatta was curbed thus facilitating the economic development of Australia. There are many industries that were established as a result of increased labor supply and the availability of a ready market.
The concentration of diverse ethnic communities in Cabramatta suburb has contributed to religious exclusivity. This can be illustrated from the level of protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church as shown in Figure 3. The church is built along the road leading to the CBD of Cabramatta. The information I got indicates that the church is attended exclusively by the English and Russia speakers. The religious place of worship ought to be a place that is accommodative to everyone. In most places across the world, a church is a unique place that breeds love, peace, and unity. The situation in Cabramatta is unfortunate because the Orthodox Church prohibits other ethnic groups from accessing the facility. Such religious segregation based on race social integration because it breeds religious animosity. The religious affiliations of Cabramatta’s residents would be influenced by their race and not personal conviction. To enhance social integration, the Orthodox Church in Cabramatta should free from racial discrimination.
FIGURE 3: Protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church looking north to John Street, Cabramatta, 1:04pm, 12 September, 2018. This church is located on the John Street among apartments and temples thus it is busy road for visitors who are driving towards Cabramatta CBD. The Russian Orthodox Church provides services in Church Slavonic, with readings in Russian and English. It is significant as this church is exclusive to other ethnic groups within the Cabramatta community.
The ethnic congregation in Cabramatta led to an increase in criminal activities. Most of the reported crimes in Cabramatta are related to drug abuse. The booming drug trafficking business has made Cabramatta popular for the wrong reasons. The worrying trend of drug and substance abuse prompted the government to establish a commission of inquiry on the matter. Residents of Cabramatta, especially the school-going kids, could not find a safe playing grounds because syringes were littered everywhere. The children walking home from school often encountered bodies of overdosed victims. In addition, the residential places were no longer safe because drug dealers had taken control over it. The situation was severe that the residents had to lock themselves in their apartments. Many drug addicts were forced to engage in criminal activities in order to get funds for purchasing more drugs. The rise in crime undermined the economic development since they were afraid of losing their business investment to the criminals (Council 2016).
The suburb of Cabramatta in Fairfield city, Australia, has a high concentration of ethnic groups. Ethnic concentration has spurred economic development by curbing labor shortage and flourishing hospitality and enhancing social integration. Ethnic concentration has also led to religious segregation and rise in crimes. Therefore, it is evident that ethnic concentration in Cabramatta has both advantages and disadvantages.
Bibliography
Council, L., 2016. General Purpose Standing Committee No. 1. Inquiry into Personal injury compensation. Final Report.
Koleth, E., 2015. Multiculturalism at the Margins of Global Sydney: Cacophonous Diversity in Fairfield, Australia. In Social Transformation and Migration (pp. 237-254). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Ozdowski, S., 2018. Immigration and Multiculturalism. Political Crossroads, 23(1), pp.15-48.
