Australia: the 'fair go' multicultural continent nation

Authors

Megan Paull
Maryam Omari, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Title

Workplace Abuse, Incivility and Bullying: Methodological and Cultural Perspectives

Publisher

Routledge

Editor(s)

Omari, M. & Paull, M.

School

School of Business and Law

RAS ID

21433

Comments

Paull, M. & Omari, M. (2016). Australia: the 'fair go' multicultural continent nation. In Omari, M. & Paull, M. (Eds.), Workplace Abuse, Incivility and Bullying: Methodological and cultural perspectives (pp. 192-207). London: Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315739724-13/australia-megan-paull-maryam-omari?context=ubx&refId=5f1ebd34-93a0-48b2-96d0-ce71ad4ed022

Abstract

For those far away, the image of Australia is one of contrasts: sun, sand, surf, blue skies, deserts, rainforests, and remarkably unique flora and fauna. Australian people are equally diverse, from the original Indigenous inhabitants to the British settlers, and the subsequent migrants from Europe, and more recently Asia, the Middle East and Africa: Qualities often associated with Australians include the notions of 'mateship', being 'down to earth', equality and freedom. Australians have prided themselves on a 'fair go' for all, while at the same time not necessarily always welcoming each new wave of migrants. Workplaces in Australia are multicultural; characterised by diverse value systems, providing different lenses through which interpersonal interactions are experienced, perceived and interpreted. This diversity at times leads to dissonance and conflict at work. Australian research on workplace abuse, incivility and bullying is fragmented. Recent findings from empirical work conducted in a variety of different sectors in Australia leads to the conclusion that there are inherent abuse, incivility and bullying issues in Australian workplaces needing attention. This chapter will provide a snapshot of Australia as a country, its cultural context, and findings to date relating to negative behaviours in the workplace.

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