Cohesive Diverse Suburbs in Australia: A Case Study of Policy Processes and Social Media in Footscray

Abstract

ABSTRACT Melbourne’s population is culturally superdiverse yet there is little focus on inclusiveness in diverse communities. This article will present a case study of Footscray, Melbourne, Australia, examining the following questions: How do government, service providers and civic organisations in Footscray work to build a more cohesive community? How does a local Facebook group work to create a more culturally cohesive community? The findings are based on fieldwork in a multicultural gentrifying inner suburb of Melbourne, and show that inclusion has a clear spatial component, while place-based social media can reinforce and enhance community participation of culturally diverse groups.