Font Size: 

Hip hop for harmony, multicultural morning teas,interfaith school exchanges, Australian values workshops. Every year, thousands of projects are undertaken with the aim of improving community relations in Australia. Many are funded by the federal government through its Living in Harmony program. This paper examines the two most common types of projects that have occurred in the last decade, and analyses their underlying political values. The first type of projects involve intercultural exchange, and are based on the liberal assumption that interpersonal contact and dialogue is the best way to reduce intolerance and enhance mutual understanding. What can this model achieve and what issues or approaches might be excluded? The second, increasingly popular, type of project consists primarily of educating newcomers about Australian values, society and lifestyle, or offer life skills education for new arrivals for participation in Australian society. These projects reflect a more paternalist, integrationist approach. What do these types of projects indicate about the evolution of Australian multiculturalism, and what values are being downgraded in favour of dialogue and integration?