SBS SUBMISSION TO SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEFENCE AND TRADE ISSUES FACING DIASPORA COMMUNITIES IN July 2020 Key Points • For more than 40 years, SBS has played a unique and vital role in supporting diaspora communities in Australia by providing trusted, inclusive, balanced and independent news and information services. SBS is a critical public policy intervention that supports diaspora communities in a way that benefits the entire Australian population. SBS services help diaspora communities participate in Australian cultural, economic and civic life, and foster a sense of belonging in Australia. • SBS services and activities directly address issues faced by diaspora communities, including: Urgent issues relevant to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis 1. availability and promotion of important coronavirus information in languages other than English (LOTE); and 2. meeting employment and economic challenges, especially those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic; Enduring issues facing the diaspora communities 3. addressing language barriers aids participation in all aspects of life in Australia; 4. access to trusted Australian produced news media in LOTE, covering both local and global issues; 5. limited formal education in segments of diaspora communities, particularly among some migrants who come to Australia via humanitarian programs; and 6. fostering a sense of belonging and promoting mutual understanding and respect between the general population and diaspora communities. • As the only national Australian broadcaster providing news, information and content services in 63 LOTE, SBS is uniquely placed to facilitate and enable diaspora communities’ ongoing success, particularly during the difficult period of overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Part I. Introduction The Special Broadcasting Service Corporation (SBS) welcomes the opportunity to submit to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s Inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities in Australia (the Inquiry). As Australia’s only nationally available multilingual and multicultural broadcaster, it is the principal function of SBS to provide radio, television and digital media services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society.1 A quarter of Australians were born overseas, almost half have at least one parent born overseas, and 21 per cent (4.87 million people) speak a language other than English at home, according to the 2016 Australian Census.2 For over 40 years, SBS has facilitated successful migration outcomes and supported social cohesion for both new arrivals and established diaspora communities. SBS radio was established in 1975 by the Australian Government to inform Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds about Medibank, the new national health care scheme.3 SBS continues to be well placed to further facilitate efforts to support Australia’s diaspora communities, including in relation to health information—as well as many other aspects of participation in Australian civic, cultural and economic life. Summary of SBS services SBS Audio and Language Content (SBS Radio) SBS’s seven linear radio stations are dedicated to the approximately five million Australians who speak a language other than English at home, currently broadcasting in 63 languages (see details in Appendix A) as well as providing content via the easy-to-access SBS Radio App and online, through articles and video. These services continue to build on SBS’s position as the world’s most linguistically diverse public broadcaster, delivering cross-platform news and current affairs, sport, music, and accurate and balanced information. Importantly, SBS services include content specifically curated for newly arrived migrants through the SBS Settlement Guide (for further details, please see page 11). SBS also helps connect migrants and diaspora communities (emerging or established) to their homeland communities through its active presence on social media platforms. Most of SBS's 63 language services are available on social media, ensuring that communities have options to interact with and benefit from SBS services. SBS television and content offerings SBS reaches almost 100 per cent of the population through its five free to air television channels (SBS, SBS VICELAND, SBS World Movies, SBS FOOD and National Indigenous Television (NITV)). SBS provides audiences throughout Australia with a vast collection of content from multicultural and diverse perspectives including:

1 SBS Charter. 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census available at https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/2016 3 For further information, please see A Brief History of SBS at https://www.sbs.com.au/news/a-brief-history-of-sbs

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• diverse local stories such as Where are You Really From?4 an observational documentary exploring Australia’s multicultural communities, particularly in regional and rural areas; The Family Law5 a multi award-winning comedy series featuring, for the first time, a predominantly Asian-Australian cast on mainstream Australian screens; and Sunshine6, winner of the AACTA’s Best Mini-Series Award, exploring hopes and heartbreak felt by South-Sudanese Australians in Melbourne's outer-west suburb of Sunshine. • international dramas such as Zero Zero Zero7; major cultural events such as the Eurovision Song Contest; and the best of international sport such as the Tour de cycling tournament; • SBS Food—a channel and online platform devoted to exploring the world and its cultures through food; • news, information and reports from our correspondents located in different states; and territories, as well as from our international correspondents and more than 40 major international media organisations (through SBS World Watch service); and • SBS Voices8— a place for diverse storytelling, providing a voice for diverse Australian writers including women, those emerging, and from multicultural backgrounds. NITV delivers the benefits of cultural understanding of Australia’s First Nations peoples to diaspora communities. NITV broadcasts distinctive content and landmark events presented through unique Indigenous lens, offering news and current affairs, sport, entertainment and children’s programming for both linear broadcasting and digital deliveries. NITV’s programming offers authentic representations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and peoples, helping diaspora communities to explore, respect and celebrate First Nations Australia and contribute to social cohesion. With NITV as part of the network, SBS is uniquely placed to build understanding between and communities who speak a language other than English. SBS language services cover key events and provide explainers on issues such as NAIDOC week and Reconciliation Week. SBS On Demand SBS On Demand, SBS’s video-on-demand service9, provides more than 9,000 hours of exclusive and distinctive content from around the world in multiple languages. In 2020, SBS On Demand becomes the first Australian-based major video-on-demand platform to offer multilingual login options. providing users with simplified Chinese and interfaces (for further details about SBS On Demand’s multilingual login, please see page 12). SBS In Language SBS In Language10 translation services are available in multiple languages, helping government and Australian businesses reach diaspora communities in their preferred languages. As a federal government approved service provider, SBS In Language provides

4 Where Are You Really From? now premiering season 3, comedian Michael Hing travels to Inala, Darwin, Wollongong and Shepparton to look at how generations of migrants have made their homes in Australia, available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/where-are-you-really-from 5 The Family Law available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/the-family-law 6 Sunshine available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/sunshine 7 Zero Zero Zero drama series follows the journey of a cocaine shipment, from the moment a powerful cartel of Italian criminals decides to buy it until the cargo is delivered and paid for, passing through its packaging in Mexico and shipment across the Atlantic Ocean, available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/zero-zero-zero 8 SBS Voices available at https://www.sbs.com.au/voices 9 SBS On Demand https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand 10 More information about SBS In Language is available at https://www.sbs.com.au/inlanguage.

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high quality NAATI accredited translation services for online, print, radio and video—with in- house capabilities for typesetting, subtitling, voice overs and full scale audio-visual production that can meet short notices and tight timelines. SBS can also provide advice and expertise in crafting culturally appropriate content, including content tone, as part of this service offering. SBS celebrates diversity through its activities Building connections between the many different cultures that make up Australia is at the heart of SBS. SBS seeks to inspire greater understanding between diverse communities and contribute to the health of our vibrant and cohesive multicultural society. SBS supports emerging and diverse Australian screen talent through a range of programs. SBS’s Diversity Talent Escalator11, has created more than 25 career development opportunities for emerging and mid-level screen practitioners from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the Australian screen industry. SBS is also a founding member of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN)12 which aims to increase diversity in front of and behind the camera. The most recent initiative of the SDIN is The Everyone Project, an industry-wide tool to quantitatively measure and encourage diversity among the production industry’s practitioners. Launched in late 2019, data is planned to be collected about Australian screen productions from August 2020.13 These initiatives provide the opportunity for all Australians to see themselves represented on screen, especially those from multilingual/multicultural diaspora communities—to build a positive sense of identity, cultural continuity, and wellbeing. As Australians increasingly consume overseas content on international streaming services, representation on Australian screens is more important now than ever. SBS engages and inspires communities SBS undertakes a range of engagement initiatives to both inspire Australia’s many culturally and linguistically diverse communities and inform SBS of the communities’ needs which in turn drive its services. SBS’s Community Advisory Committee, established under the SBS Act, draw on their unique positions within Australia’s diverse communities to advise the SBS Board on matters relevant to the SBS Charter. Through its ‘Inspired Communities’ initiative, SBS engages with culturally and linguistically diverse as well as Indigenous stakeholders across Australia, aiming to ensure that SBS always has a two-way dialogue with the communities it serves. ‘Inspired Communities’ is a key strategic pillar for SBS’s activities. This focusses on three key areas: • activating, supporting and extending SBS content with key community groups and audiences, including the education sector through formal and informal learning settings;

11 An initiative partnership with Film , Create NSW, Screen , Screen Territory, ScreenWest, South Australian Film Corporation, and the Tasmanian Government (through Screen 12 Further details can be found on the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network’s website https://www.sdin.com.au/ 13 https://theeveryoneproject.org/

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• partnering with our many communities to help tell their important stories; and • identifying industry partnerships that improve the depth and breadth of SBS’s community impact and contribute to a cohesive society. SBS engagement extends across all language services—including SBS Radio broadcasters attending community events, conducting outside broadcasts at festivals and hosting language-specific community forums and feedback sessions. SBS in-language journalists maintain deep and authentic community contacts, ensuring that their output is relevant to the community they are serving. In addition to these measures, SBS also maintains ongoing engagement with key organisations which represent and promote the interests of various diaspora communities, including peak bodies such as the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) and its state and territory members. SBS also continues to support and engage with a range of national, state and locally based settlement organisations including Settlement Service International (SSI), Multicultural Australia (MA), Access Community Services (ACS), NSW Service For Treatment & Rehabilitation Of Torture & Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), migrant resource centres, among others. SBS welcomes opportunities to explore potential partnerships with local, state, non- government and federal entities—to expand its current engagement, or to provide additional services that further assist with diaspora communities’ needs. SBS provides an end-to-end ecosystem supporting diaspora communities—from new arrivals requiring settlement information, to established communities including second, third, and older generations of migrants—who want to maintain connections with their communities and culture here in Australia. Part II. Issues Facing Diaspora Communities in Australia Each of Australia’s diaspora communities is faced with unique issues and challenges, as well as opportunities; and, consequently, the terms of reference of the Inquiry are wide-ranging. In this submission, SBS is focussing on issues that its services and activities address, and on potential opportunities for SBS to further amplify its services and activities, including in relation to: Urgent issues relevant to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis 1. availability and promotion of important coronavirus information in LOTE; and 2. meeting employment and economic challenges, especially those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic Enduring issues facing the diaspora communities 3. addressing language barriers aids participation in all aspects of life in Australia; 4. access to trusted Australian produced news media in LOTE, covering both local and global issues; 5. limited formal education in segments of diaspora communities, particularly among some migrants who come to Australia via humanitarian programs; and 6. fostering a sense of belonging and promoting mutual understanding and respect between the general population and diaspora communities

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1. Availability and promotion of important coronavirus information in LOTE SBS has responded quickly to the COVID-19 crisis; reaching Australians who speak LOTE with vital public health information. In 63 languages, the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus portal has been essential to saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched in March 2020, SBS Multilingual Coronavirus portal14 brings together accurate news and information from across the network in 63 languages. The portal is a one-stop-shop where communities can come for the latest news and resources (such as videos, posters and info- graphs) produced by SBS Radio and SBS News as well as the latest Federal and State government advisories relevant to COVID-19. The portal complements and curates information from SBS’s existing dedicated services delivered on radio, mobile app and online.

Figure 1: Excerpt from SBS Multilingual Coronavirus portal as seen on a mobile phone screen In the next stages of Australia’s COVID-19 crisis, SBS will continue to work with all levels of government to ensure that vital information continues to be available in LOTE.

14 https://www.sbs.com.au/coronavirus

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2. Meeting employment and economic challenges, especially those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic There are significant and specific employment and economic challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis. In June 2020, SBS conducted research entitled Impact of COVID-19 on Australian Communities. Early results show that employment, finances and the economy are among issues of concern to LOTE communities as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic; for example, the research showed that 64% of the community are currently concerned about employment and 55% are concerned about the economy. These research findings will help ensure that SBS continues to address issues of interest and concern to the diaspora communities, including through the Multilingual Coronavirus portal, more generally through our news services, as well as across the 63 language services.

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Figure 2: Summary from Impact of COVID-19 on Australian Communities research, commissioned by SBS15

15 Source: SBS Community Brand Tracker . Waves 6. Base – n = 111

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SBS services help drive Australia's economy through these difficult times, including by fostering multilingualism. As reported by the World Economic Forum—speaking more than one language can boost economic growth, including because speaking multiple languages can help build trade relations.16

Case study: SBS program that contributes to improving the economy — Small Business Secrets SBS’s Small Business Secrets weekly program, hosted by SBS World News presenter Ricardo Gonçalves, explores the challenges and triumphs of small business owners throughout Australia, with a focus on migrant and Indigenous-owned small businesses and accompanied by comprehensive educational resources17—with research showing that around a third of small businesses in Australia are owned by migrants.18 Small businesses are a critical component of Australia’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Figure 3: A screenshot from Small Business Secrets on SBS website19

16 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/speaking-more-languages-boost-economic-growth 17 Small Business Secrets program is accompanied by comprehensive resources for secondary level economics and business studies, including teachers’ resources and Australian business case studies—available on SBS Learn at https://www.sbs.com.au/learn/resources/australian-business-case-studies 18 https://www.titanmigration.com.au/news/2018/5/25/research-shows-migrants-own-33-of-all-small-businesses-in-australia 19 The commercial laundry changing lives one wash at a time available at https://www.sbs.com.au/news/small-business- secrets/article/2020/06/08/commercial-laundry-changing-lives-one-wash-time

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SBS helps promote multilingualism and inclusion, benefiting the economy SBS services (see Part I. Summary of SBS services) help enhance Australian workers’ multilingual and multicultural ‘soft skills’, which are beneficial to the economy. A 2017 study at the University of Newcastle—An Examination of the Technology of Specialised Soft Skill Sets Deployed in Business Sectors from Four Different Regions of the Globe outlines those skills which are relevant to international economic activities, as including ‘fostering cross cultural communication skills (including relevant language acquisition), multicultural teamwork interactivity, and improved collaboration between employers, employees and industry’.20 The Economic Benefits of Improving Social Inclusion report (the Inclusion Report) by Deloitte Access Economics was commissioned by SBS and published in August 2019. It quantifies the potential lift to Australia’s economy that could be driven by improved employment and health outcomes, increased workplace productivity, and reduced costs of social services, as a result of greater social inclusion. It shows that improved social inclusion could deliver quantifiable economic benefits to Australia of $12.7 billion per annum.21 3. Addressing language barriers aids participation in all aspects of life in Australia There has been an increase in the number of Australians who speak English ‘not well’ or ‘not at all’.22 In 2019, FECCA published Community Driven English Language Program: Strengths and Challenges23 (the Community English Report), stating that: ‘[n]ew migrants in Australia, including those from a refugee background, come from a diverse range of countries, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. They also arrive at different stages of their life, with different levels of English language ability, education, literacy in their own language and possible experiences of trauma. These factors all influence a person’s ability to learn a new language and their language needs.’; and that With fewer people in Australia speaking English well, this may have an impact on the integration process and social cohesion.’24 The Community English Report also outlines important aspects of life which are affected by language skills—these include areas such as transport, housing, employment and education, and the health and justice systems, as per the following extract: ‘English language skills help people to navigate Australian life, including transport, housing, employment and education, and the health and justice systems. Conversely, lack of English language skills is often reported to be a barrier to successful settlement, particularly in accessing the labour market, finding adequate skilled employment and accessing government services. English language skills are also important for a person’s sense of belonging and

20 An Examination of the Technology of Specialised Soft Skill Sets Deployed in Business Sectors from Four Different Regions of the Globe, available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320171967_An_Examination_of_the_Technology_of_Specialised_Soft_Skill_Sets_Depl oyed_in_Business_Sectors_from_Four_Different_Regions_of_the_Globe, page 3 21 The Inclusion Report, available at https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/economic-benefits- improving-social-inclusion.html 22 In the 2016 Census, the number of those who speak English ‘not at all’ was 193,036 and those who speak English ‘not well’ was 626,886, making a total of Australians with low proficiency in English of 819,922 (source: Australian Bureau of Statistics’ data http://stat.data.abs.gov.au/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=ABS_C16_T08_SA) or 3.5 per cent of the census population. This number increased from 655,379 in 2011 (source: Australian Bureau of Statistics’ data http://stat.data.abs.gov.au/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=ABS_CENSUS2011_B11_LGA) an increase from 2.9 per cent to 3.5 per cent of the Australian population. 23 Community Driven English Language Program: Strengths and Challenges report available at http://fecca.org.au/wp- content/uploads/2019/10/FECCA-Commnuity-Driven-English_WEB.pdf page, 9. 24 Community English Report, page 9.

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developing a sense of home in a new community. English can help to build confidence when navigating Australian society and establishing connections with neighbours and the wider community. Experiences of belonging and the development of connections in a new country is highly linked to social cohesion. A socially cohesive society is enhanced when ‘strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in the workplace, in schools and in the wider community.’25 English language acquisition takes time; and that the levels of acquisition attained vary greatly from one person to another. SBS language services, therefore, provide new migrants and established members of diaspora communities with the opportunity to engage with the society in their preferred language, through the provision of news and information, and the Settlement Guide. SBS Settlement Guide helps diaspora communities navigate life in Australia The SBS Settlement Guide26 speaks to the core of the SBS Charter and helps address the language barriers faced by diaspora communities in navigating life in Australia. Building on SBS Radio’s long history of providing balanced and impartial news and information, the SBS Settlement Guide was launched in 2016, with more than 35 SBS language services27 producing broadcast and online settlement features. These features include explanation of ‘need-to-know’ facts about settling in Australia, for example, the features help explain, in the migrants’ preferred languages, Australia’s health and justice systems, local culture and history, available government services, as well as provide ‘how-to’ practical advice such as how to apply for a job, access medical services, surf safety, find a playgroup, enrol to vote, or lodge a tax return. Each Settlement Guide is produced in- house as an audio feature for radio, a text article for online and a ‘listicle’ for sharing on social media. These features help those who do not speak English well understand and participate more fully in Australia’s society, contributing to social integration and social cohesion.

Figure 4: Example of a Settlement Guide feature on SBS Sinhala website28

25 Community English Report, page 8. 26 SBS Settlement Guide available at https://www.sbs.com.au/radio/settlement-guide 27 The Settlement Guide is available in Bangla, Filipino, Gujarati, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Malayalam, Nepali, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, Urdu, Arabic, , Mandarin, Vietnamese, Kurdish, Spanish, Amharic, Dari, Dinka, Persian, Khmer, Pashto, Swahili, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish, Hmong, Hakha Chin, Karen, Kirundi, Mongolian, Rohingya, Tibetan and Somali. 28 How to use telehealth? Settlement Guide in Singhalese language available at https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/how- to-use-telehealth

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SBS is continually developing additional Settlement Guide information, as a resource for diaspora communities and settlement services. SBS regularly engages with the communities and stakeholders working in the settlement sector, and would welcome further engagement with relevant Government and non- Government service providers to look at improving awareness of SBS services, and expanding them where possible, depending on available resourcing. This may include providing new migrants arriving in Australia with information on how to access SBS services in their language. SBS On Demand’s Multilingual login is the first Australian-based major video-on-demand service to provide diaspora communities with preferred-language interface To further address the issue of language barriers in Australia, in 2020, SBS On Demand has become the first Australian-based major video-on-demand platform to offer multilingual login options, providing users with simplified Chinese and Arabic interfaces. Multilingual login helps many people in the diaspora communities gain access to more than 9,000 hours of exclusive and distinctive content from around the world. Continuous enhancement of multilingual login, including a search-by-language-function, additional languages and dedicated ‘collection’ pages, are being further developed. In 2019, SBS launched a ‘Chinese Collection’ and an ‘Arabic Collection’ available for audiences on SBS On Demand. The collections saw some of SBS’s distinctive local commissioned programs, subtitled in simplified Chinese and Arabic. This collection continues to expand, with new titles being regularly added.

Figure 5: Insight, 7 July 2020, with Figure 6: The Hunting, 2019, with Figure 7: SBS On Demand is simplified Chinese subtitles Arabic subtitles available with Arabic user interface

SBS services assist with language learning and proficiency SBS provides in-language subtitles, assisting with English learning and proficiency. Closed captioned programs are also available, which can be of assistance to language learners seeking to enjoy English language programs; while SBS’s key current affairs content is also frequently subtitled into LOTE. SBS provides valuable health and wellbeing information in multiple languages In addition to our current focus on COVID-19, SBS provides content which informs and educates audiences about their health, mental health and wellbeing in their preferred languages. Importantly, SBS’s provides information on professional referral services, many of which are available in-language, accompanying its content that explores certain topics of health and mental health.

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SBS's other services and activities support social inclusion, which can counteract isolation and increase community participation—these, in turn, help to alleviate health problems, especially mental health issues like anxiety and depression.29

Figure 8: Example of an SBS VIVA podcast on SBS Finnish website30 4. Access to trusted Australian produced news media in LOTE, covering both local and global issues As concerns about misinformation increase, SBS’s trusted services are more important than ever. SBS plays a vital role by providing credible, trusted, inclusive, balanced and independent news and information services which meet the communication needs of Australia’s multicultural communities. SBS‘s news and current affairs services are among the most trusted in Australia. According to Reuters Digital News Report, 2020 published in June 2020, SBS and the ABC are the most trusted news media brands in Australia, with the level of trust in SBS brand at 71 per cent—up to 18 percentage points higher than other commercial television networks and up to 24 percentage points higher than those of newspapers’ brands.31 SBS has rigorous editorial standards and Codes of Practice32 in place, which underpin the delivery of its independent, balanced and quality news and current affairs services—including our services in LOTE. SBS is required to notify its Codes of Practice to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA), which also acts as a point of escalation for broadcast complaints made under the Codes of Practice which have not been resolved by SBS. As to international news bulletins provided through SBS World Watch service, SBS ensures that audiences are alerted to the source of this material so that they can exercise their own judgement about how issues and information are presented.

29 The Economic Benefits of Improving Social Inclusion, August 2019, available at https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/economic-benefits-improving-social-inclusion.html, page 7. 30 SBS VIVA Want to age better? Learn a new language podcast available on SBS Finnish website at https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/viva-want-to-age-better-learn-a-new-language_3 31 Reuters Digital News Report, 2020 https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2020-06/DNR_2020_FINAL.pdf 32 SBS Codes of Practice https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/corporate/view/id/109/h/codes-of-practice

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In providing audiences with information about world events, SBS language services rely on a range of sources, including overseas media services, stringers and other contacts. SBS carefully monitors the contributions of international stringers, to ensure contributions meet SBS’s editorial standards. As SBS Radio broadcasts in more than 60 languages (listed at Appendix A), there is a rolling program of translations, so that programs can be monitored for quality standards.

Case study: SBS’s significant investment to ensure the quality and reach of its in- language news services Prior to 2016, SBS Radio was broadcasting two hours of Arabic-language content daily, primarily attracting listeners from the Lebanese Australian community. In 2016, SBS launched SBS Arabic24, a 24 hour service to better serve all Arabic-speaking communities (which represent more than 20 communities in Australia). Audience demographics have since shifted substantially, with 92 per cent of listeners born overseas. The Australian Iraqi community is now the largest audience segment, and Lebanese is the fourth largest. Many recently arrived communities are now engaging with Australian news and information in Arabic. SBS Arabic24 has the largest Arabic-speaking radio audience in Australia, more than twice the market share of the next largest provider.

5. Limited formal education in segments of diaspora communities, particularly among some migrants who come to Australia via humanitarian programs Many migrants in Australia's diasporas, particularly skilled migrants, are increasingly educated—with 69 per cent of recent arrivals having tertiary qualifications (up from 65 per cent) according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in June 2020.33 However, hundreds of thousands of temporary and permanent arrivals each year are not part of Australia’s skilled migration program34 including many who come to Australia via humanitarian programs. According to the Roads to Refugee project—by the Centre for Refugee Research, the University of New South and the Government—'[m]ost refugee children and young people have had disrupted or limited education prior to arrival in Australia. Some have no literacy skills in their first language and in addition may have complex health problems, including mental health issues as a result of their experiences.'35 Opportunities – SBS Learn platform Currently, SBS Learn36 is an education function of SBS dedicated to providing educational resources linked to SBS documentaries, drama series, news and current affairs and other network productions. These resources are developed in accordance with the Australian Curriculum.

33 Migrants Thriving in Australia, 12 June 2020: https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/alantudge/Pages/migrants-thriving- australia.aspx?utm_source=miragenews&utm_medium=miragenews&utm_campaign=news 34 According to Australia’s statistical information on visit, study, work, migration and humanitarian visas, available at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-statistics/statistics/visa-statistics/live/migration-program 35 Excerpt from a Roads to Refugee project’s web page https://www.roads-to-refuge.com.au/refugees-australia/supporting- education.html 36 SBS Learn https://sbs.com.au/learn

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There is potential for SBS to further support formal and informal education of Australia’s diaspora communities through the SBS Learn platform, including around digital literacy37— other opportunities include but are not limited to providing, in the communities’ preferred languages, critical teacher resources and student worksheets as well as other educational resources that may help address issues facing diaspora communities. SBS has extensive experience working with partners to draw on the knowledge of relevant subject matter experts. For example, ahead of the August 2019 premiere of SBS drama, The Hunting38, SBS partnered with the eSafety Commissioner to produce educational resources to assist parents/carers and teachers to keep young people safe online. 6. Fostering a sense of belonging and promoting mutual understanding and respect between the general population and diaspora communities Migration often means leaving behind familiarities, including one's homeland social network and cultural ties, for a new location of settlement. Diaspora communities can be found in diverse geographical and settlement settings throughout Australia including in remote areas, according to the annual Migration, Australia publication by the Australian Bureau of Statistics39. Recent figures showed that there were more than 6.9 million resident migrants in all states and territories of Australia living outside of capital cities.40 Social and cultural isolation can be particularly challenging in rural and regional Australia. These issues are further exacerbated, among new and emerging communities, as outlined in a FECCA report—Community Perspectives on Settlement Issues Affecting New and Emerging Communities in Rural and Regional Australia: ‘The settlement of new arrivals in rural or regional location can raise certain challenges. FECCA has recognised that some of these challenges […] and social and cultural isolation, are faced by all people living in rural and regional locations in Australia, but for new and emerging communities, these issues can be exacerbated due to specific circumstances. Some of these factors include low English proficiency, limited access to cultural and religious institutions.’41 Regrettably, in recent times particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have also been multiple reports of racism incidents affecting diaspora communities in Australia.42

37 The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission proposed a role for SBS in digital literacy initiatives in the Digital Platforms Inquiry – Final Report, page 21, published in July 2019 and available at https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-%20final%20report.pdf 38 The Hunting follows the lives of four young Australians, their teachers and families throughout the lead up, revelation and aftermath of a nude teen photo scandal. It explores the experiences of the teenagers as they traverse the complexities of relationships, identity and sexuality via technology. 39 Migration Australia, 2018–19 available on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ website at https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/3412.0 40 Migration Australia, 2018–19 available on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ website at https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/3412.0 41 Community Perspectives on Settlement Issues Affecting New and Emerging Communities in Rural and Regional Australia report available at http://fecca.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/FECCA-Rural-and-Regional-report-June-2015-00000002.pdf, page 1–2 42 Examples of reports on racism incidents during COVID-19 pandemic include https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/go-back-to-your-f-king-country-you-brought-coronavirus-here-indian- student-racially-abused-assaulted-in-adelaide and https://www.sbs.com.au/news/victims-of-coronavirus-fuelled-racism-in- australia-are-speaking-out-about-its-impact

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SBS recognises these challenges facing diaspora communities—its services aim to promote increased cross-cultural understanding, which helps address these challenges including racism. SBS's 2018 research Calling Australia Home found that '[s]ettlement can still be an ordeal for migrants'43. Additionally, where directly relevant to SBS services, the research also found that '63% of recent migrants don’t feel their ethnicity is accurately portrayed in Media'.44 SBS content – showcasing and celebrating Australia's diversity In line with the SBS Charter, approximately 80 per cent of content on SBS main channel and SBS VICELAND is culturally and linguistically diverse, while approximately 71 per cent of SBS On Demand content is cultural and linguistically diverse45, including titles such as the aforementioned Where are You Really From?46, The Family Law47, Sunshine48 and Zero Zero Zero49, among many others. To complement its distinctive multicultural and multilingual programming, SBS also provides some general interest programming to cross-promote SBS’s unique programming—drawing new audiences to SBS’s content that reflects our multicultural society. SBS promotes its multicultural offerings to all Australians across the country, including those in regional and rural areas as well as areas that may be new to the settlement of multicultural diasporas. SBS Cultural Competence and Cultural Atlas help foster cultural understanding In 2016, Multicultural NSW and International Education Services partnered with SBS to produce the SBS Cultural Competence Program (the CCP)50, an online training tool assist Australian organisations to navigate and maximise the benefits of cultural diversity in the workplace by exploring topics including cross-cultural communication, addressing stereotypes and unconscious bias. In the same year, SBS’s Cultural Atlas51 was also created as a supplementary resource to the CCP. It provides a unique opportunity for users to gain a broad understanding of the norms and behaviour that would generally be familiar to people from other cultures. Future initiatives to assist diaspora communities could benefit from similar platforms and tools to SBS’s Cultural Competence program and Cultural Atlas—as these help foster greater cross- cultural understanding.

43 SBS & Pollinate, Calling Australia Home 2018 (with sources including ABS Census 2016; Department of Home Affairs, Guidelines for Student Migrants 2017; CGU Migrant Small Business Report 2017) 44 SBS & Pollinate, Calling Australia Home 2018 (with sources including ABS Census 2016; Department of Home Affairs, Guidelines for Student Migrants 2017; CGU Migrant Small Business Report 2017) 45 SBS internal data 46 Where Are You Really From? now premiering season 3, comedian Michael Hing travels to Inala, Darwin, Wollongong and Shepparton to look at how generations of migrants have made their homes in Australia, available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/where-are-you-really-from 47 The Family Law, a multi award-winning comedy series featuring, for the first time, a predominantly Asian-Australian cast on mainstream Australian screens, available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/the-family-law 48 Sunshine ,a multi award-winning comedy series featuring, for the first time, a predominantly Asian-Australian cast on mainstream Australian screens, available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/sunshine 49 Zero Zero Zero drama series follows the journey of a cocaine shipment, from the moment a powerful cartel of Italian criminals decides to buy it until the cargo is delivered and paid for, passing through its packaging in Mexico and shipment across the Atlantic Ocean, available at https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/zero-zero-zero 50 Further information about SBS’s Cultural Competence Program available at https://cultural-competence.com.au/home 51 SBS’s Cultural Atlas available at https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/

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Part III. Conclusion SBS was created to support diaspora communities, and has been successfully delivering, expanding and evolving its services over its 45 year history. SBS is well placed to continue supporting members of diaspora communities to engage in economic, cultural and civic life in Australia, particularly during the difficult period of overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. SBS would be interested in exploring opportunities to play an even greater role in supporting diaspora communities, as well as increasing awareness of the services it currently provides.

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Appendix A – SBS Radio and digital language services • Albanian • Kurdish • Amharic • Lao • Arabic • Macedonian • Armenian • Malayalam • Assyrian • Maltese • Bangla • Mandarin • Bosnian • Mongolian • Bulgarian • Nepali • Burmese • NITV Radio • Cantonese • Pashto • Croatian • Persian • Czech* • Polish • Dari • Portuguese • Dinka • Punjabi • Dutch • Rohingya • Estonian* • Romanian • Filipino • Russian • Finnish • Samoan • French • Serbian • German • Sinhalese • Greek • Slovenian • Gujarati • Somali • Hakha Chin • Spanish • Hebrew • Swahili • Hindi • Tamil • Hmong • Telegu* • Hungarian* • Thai • Indonesian • Tibetan • Italian • Tigrinya • Japanese • Turkish • Karen • Ukrainian • Khmer • Urdu • Kirundi • Vietnamese • Korean

*Languages marked with an asterisk are currently in recess.

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