Events - Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements

Past Events

CONFERENCE
Refugee Futures
10–12 September 2009
Monash Prato Centre, Italy
www.monash.edu.au/cemo/refugeefutures2009

The Refugee Futures conference covered a wide array of topics, including the following: The Future of Refugees, Protracted Refugee Situations: a Long-Term Future; Resettlement: Will it Remain a Viable Solution?; Refugees, Crime and Security; Environmental Refugees: an Emerging Challenge; the Future for Refugee Children, Perspectives from Some Regions and the Future of the Global Refugee Regime. The Conference was opened by the Australian Ambassador to Italy, the Hon Amanda Vanstone and the Chief Officer, Prefecture of Prato, Italy, Dr Eleonora Maffei. Among the many distinguished speakers in the Conference were Ms Erika Feller, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at UNHCR, Professor Mario Marcone from the Department of Immigration and Civil Rights, Ministry of Interior in Italy, Merrill Smith of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Dr Philippe Boncour of the International Organisation for Migration, Mr Paris Aristotle of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, representatives from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of Canada and Australia and prominent scholars from Australian, Canadian, and South African Universities.

SYMPOSIUM
Antipodean Experiences: Australians, New Zealanders, South African and Zimbabweans in Britain.
3 September 2009
Australia House, Downer Room, London
Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, and Zimbabweans in the UK are commonly grouped together as 'Antipodeans'. But what does 'Antipodean' actually mean? This symposium interrogated this notion by bringing together leading researchers and representatives from the different community organisations and media bodies. Speakers discussed who these Antipodeans are, what they are doing in the UK, and how they relate to their homeland, their new home, and to each other.


	TALKS by Dr Robin Niblett, Director Chatham House 24–26 August 2009 Melbourne The director of London’s Chatham House, “a world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas on how to build a prosperous and secure world for all”, visited Melbourne in the spring of 2009 to participate in a short series of talks and a panel discussion in association with the Writers’ Festival, the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) and the Cranlana Foundation.


	WORKSHOP Nations of Immigrants: Israel and Australia Workshop 25 – 27 May 2009 Monash University Prato Centre, Italy The Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements in association with Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities organised a workshop that focused on comparing Israeli and Australian immigration policy developments, experiences and challenges in each country. This workshop brought together international scholars at the Monash Centre in Prato, and research from the project is to be published in a book edited by Professors Andrew Markus of Monash University and Moshe Semyonov of Tel Aviv University.


	FORUM Asylum Seekers – Where To Now? 13 May 2009 BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square This forum was MCd by the director of the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements, Professor John Nieuwenhuysen AM, and was part of the 2009 public lecture series, designed to bring relevant and engaging topics and speakers to the wider community. A panel compromising Paris Aristotle (director of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture), Voula Messimeri Kiannadis (president of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council Australia), Bruce Baird (former MP and head of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Asylum Seekers’ legislation), John Gibson (president of the Refugee Council of Australia) and David Manne (from the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre) discussed timely and critical issues arising from the recent arrivals of a new wave of boat people.

LECTURE
Is Japan Ready to Become an Immigrant Country?
by Professor Keizo Yamawaki of Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan
4 March 2009
Australian Multicultural Foundation
This event was organised by the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements in association with the Australian Multicultural Foundation and the Japan Foundation.

One of the most influential scholars on immigrant integration policy in Japan, Professor Yamawaki made a special visit to Australia to present lectures on the subject of ‘Japan and migration in the age of globalisation’.

To view abstract of his paper and biography, click here.

Japan and migration in the age of globalization: Ready to become a country of immigration?

Abstract
Historically, the Japanese government has not paid enough attention to foreign residents and avoided dealing with the issue of immigrant integration. In January 2009, the government set up an office in charge of policy on resident foreigners in the Cabinet Office, aiming to support foreigners who lost jobs in the current economic crisis and their children. It remains to be seen if the new office will become an organ for formulating an integration policy.

On the other hand, some local governments have acknowledged foreign residents as part of their community and gradual progress has been made since the 1970s in formulating policies on foreign residents. Here the keyword is “Tabunka Kyosei” or multicultural community building. Thus there is a sharp contrast between the policies of local governments and those of the national government.

The Japanese population is shrinking gradually after it reached a peak in 2004, and a heated debate on immigration policy began last year after members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party proposed admitting 10 million immigrants in 50 years. This year may become a turning point for Japanese immigration policy.

Biography
One of the most influential scholars on immigrant integration policy in Japan, Professor Yamawaki has been active in assisting local governments in formulating policy on foreign residents. He chaired the committee on the promotion of multicultural community building, organised from 2005 to 2007 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. He is also on the committee on immigration policy of the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, Japan.