Strategic Communication for Strengthening Public Confidence in Migration Policy and Practice

Project Member(s): Macnamara, J.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Department of Immigration and Citizenship)

Start year: 2014

Summary: The Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) on Migration, Asylum and Refugees is a multinational non-policy making body comprised of 16 nations working in partnership with the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to exchange information and monitor public debate on issues related to migration. The aim of the IGC is to maintain and strengthen public confidence in migration policy and practice in member countries through ensuring accurate public information and balanced debate. Australia is a member of the IGC on Migration, Asylum and Refugees and in 2015 Australia is the Chair of IGC. This is operationalised through the United Nations Policy and Partnerships Division of the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBC). As Chair of the IGC on Migration, Asylum and Refugees, the Australian Government through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection wishes to produce a series of research papers to inform public debate. These will be released at a confererence in Sydney in April 2015. One research paper to be produced is an investigation of how strategic public communication can help facilitate public confidence in migration policy and practice. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has invited Professor Jim Macnamara at UTS to present a proposal for preparing a research paper on 'Strategic Communication for Strengthening Public Confidence in Migration Policy and Practice'. A proposal has been presented by Prof Macnamara and has been verbally accepted and a draft contract prepared by the Department.

Keywords: Migration, public communication, discourse, policy, public debate

FOR Codes: Communication not elsewhere classified, Communication and Media Studies

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.