Julian Hill, assistant minister for citizenship, customs and multicultural affairs in the Albanese government, has issued a warning about the growing number of Australian children attending faith-based schools and being homeschooled, which may limit their interaction with peers from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Speaking at the McKell Institute, Hill stressed that this trend risks young Australians reaching adulthood without meaningful exposure to different communities, potentially undermining social cohesion.
Education Systems and Their Role in Cultural Integration
Hill highlighted education as one of the key institutions that could
militate against intercultural connections and deeper social cohesion
, emphasizing how some curriculums, particularly in faith schools and homeschooling environments, may promote conservative or extreme views. He attributed part of this trend to the surge in homeschooling since the COVID-19 pandemic began, which has grown rapidly in states like Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria by 232%, 116%, and 85% respectively.
Efforts to Foster Cross-Cultural Interaction Among Youth
In his address, Hill suggested that policymakers should take notice of the impact of educational isolation and encourage initiatives that bring children from different backgrounds together. He proposed that activities such as sports, extracurricular programs, and social events could serve as effective platforms for cultural mixing. Singapore was cited as a possible model, where intentional policies and co-curricular activities unite students from diverse schools for shared experiences.
Growth of Religious Schools and Home Schooling Figures
Since 2015, Australia has seen the opening of 320 new Catholic and independent faith schools, compared to 279 government schools. Last year, 33.9% of students—approximately 1.4 million individuals—were enrolled in schools with religious affiliations. Hill cautioned that if current trends continue, the number of faith-based educational institutions, attended by students from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, and other faiths, will keep rising.
Concerns About Curriculum Content and Social Mixing
Highlighting some troubling reports, Hill raised questions about the nature of the curricula used in homeschooling and faith schools.
What is being taught to these kids? Are they mixing with broader society?
he asked, underlining the importance of children experiencing a wide range of social interactions beyond their immediate cultural communities.
Despite his concerns, Hill clarified that his criticism was not aimed at faith-based education itself, but rather at the need to invest in building stronger bridging capital between different groups within Australian society.
Potential Benefits of Intercultural Initiatives
Hill expressed optimism that well-designed intercultural programs could help reduce prejudice, social polarization, and hate-driven misinformation.
Done well, intercultural initiatives will resonate with Australians, and over time should foster reduced prejudice and social polarisation, stronger integration and trust between communities and institutions, and greater resilience to hate-based violence and misinformation.
These efforts could contribute to building a more resilient and inclusive society.
Context Amidst Ongoing Social Tensions and Political Challenges
Hill’s concerns come shortly after the first hearing of the royal commission investigating antisemitism and social cohesion, which followed the Bondi terror attack in December. He also criticized inflammatory rhetoric from political figures, calling on One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to distance herself from her party’s candidate for Hunter, Stuart Bonds, who made unfounded claims about Muslim men near a mine site in New South Wales.
Regarding this incident, Hill stated on social media:
This rubbish is designed to inflame community tensions. It’s dangerous for Australia and a real leader would act,
He accused the Coalition’s political shift to the right of fueling the rise of One Nation, which he said recklessly “play[s] with fire” through divisive comments about the Islamic community.
Upholding Multiculturalism as a Core Australian Value
Hill emphasized the essential promise of Australian multiculturalism as offering everyone an equal opportunity, regardless of background.
The promise of Australian multiculturalism simply understood is the great Australian promise of a fair go – that everyone gets a fair crack at life here no matter their background, identity or how long they have been here,
he declared, underscoring the importance of fostering social cohesion through genuine inclusion.
