1. Introduction

This is the final report on the research project the ‘Voices Shaping the Perspectives of Young Muslim Australians Today’. This research was funded through the National Action Plan of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). The research was conducted by a multidisciplinary team, comprised of academics from the UTS faculties of Business (Professor Collins), Arts and Social Sciences (Professor Jakubowicz, Ms Chafic, Drs Al‐momani and Cole, and Professors Pennycook and Ghosh) and Law (Ms Hussain) and led by the Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre (hereafter CCS).

DIAC required the UTS ‘Voices team’ to provide a detailed empirical study and analysis of the social ecology of voices and voices of influence (including charismatic figures, heroes, opinion‐ makers, interpretative communities, governments etc) informing and shaping the political and theological perspectives of young Muslim Australians, and their experiences, attitudes, beliefs and opinions. The research set out to identify the plurality of voices of influence and the various ways in which young Muslim Australians mobilize religious and political symbols, and language around cultural, social and political issues. In this report we take social ecology to be the study of the relationship between individuals, groups and their social, cultural, political, theological and ideological environments. In social ecology these relationships are understood as multi‐ directional and constantly evolving. In addition DIAC required a review of the relevant literature in Australia and in comparable Western nations, and an assessment of current practical measures, which support and facilitate voices and to identify consistent gaps in government, non‐government and individual approaches in this regard.

In order to meet these research aims we have reviewed the relevant national and international literature and reviewed efforts to introduce programs and projects designed to respond to the needs of Muslim youth, and have provided recommendations for such. We also conducted quantitative and qualitative research in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin with young Muslim Australians and key stakeholders from Australia’s Muslim communities and other relevant institutions and organizations.

The structure of this report is as follows. Section 2 provides a literature review of the relevant national and international academic literature and research on Muslim youth that has shaped the fieldwork conducted for this research project. Section 3 outlines the methodological approach and the quantitative and qualitative research instruments employed in this research project, and provides a more detailed analysis of social ecology. Section 4 provides an analysis of the quantitative data from the survey of young Muslim men and women conducted for this research project. Section 5 provides an analysis and discussion of the qualitative research, from the focus groups, one‐to‐one in depth interviews and case studies of key informants and of Muslim youth. Section 6 brings together the findings and draws conclusions from the research project. Section 7 provides a series of recommendations utilising a social ecology approach. A review of a range of successful programs and projects designed to promote positive voices for Muslim youth in Australia, the UK, US, France, and Canada is presented in Appendix A. Appendix B lists the questions included in the survey.