Summary

These three case studies, Belonging and the Transient Home (2016), The Anonymous Sojourners in the Australian Bush (2017), and Far Flung: Connecting Intergenerational Families (2019) demonstrate how ‘curating inclusive cities’ was enacted through an action research methodology in the globalising city of Melbourne, Australia. Although the action research cycle was repeated in each project, the context, communities, and projects produced differed immensely in voice and highlighted the intense cultural diversity of the globalising postcolonial society that is Australia, reminding us of the importance of underrepresented narratives. Each project in each specific location also signified that the local communities cultural voice can be extremely diverse and made up of different ethnic communities of different waves of migrations: Each project was not identical and therefore indicates the value of investigating the unique conditions of the local. By taking into account the specific contexts of each place, differing perspectives could be understood, drawn out, curated and expressed in relation to the participating communities. Through a process of analysis and reflection of the sites, the dominant and marginal discourses in each community could be recognised and thus unveil the relationships between the individuals in the communities and their positions, often revealing the various layers of social, cultural and racial hierarchy and disadvantage. By recognising the positioning and experiences of the participants, we are able to focus on their voices as core to the development of the projects. Learning from Guanyin, our special friend and companion through the pandemic, we can compassionately listen and reflect on the expanded reality of who we are as a community and society.