Photographic Essay Example

to the large presence of Vietnamese residents, many shops display signs in Vietnamese language and provide items imported from Vietnam (see Figure 2 below).

Figure 2 showcases an Asian grocery store located on Arthur Street, Cabramatta and the image was captured looking towards the south on October 3rd, 2012. The source of this image is a Canon Power Shot SX200 IS with settings at 1/125 f/3.4 5mm by S.A. The owner of this specific grocery has successfully crafted an environment that resonates with the local ethnic community in Cabramatta by integrating cultural symbols and designs representative of their roots, effectively transforming ethnicity into a commodifiable entity. This setup particularly aids Vietnamese residents who might struggle with English language proficiency by offering them an experience grounded in familiar cultural elements right within their reach.

The concentration of people from the same ethnic background in Cabramatta helps overcome the language barrier in employment. Within the community, there are job opportunities suitable for migrants or those who do not speak English, especially in local shops and warehouses where the same language is spoken. In Figure 3, you can see a delivery driver who speaks Vietnamese and has limited English proficiency. He is employed by his Vietnamese cousin and delivers to Vietnamese store owners.

Cabramatta's diverse ethnic communities have opened up job opportunities for those with limited English proficiency, chances that may not be available elsewhere. The image shown in Figure 3 provides a glimpse of Kee Kee Roum grocery on Broomfield Street in Cabramatta, taken October 3, 2012. The key figure in the photograph is a Vietnamese delivery man situated towards the right at mid-range.

This picture was snapped using a Canon Power Shot SX200 IS/ S camera and its settings were 1/125 f/3.4 5mm. Moreover, living amidst such rich diversity also offers residents access to cultural and linguistic support networks which further amplify the positive aspects of residing in Cabramatta.

Cabramatta is home to a variety of entities including religious establishments, community groups, educational programs and immigration centres. One remarkable feature of the area is the active involvement of its residents in organizing and supporting cultural events related to Chinese, Vietnamese and other ethnic customs. The 'Family Day', a recurring communal festival observed during field studies (see figure 4 below), stands as an example of this pattern. This milieu nurtures intense feelings of cultural pride and belonging among its residents who find commonality in values and language in an otherwise foreign environment.

The fieldwork also observed the abundance of various places of worship. Numerous churches, temples, monasteries, and mosques signify the importance of different ethnic community groups and their influence on the surrounding environments, particularly religious structures. These religious sites greatly contribute to the suburb's rich cultural diversity. Cabramatta's religious statistics offer valuable insights into cultural identity and ethnicity within the area.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2011 Population and Housing Census highlighted a substantial representation of Buddhism and Christianity in Cabramatta, mainly attributed to immigration from Vietnam and China. Yet, the concentration of specific ethnicities could potentially lead to negative impacts on the community such as reduced exposure to a variety of cultures.

Observations from a fieldwork study in the Cabramatta region revealed evidence of underprivileged housing and areas labeled as "impoverished." Concurrently, there

were signs of high joblessness rates. Figure 2 showcases females resorting to selling dogs on the street for income, underlining the educational deficiency among some people in this region. Figure 3 further exemplifies substandard housing conditions often seen at Bridge Street. Both images distinctly present the widespread economic hardship in this territory. Such circumstances are usually linked with escalated crime levels due to poor education and high unemployment.