An exploration of cultural influence on domestic practices in the context of sustainable living

Individuals from different ethnic groups behave differently in everyday living contexts, and culture can be an explanatory factor. Cultural influence can be explored in terms of indicators such as ethnicity, language, religion, food, and cultural festivals and practices. These not only depict the reinforcement of both the visible and the invisible parts of culture, but also why there are variabilities in domestic practices such as the food consumed by individuals from different ethnic groups and the way religious practices impact on everyday activities. This paper calls for a better understanding of cultural influence on individuals' behaviours. It establishes the groundwork for a CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) Index as a means of exploring the influence of cultural contexts, both CALD and Australian-born, on everyday living and resource consumption in Australia's multicultural society.