In 1988, Smolicz was awarded an AM in recognition of his services to Australian multiculturalism, and in 2002 received the inaugural UNESCO Linguapax Prize for his "lifelong contribution to the study of language policy in linguistically diverse societies".
Together with research students over a span of more than thirty years, he investigated groups of respondents from many different communities (Italian, Greek and Armenian; Polish, Croatian and Ukrainian; Ethiopian and Arab; Chinese and Indian; Vietnamese, Cambodian, Uighur and Filipino, as well as Welsh people and mainstream Anglo-Celtic Australian).
Co-authors of journal articles and book chapters included: To make sense of the results from these studies, Smolicz developed a theory of multiculturalism.
Such overarching values included democratic ideals, rights and responsibilities; English as the common language of the nation and the political, legal and economic patterns which applied to all citizens and residents.
This sort of cultural interaction within and among individuals from both mainstream and minority ethnic backgrounds would provide the basis for Australia to become an ongoing and dynamic multicultural nation.
Through the 1960s and early 1970s, however, the school curriculum did not allow these invaluable linguistic resources in other languages to be developed for the enrichment of the individual children and their families, as well as the benefit of Australian society.
The conclusion which Smolicz reached was that the achievement of a dynamic and lasting multicultural Australia hinged on the teaching of languages to all students, as an integral part of the curriculum from the beginning of primary schooling.
Most of the other two thirds of the students, of Anglo-Celtic mainstream background had little or no idea of the extent of cultural diversity in Australia, of its nature and significance and its potential benefits for Australian society.
Its structure was unique, having relevant and interested personnel from the three education sectors in South Australia (public, Catholic and independent) appointed as members by the Minister, alongside an equal number of people chosen for their leadership roles in a range of ethnic communities.
It provided a forum for genuine and frank interchange about the most effective ways of responding to the cultural and linguistic diversity to be found in South Australian schools.
A second important forum which Smolicz used for sharing his research and theory was CISME,[4] the Centre for Intercultural Studies and Multicultural Education, which he established within the University of Adelaide in 1989.
The Smolicz Award was honored posthumously under his name [5] which are offered every year to Australian citizens or others who have permanent residency status - enrolled in a university language teaching course.