Australian Muslim groups are calling for greater and more direct interaction between the Islamic community and the broader community in light of a new survey.
The study was carried out by the University of New South Wales, and commissioned by a federal government body, the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
It found many Australians are ignorant of what it means to be a Muslim and hold negative ideas about the Islamic religion.
Kuranda Seyit, the director the Sydney-based Forum for Australia's Islamic Relations, says he is not surprised by the study's findings and believes ignorance was the main factor behind Sydney's race riots last December.
"My experience is that people that I deal with are very friendly and welcoming towards Muslims.
"Generally their experience is positive.
"They find that once they get to know and talk to Muslim Australians, they find there is nothing troublesome about them and they have more in common."