Lyla Lindsey
Australia has a small but growing African population. In 2020, over 400,000 people of African origin were living in Australia, representing 1.6% of the country's population and 5.1% of its overseas-born population. The African population in Australia is diverse, with people coming from various countries and backgrounds. While there is no historical connection between the African continent and Australia, the country has seen an increase in African immigration in recent decades, with people migrating for various reasons, including job opportunities and civil wars. African Australians face challenges such as racism, discrimination, and settlement issues, and the Australian government is working to address these concerns and promote inclusion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | African Australians are Australians of direct Sub-Saharan African ancestry. |
| Ancestry | Diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational and employment backgrounds. |
| Population | Less than 0.5% of the overall population. |
| Immigration | Immigration from Africa to Australia remained limited until the 1990s. |
| Comparison with the US | There is no historical connection between the African continent and Australia. |
| Visible minorities | Major visible minorities in Australia are of Asian, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander descent. |
| Aboriginal population | The Aboriginal population increased from 115,000 in 1971 to about 550,000 in the 2011 census. |
| Covid-19 death rate | The age-standardised death rate recorded for Sub-Saharan African-born Australians was among the lowest at 3.4 deaths per 100,000 people. |
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What You'll Learn
African migration history to Australia
African migration to Australia is a relatively new phenomenon. In the 2020 census, over 400,000 people living in Australia recorded that they were of African origin, representing 1.6% of the Australian population and 5.1% of Australia's overseas-born population. This is a significant increase from the 1990s when immigration from Africa to Australia was limited.
Historically, there was little interaction between the African continent and Australia. The first wave of African migration to Australia occurred in the late 19th century, with small populations of African Americans settling in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Some emigrated around the time of the American Civil War, while others arrived as sailors due to Melbourne's convenient port location in major shipping routes between Asia and the West. There were also British Africans and African Americans among those transported as convicts.
In the 20th century, immigration from Africa to Australia remained low, with Europe and Asia traditionally being the largest sources of migration to the country. However, starting in the 1990s, there was a growing number of African communities in Australia, with people migrating for various reasons, including job-seeking and fleeing civil wars caused by race, religion, nationality, and membership in particular social or political groups.
In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, significant migration streams to Australia included humanitarian programs, with individuals arriving mainly from East African countries such as Burundi, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Another stream was family reunion migration, with people arriving primarily from Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Uganda. Additionally, a significant number of African migrants came to Australia through a skilled migration stream, with professionals arriving chiefly from Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
While the African Australian community is diverse, with various racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds, it faces challenges due to widespread racism and settlement issues in Australia's predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture. There have also been debates around African refugees and their integration into Australian society, with some media outlets and politicians campaigning against the presence of "African gangs" in Melbourne, which has been criticized by community leaders as using "race to win votes and whip up hatred".
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African Australians facing racism
Australia has a long history of official and unofficial racism towards Black Africans. African Australians are exposed to multifaceted forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and systemic racism in predominantly 'white' Australia. They suffer a high degree of racial discrimination, with the 2018 Australian Human Rights Commission report listing them among the groups that experienced the highest level of racial discrimination.
African Australians have faced racial profiling, racial slurs, abuse of authority, over-policing, targeting, and violence. In schools and communities, reports of severe and pervasive racism have impacted their sense of belonging and opportunities. Many African Australians are exposed to racist bullying with no redress. Disproportionate numbers of people of African descent have been categorized as unlawful non-citizens and banished indefinitely from Australia's population to offshore and inland detention facilities.
African Australians, particularly those of South Sudanese descent, are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They comprised 19% of young people in custody in Victoria in 2021, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population. A 2020 study found that South Sudanese-born individuals were significantly overrepresented as perpetrators of "crimes against the person," such as robbery and assault. However, it is important to note that the low average age of the South Sudanese-born population may account for their over-representation in crime statistics.
Between 2016 and 2018, a moral panic surrounding an alleged "African gang problem" in Melbourne further fueled racism against African Australians. This narrative was pushed by members of the Coalition government and the right-wing press, despite denials by police, the Sudanese Australian community, and the Victorian government. The Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt criticized the campaign, stating that it was using "race to win votes and whip up hatred." Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as racism has been foundational to the logic of Australian settler colonialism since the European invasion in 1788.
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Settlement challenges for African Australians
African Australians are Australians of direct Sub-Saharan African ancestry. They come from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. In the last two decades, there has been a growing number of African communities in Australia. African people migrate to Australia for many reasons, including job-seeking and civil wars caused by race, religion, nationality, and membership in particular social or political groups.
In 2005–06, permanent settler arrivals to Australia included 4,000 South Africans and 3,800 Sudanese, constituting the sixth and seventh largest sources of migrants, respectively. The majority (72.6%) of African emigrants to Australia are from southern and eastern Africa. However, immigration from Africa to Australia remained limited until the 1990s. Thus, compared to other established European and American countries, the African Australian community is relatively new to the country.
African Australians face several challenges in settling and integrating into Australian society. Firstly, Australia's predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture can make it difficult for African Australians to adjust and feel a sense of belonging. This is further exacerbated by widespread racism and discrimination against Africans in Australia. Language barriers can also hinder effective communication and participation in local communities. Additionally, unemployment and a lack of workforce skills required in Australia can make it difficult for African Australians to find stable employment and contribute economically.
African Australian parents, especially those who are newly arrived refugees or humanitarian entrants, face challenges in understanding the education system and making informed decisions about their children's education. They may struggle with practical information on issues such as enrolment and the availability of different education options. Furthermore, cultural differences in teaching styles and expectations can be confronting for African Australian students, particularly when encouraged to challenge their lecturers or teachers, which may conflict with their cultural expectation to respect their elders.
To address these settlement challenges, the Australian Government has initiated programs to promote social inclusion and improve access to vocational training for African Australians. These include providing on-arrival information about education, training, and employment options, as well as mentoring programs involving members of Australian business and employer groups.
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African Australians and multiculturalism
Australia is one of the most multicultural societies in the world. Multiculturalism in Australia recognises the right of all Australians to enjoy their ethnic identity and cultural heritage, including language and religion, and the right to equal treatment and opportunities regardless of their backgrounds. The country has a robust tradition as a nation built upon migration, and most Australians welcome multiculturalism.
African Australians are Australians of direct Sub-Saharan African ancestry. They are from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. The majority (72.6%) of African emigrants to Australia are from southern and eastern Africa. Immigration from Africa to Australia remained limited until the 1990s, so compared to other established European and American countries, the African Australian community is relatively new.
African Australians believe that many of their contributions have not been visible or utilised. They believe that their wellbeing, hopes, and aspirations can only be realised if they are given the opportunity to share their cultures, skills, and experiences to contribute to Australia's multicultural development. For example, arts projects involving young people from African Australian backgrounds have allowed them to explore and integrate their past and present experiences. By telling their stories through theatre, film, and other media, they can become the bridge between their African community and the wider Australian community, and they can take pride in being both African and Australian.
However, African Australians have faced challenges in Australia. Widespread racism against Africans is not uncommon in the country. African artists have also believed that their physical appearance and accents were barriers preventing their participation in the arts. They experienced ridicule when singing in English, and many now avoid doing so. There have also been instances of discrimination against African Australians in schools and workplaces. In 2021, it was reported that African Australians, predominantly of South Sudanese descent, comprised 19% of young people in custody in Victoria, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population.
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African communities in Australia
African Australians are Australians of direct Sub-Saharan African ancestry. They are from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. The African community in Australia represents a small but growing population. In 2021, 447,524 people, or 1.76% of Australia's total population, were African by place of birth, an increase of over 100,000 since 2006. The percentage of Africans living in Australia increases to 2.6% when accounting for second-generation Africans.
African migration to Australia is a relatively recent phenomenon. Immigration from Africa to Australia remained limited until the 1990s. In 2005-06, permanent settler arrivals to Australia included 4,000 South Africans and 3,800 Sudanese, constituting the sixth and seventh-largest sources of migrants, respectively. More than 70% of those from West African countries remained in Australia following military coups in their countries of birth. The majority (72.6%) of African emigrants to Australia are from southern and eastern Africa.
African Australians face challenges adapting to life in Australia, often arriving as refugees fleeing hardship. Older migrants tend to hold on to their home culture and values, while younger relatives may embrace Australian culture. African Australians have also faced widespread racism and negative media portrayals. In 2016, the Liberal Party campaigned against "South Sudanese gangs" in Melbourne, which was criticized by community leaders as using "race to win votes and whip up hatred." A 2020 study found that South Sudanese-born individuals were overrepresented as perpetrators of "crimes against the person," but that rates for less serious crimes remained stable and relatively low.
African Australians are primarily split between Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. Notable African Australians include Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a Sudanese-Australian media presenter and writer; Aliir Aliir, a South Sudanese-Australian professional football player; and Gabriel Erjok Majer Akon, a South Sudanese-born Australian hip-hop artist, poet, and activist.
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Frequently asked questions
African Australians are Australians of direct Sub-Saharan African ancestry. They are from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. In 2005-06, permanent settler arrivals to Australia included 4,000 South Africans and 3,800 Sudanese, constituting the sixth and seventh largest sources of migrants, respectively. The African Australian community remains new compared to other established countries as immigration from Africa to Australia was limited until the 1990s.
There is no historical connection between the African continent and Australia, and until about 30 years ago, there were virtually no people of African descent in the country. In the late 19th century, there were small populations of African Americans in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Some emigrated around the time of the American Civil War, while others worked as sailors due to convenient port locations in major shipping routes between Asia and the West.
The term "Black" or "Blak" in Australia usually refers to being Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander. The African Australian community is facing challenges due to widespread racism against Africans in the country. In 2021, African Australians, predominantly of South Sudanese descent, comprised 19% of young people in custody in Victoria, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population.
The Aboriginal population in Australia has been growing and currently makes up a small but important fraction of the total population. In the 2011 census, there were about 550,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a significant increase from 115,000 in 1971. The largest Aboriginal populations are located in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.
