Sudanese Australian
Encyclopedia
Sudanese Australians constitute a small, mostly recently arrived group of Australians. In the 2006 census, there were 19,049 Sudanese-born Australian residents, making up 0.1% of the population. Many of the Sudanese-born people recorded in the 2006 Australian census had arrived very recently: 77% since 2000.
Between 1996 and 2005, the largest increase in Australian people born overseas were Sudanese, at 28% per year. Other fast-growing overseas-born groups were people from Afghanistan
(12% average increase per year) and Iraq (10%). Australian residents from sub-Saharan Africa
increased on average by 6% per year over this period.
On the 2006 Census 17,848 resident in Australia claimed to have Sudanese ancestry. People of Sudanese descent now live in almost every capital city in Australia, particularly Melbourne
(5,911), Sydney
(5,335) and Perth
(1,993)
make up the largest Sudanese ethnic group in Australia. Other ethnic groups within the Sudanese Australian community include the Nuer, the Shilluk, and the Azande.There are also Ma'adi, Acholi and otuho from Eastern Equatoria-South Sudan.
, most Sudanese migrants arrived in Australia to pursue educational opportunities in both undergraduate and post graduate institutions across Australia. Almost all of these immigrants came from the various ethnic groups in the southern part of the country.
.. Alcohol was reported as being a significant factor in brawls involving Sudanese Australians in the Melbourne
suburbs of Clayton
, Braybrook
and Ringwood
.
Between 1996 and 2005, the largest increase in Australian people born overseas were Sudanese, at 28% per year. Other fast-growing overseas-born groups were people from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
(12% average increase per year) and Iraq (10%). Australian residents from sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
increased on average by 6% per year over this period.
On the 2006 Census 17,848 resident in Australia claimed to have Sudanese ancestry. People of Sudanese descent now live in almost every capital city in Australia, particularly Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(5,911), Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(5,335) and Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
(1,993)
Brief history
Sudanese people have been migrating to Australia since 1965, although on very small scale. Only 948 Sudanese-born persons came prior to 1990. The first major wave of Sudanese emigrants arrived in Australia during the 1990s. The second major wave arrived in the early 2000s. The DinkaDinka
The Dinka is an ethnic group inhabiting the Bahr el Ghazal region of the Nile basin, Jonglei and parts of southern Kordufan and Upper Nile regions. They are mainly agro-pastoral people, relying on cattle herding at riverside camps in the dry season and growing millet and other varieties of grains ...
make up the largest Sudanese ethnic group in Australia. Other ethnic groups within the Sudanese Australian community include the Nuer, the Shilluk, and the Azande.There are also Ma'adi, Acholi and otuho from Eastern Equatoria-South Sudan.
Early migration
Before the First Sudanese Civil WarFirst Sudanese Civil War
The First Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1955 to 1972 between the northern part of Sudan and the southern Sudan region that demanded representation and more regional autonomy...
, most Sudanese migrants arrived in Australia to pursue educational opportunities in both undergraduate and post graduate institutions across Australia. Almost all of these immigrants came from the various ethnic groups in the southern part of the country.
After the first civil war
A larger influx of Sudanese emigrated to Australia as a result of political and economic problems. The most noticeable exodus occurred among professional and middle class Sudanese who along with their children took advantage of education and employment opportunities in Australia to emigrate.After the second civil war
Since 1983, fighting between Sudan's Northern government and the Marxist rebels in the south has killed about 2 million people. The fighting in Sudan has interfered with the production and distribution of food and caused widespread hunger. Many civilians in southern Sudan had fled their region because of this crisis. Some Sudanese Australians returned to their ancestral homeland when the conflict officially ended in 2005.Social issues faced by Sudanese Australians
It has been reported that, due to corruption in Sudan, Australian Sudanese people may distrust authority figures in Australia. The relatively free availability of alcoholic drinks in Australia, in contrast to its strict prohibition in Sudan, has resulted in problems in the Australian Sudanese community with binge drinkingBinge drinking
Binge drinking or heavy episodic drinking is the modern epithet for drinking alcoholic beverages with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. It is a kind of purposeful drinking style that is popular in several countries worldwide,...
.. Alcohol was reported as being a significant factor in brawls involving Sudanese Australians in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburbs of Clayton
Clayton, Victoria
Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. At the 2006 Census, Clayton had a population of 14,332.-Overview:...
, Braybrook
Braybrook, Victoria
Braybrook is a suburb 9 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Braybrook had a population of 6940....
and Ringwood
Ringwood, Victoria
Ringwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Ringwood had a population of 15,185....
.
See also
- African AustralianAfrican AustralianAfrican immigrants to Australia include Australian citizens and residents born in, or with ancestors from Africa. Immigration from Africa to Australia is only a recent phenomenon, with Europe and Asia traditionally being the largest sources of migration to Australia...
- Sudanese AmericanSudanese AmericanSudanese Americans are Americans of Sudanese descent or a Sudanese who has American citizenship. Sudanese Americans can also include children born in America to an American parent and Sudanese parent. There is a community of 20,000 Sudanese Americans who have emigrated from their native country to...
- Sudanese BritishSudanese in the United KingdomSudanese in the United Kingdom including Sudanese-born immigrants to the UK and their British-born descendants are an extremely diverse national group, especially in terms of political and religious views. It is thought that the UK is home to the oldest Sudanese diaspora in the Western World, as...