Multicultural Central Australia
Multicultural Central Australia
Early members of our multicultural community in Mparntwe – Alice Springs were Afghans, British, Chinese, Italians, Germans, Greeks, Russians and Filipinos. Since then, Central Australia’s multicultural population has grown and diversified.
In last decade, the multicultural population of Central Australia has been growing rapidly in number and in diversity of cultures.
In Mparntwe – Alice Springs 41.6% of the population has at least one parent born overseas. 26.2% of the population were born overseas. Between 2016 and 2021 the number of people born overseas increased by over 17.5% (ABS 2021). The fastest growing groups of newcomers are from India, Nepal, China, Philippines and South Sudan. In Tennant Creek 24.3% of the population of 3080 was born overseas, with the top countries being Philippines, India, England, New Zealand and Nepal (ABS 2021). In Yulara 43.3% of the population was born overseas, with the top countries being New Zealand, Philippines, Nepal, England and Sri Lanka (ABS 2021). This has changed with the introduction of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) visa, increasing the population of people from the Pacific region significantly.
MCSCA considers this is an underrepresentation of the actual multicultural population across Central Australia and anticipates a significant increase when the next census takes place in 2026.
Migrants are active contributors to Central Australian society, as employees, business operators, customers, volunteers, club and group members, members of committees, boards, councils … in all aspects of life here in the centre.
Incorporated Associations and informal groups
The Filippino community was first group of migrants to establish a formal incorporated association by founding the Alice Springs Mabuhay Multicultural Association in the early 1980s. Since then, as more migrants and refugees have made Central Australia their home, MCSCA has supported groups to establish themselves as incorporated associations. This has been an important way to increase the visibility of different cultural groups, enable them to have a stronger voice, to support their members in maintaining, teaching and sharing their culture and language, and to access support and resources to do this.
There are currently 17 incorporated associations in Mparntwe – Alice Springs, NT groups with local branches and members, and other informal groups in Alice Springs and across Central Australia, some of which aspire to incorporation.
Incorporated Associations and informal groups
- African Association of Central Australia
- Alice Springs Hindu Community in Central Australia
- Alice Springs Indian Association
- Alice Springs Islamic Society
- Alice Springs Mabuhay Multicultural Association
- Alice Springs Malayalee Association Inc
- Central Australian Sikh Cultural Centre Inc
- Central Australian Sudanese Community Inc
- Desert Paradise Inc
- Fiji Multicultural Community Alice Springs Inc
- HuaXuan Cultural Heritage Association
- Iberoamerican Cultural Heritage Association
- Alice Springs Indonesian Community Inc
- Lion Heart Association Inc
- Nepalese Community Alice Springs Inc
- Nuer Association of Central Australia
- Pacific Islands Council of NT
- South Sudanese Association
- Sri Lankan Association of Alice Springs
Further reading and resources
Alice Springs Town Council Multicultural Action Plan 2023-2026
Multicultural Policy for the NT 2020-2025
The Multicultural Policy for the NT 2020–2025 provides a framework for building a cohesive, inclusive, and respectful Northern Territory by supporting cultural diversity, participation, and equal opportunity for people of all backgrounds.
Towards Fairness: A Multicultural Australia For All, 2024
The review, Towards Fairness: A Multicultural Australia For All sets out assessments on Australia’s current multicultural framework — and offers recommendations on what measures are needed to remain a country that continues to enjoy the benefits of its diversity and the measures needed to adapt to the present social, economic and political landscape.
