australia's migration links © karen devine 2010. australia’s migration links australia is...

Australia's Migration Links

© Karen Devine 2010

Australia’s Migration Links

Australia is one of the most multicultural nations on earth.

It has successfully integrated people from almost every nation on earth into the population.



Yet, Australia’s birth rate is declining and her population is described as ageing.

Hence, the way we are keeping the population growing is via migration.



Australia’s peak migration periods were:

a) in the time of colonial free settlement in the 1800’s

b) during the Gold Rush (1850’s)

c) after WWII (1945)d) after the Vietnam

War (1970’s)© Karen Devine 2010


There has been population explosions in parts of the Asia-Pacific region which have affected Australia’s migration, especially in:

a) Indonesiab) Chinac) Philippines.



Australia’s migrants take the form of:

a) those seeking permanent residency

b) refugees fleeing persecution

c) those seeking family reunions

d) illegal migrantse) rural-urban migrants.


The Nature of the Migration Link

The first migrants to Australia were the ATSI’s who walked across the land bridge to Australia from South East Asia when the continents were joined nearly 50,000 years ago.



The next significant migration point occurred in 1788 with the convict settlement by the British of the various Australian colonies.



As the colonies developed, transportation to Australia was eventually abandoned and the age of free settlement began.



A large migration period also occurred during the Gold Rush in the 1850’s when many migrants arrived from China, USA and Germany.



There was great tension between Australians and the Chinese during the Gold Rush period.

This tension was due to differences in:

a) languageb) dressc) cultural practicesd) religion.



The White Australia Policy was initiated in 1901 and was used to control the number of non-European migrants.



Effectively the White Australia Policy used a dictation test to prevent large numbers of Asian migrants.



The next migration period occurred after World War I when displaced people migrated from Europe.

Such migration of displaced refugees also occurred at the end of WWII after the devastation of Europe.



These Northern European migrants were encouraged to join Australia’s population under the “Populate or Perish” program of Post WWII.


Pause Point

Watch film on the White Australia Policy.



The 1960’s and 1970’s saw the devastation of the Vietnam War.

As a result Australia took on many Vietnamese refugees from the conflict.



It was during the Whitlam era of the 1970’s that the official migration policy of Australia became one of encouraging multiculturalism.



Under Whitlam, the White Australia Policy also ended.

Modern multiculturalism in Australia attempts to demonstrate “Unity in Diversity”.



Today, Australia demonstrates a multicultural society which shows a blend of nearly 200 nationalities.



Hence, migration has had a significant effect on Australia.

At the end of World War II, Australia's population was just over 7 million, with around 90 per cent born in Australia.



The 2006 Census showed nearly 25% of people living in Australia were born overseas.

The United Kingdom, New Zealand, Chinese and Italians are Australia’s largest migrant groups.


Question Time?

What is Australia’s current migration policy?


australia's migration links © karen devine 2010. australia’s migration links australia is...

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