Data from the 2021 census largely highlights the diversity of Australians and hints at how Australia’s multicultural landscape is changing. One of the biggest changes since the last census was the significant increase in the number of Australians born in India and Nepal.
There is now a Nepali bar in Hobart, Tasmania, the first such bar for Nepalis in Australia.
Khagendra Satyal, president of the Nepali Society of Tasmania, said the bar caters to the local growing Nepali community.
But the latest figures show that the number of Nepali nationals has increased not only in Tasmania but across the country.
The number of people born in Australia and Nepal has more than doubled from what it was in 2016. As a result, the Nepali population in this country is now more than 1 lakh 22 thousand.
However, Nepalis are not the only people to see such a big change in numbers.
The 2021 census is an indication of how much Australia’s multicultural landscape is changing.
India has risen above China and New Zealand as the first source of inhabitants.
The number of people born in India but living in Australia has exceeded 660,000. India now ranks third in terms of numbers.
This number has increased by more than 2 lakh 18 thousand as compared to the last census of 2016.
Australia and England are in first and second place respectively.
Amar Singh, president of Turbans for Australia and a spokesman for the community, first came to Australia at the age of fifteen.
He said he has personally witnessed the positive impact of new immigrants in his community.
According to the census, the number of bilingual people in Australia has also increased.
The number of people speaking a language other than English at home is now 5.5 million across the country.
This time the number has increased by about 6 lakh people as compared to last time.
Mandarin is once again the second most used language outside of English.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the latest census data reflects today’s fast-changing, growing and culturally diverse nation of Australia. And it also hints at how much the diversity of Australians has grown over the past two decades.
Carlo Carly is chairman of the Federation for Ethnic Communities in Australia (FECCA).
He said more initiatives are needed to co-operate with those who have migrated very recently.