Burmese Australians are Australian citizens or

permanent residents Permanent residency is a person's legal resident status in a country or territory of which such person is not a citizen but where they have the right to reside on a permanent basis. This is usually for a permanent period; a person with such ...

who carry full or partial ancestry from

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

, also known as Burma, a country located in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...

. The majority ethnic group of Burma is the

Bamar people The Bamar (, ; also known as the Burmans) are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group native to Myanmar (formerly Burma) in Southeast Asia. With approximately 35 million people, the Bamar make up the largest ethnic group in Myanmar, constituting 68% of ...

but there are also numerous Burmese ethnic minorities. Burma was historically ruled as a British colony throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it was part of the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was him ...

(i.e.,

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

) at one point. The

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

lost control of

Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

to the

Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of Japan, 1947 constitu ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

(1942), regained control over Burma in 1945, and was subsequently expelled from Burma in 1948 when the country became independent. Like Burma, Australia was also historically a British colony, though Australia's indigenous population has largely been replaced by

Anglo-Celtic Australians Anglo-Celtic Australians is an ancestral grouping of Australians whose ancestors originate wholly or partially in the British Isles - predominantly in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. While Anglo-Celtic Australians do not form an offic ...

and other settler groups, whereas

Anglo-Burmese people The Anglo-Burmese people, also known as the Anglo-Burmans, are a community of Eurasians of Burmese and European descent, who emerged as a distinct community through mixed relationships (sometimes permanent, sometimes temporary) between the Brit ...

constitute a minority of Burma's native population. Most Burmese Australians are of Bamar descent, though there are also many Sino-Burmese, Indo-Burmese and some

Rohingya people The Rohingya people () are a stateless Indo-Aryan ethnic group who predominantly follow Islam and reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar (previously known as Burma). Before the Rohingya genocide in 2017, when over 740,000 fled to Bangladesh, an ...

in Australia.

History

For much of its post-colonial history, Myanmar (Burma) has been ruled by the

Tatmadaw Tatmadaw (, , ) is the official name of the armed forces of Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is administered by the Ministry of Defence and composed of the Myanmar Army, the Myanmar Navy and the Myanmar Air Force. Auxiliary services include th ...

, its armed forces, which has exacerbated domestic political instability, especially in regions inhabited by ethnic minorities, such as the

Karen Karen may refer to: * Karen (name), a given name and surname * Karen (slang), a term and meme for a demanding woman displaying certain behaviors People * Karen people, an ethnic group in Myanmar and Thailand ** Karen languages or Karenic l ...

, Shan, Rakhine, Mon, Chin and others. Unresolved political issues and grievances by ethnic armed organizations have fomented significant tensions and conflict with the military government. Consequently, the ordinary Burmese have endured subjugation for decades under a series of military governments.BURMESE Community Profile. Static1.squarespace.com. (2006). Retrieved 20 December 2021, from https://www.mcww.org.au/s/community-profile-burma.pdf. This led too many Burmese people were internally displaced in 2002. Burmese people were either being forced to relocate or relocating by their own will. Over a half million Burmese had escaped to neighbouring countries for safety. The government was accused of engaging in various many human rights violations, such as forced labour, forced displacement and persecution. Prior to Burmese arrival in Australia, this group of refugees were living in camps on the border between

and

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

. During their time in these camps Burmese refugees had experienced health problems and diseases, women in camps were exposed to violence, a lack of income and food security.

Health

It was reported that a great number of the Burmese community have experienced certain

health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

difficulties upon migrating to Australia.Schweitzer, R. D., Brough, M., Vromans, L., & Asic-Kobe, M. (2011). Mental health of newly arrived Burmese refugees in Australia: contributions of pre-migration and post-migration experience. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45(4), 299-307. Mental health conditions of the Burmese community in Australia upon migration has been examined and associated with factors of pre and post migration. A study that was conducted indicated that a high number of participants reported various mental health distress this includes:

PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats on ...

(9%),

anxiety Anxiety is an emotion which is characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil and includes feelings of dread over anticipated events. Anxiety is different than fear in that the former is defined as the anticipation of a future threat wh ...

(20%), depression (36%), and somatisation (37%). This mental health factors were related to pre migration trauma and post migration difficulties. It was reported that pre migration traumas linked to traumatisation symptoms whereas post migration had escalated symptoms of depression and anxiety. Burmese migrants were greatly concerned about the difficulties of

communication Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inqui ...

in Australia, and this hindering their ability to obtain job security and/or access to the right health services. Furthermore, more worry was accentuated to educational opportunities and being away from family. A number of Burmese migrants who have settled in Australia have demonstrated Vitamin D deficiency as well as a number of infectious diseases.-Tung, K., Chauk, L., & Taw, K. N. P. Burmese food and cultural profile: dietetic consultation guide. Oral health is also not seen as a priority by many Burmese refugees in Australia due to the lack of oral health services in Burma. It is also reported that the oral health of Burmese Australians is prone to further impacts if there is a rapid consumption of snacks and sugar in Australia. Burmese migrants to Australia are also prone to chronic diseases. Many refugees who were at the Thai-Burmese border camps before migrating to Australia have reported suffering from depression, and PTSD. Further members of the Burmese community are at risk of

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...

, high blood pressure and weight gain.

Post-migration experiences

Access to services

After migrating to Australia, some Burmese people experienced various difficulties when settling in a new country.People of Burma in Melbourne. Smrc.org.au. (2011). Retrieved 20 December 2021, from https://smrc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/people-of-burma-in-melbourne.pdf. One example of this is access to services, some Burmese Australians have reported difficulty when it came to knowing where and how to access a service, and the lack of interpreters has made them become reluctant when trying to access certain services.

Fear of authorities

Burmese people had experienced much trauma with the due to the traumatic experiences in Burma with regards to the and the fear of Burmese military many Burmese people have developed a sense of fear towards authorities. Many Burmese people had experienced much trauma due to the military dictatorship in Burma and the experiences of detention, ethnic discrimination, and persecution. This has left a sense of fear, reluctance, and mistrust towards authorities in Australia such as police and government officials.

Children

Certain Burmese Australian parents are struggling to understand their children who are experiencing two different

culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...

s, thus reported to be making disciplining much more difficult for parents.

Counselling

It is found that a vast number of the Burmese community in Australia experience much mental health issues due to the struggles and difficulties of both pre and post migration experiences, however due to the culture Burmese people are not familiar with seeking help or counselling from stranger or professional help. Burmese culture and personality are seemed to influence their perspectives on mental health and the idea of support systems.

Religious observance

Burmese Australians adhere to different religions including

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

, or Islam. Religion is usually determined based on the ethnic group. There are various religious organisations where Burmese Australians observe their religion and foster connectedness with the community. Upon an influx of Burmans migrating to Australia, Buddhist monasteries were established. Burmese people also congregated in existing churches and there is a developing Burmese Muslim population in Southeast Melbourne.

Demographics

According to the 2016 census the main languages spoken at home by Myanmar-born people in Australia is Burmese 40.5%, Karen 16.3%, English 12.3%, Hakha Chin 9.9%, other languages 20.5%.Myanmar Born Community Information Summary. Australian Government department of Human affairs. (2016). Retrieved 20 December 2016, from https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/mca/files/2016-cis-myanmar.PDF. At the 2016 census the major religious affiliations for Myanmar-born were

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...

31.0%,

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

25.0%,

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

14.2%, Islam 10.7%, other religion 14.1%, no religion 2.9%.

Locations

The Burmese population in Australia live in the major cities of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

, Sydney, and

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

. In New South Wales, most Burmese Australians were reported to reside in the

Western Sydney Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...

council areas of Cumberland 0.36% and Canterbury Bankstown 0.29%. Sydney is also the home of the Australian Shan Community. There is also a fast-growing community of Burmese Australians in Adelaide, South Australia. Karen is considered to be the second most-spoken language in Mount Gambier.

Culture

The Burmese association of

is one of the oldest organisations that was formed in 1965. It originally was created to assist and support Burmese migrants but has moved to foster a broader purpose of creating understanding and relationships among other Australian communities through different programs and activities.The Burmese Association of Western Australia. Bawa.org.au. Retrieved 20 December 2021, from https://www.bawa.org.au/pages/services.html. Burmese Australians frequently continue to consume traditional meals.Levan, S. (2020). Myanmar’s national dish has a cult following in Perth. Food. Retrieved 20 December 2021, from https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2020/01/28/myanmars-national-dish-has-cult-following-perth. Food is considered an integral part of Burmese/Myanmar culture. The Burmese association of Western Australia holds a monthly food fete that raises

charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * C ...

through the community and volunteer cooks. This food fete enables people to try different types of the traditional cuisine by bringing the community together and celebrating multiculturalism.

Gender roles

Gender Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures (i.e. gender roles) and gender identity. Most cultures ...

roles in a Burmese Australian family is typically like that in their homeland. Both

men A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chro ...

and

women A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...

are involved in household tasks such as making food and

shopping Shopping is an activity in which a customer browses the available goods or services presented by one or more retailers with the potential intent to purchase a suitable selection of them. A typology of shopper types has been developed by scho ...

. However, when larger festivities or gatherings are to take place, men are more typically responsible of cooking for these events.

Religious and cultural influences

Burmese Australians are affiliated to various ethnic groups. These ethnic groups influence their religious and cultural and food practices. The

Rohingya The Rohingya people () are a stateless Indo-Aryan ethnic group who predominantly follow Islam and reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar (previously known as Burma). Before the Rohingya genocide in 2017, when over 740,000 fled to Bangladesh, an ...

people who are primarily Muslim consume much more seafood and chilli.Tung, K., Chauk, L., & Taw, K. N. P. Burmese food and cultural profile: dietetic consultation guide. They observe Islamic festivals of Ramadan and Eid. The ethnic groups of Zomi and Chin have reported of eating a specific type of meat, whereas the Karenni group of people in Australia have reported eating vegetables. In October the Buddhists celebrate their period of fasting with a festival in which many foods are consumed. A harvest festival takes place in February whereby the Burmese community use the harvest food to make a festive glutinous rice dish called htamane.

Food habits in Australia

The common foods of Burmese Australians are rice, curry, soups, stir fries and salads. Many Burmese Australians have also reported consuming more meat and less vegetables in Australia. Cooking techniques in the Burmese community include boiling, frying, fermentation Young Burmese Australians have reported drinking soft drinks, juices as well as sweetened milk teas with jelly pieces have become popular.

21st century media

The military takeover in Myanmar and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi has shocked and dismayed the Burmese Australian community.Handley, E. (2021). 'Going backwards': Australia's Burmese community fears return of military rule after Aung San Suu Kyi's arrest. Abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 January 2022, from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-01/myanmar-burmese-rohingya-australia-community-react-military-coup/13108708. For some it brought back memories of military dictatorship and the experiences they had faced with the government before migration. Many have also expressed their concerns and fears of their homeland going backwards, whilst others felt helpless for those in Myanmar and pray for the peace of their people and country.

Notable people

References

{{Ethnic groups in Australia Asian Australian Australia