According to statistics published by Immigration Department during the 2013-14 financial year, 6500 visas were granted to refugees who had applied to be resettled to Australia. The majority of these people originally fled persecution from countries such as Afghanistan (2530), Myanmar (1145) and Iraq (830). The Department also granted 300 refugees category visas to Syrian nationals (Karlsen, 2014). The Department of Social Services works improved the lifetime wellbeing of migrants and refugees settling in Australia by responding to their specific needs, encouraging their independence and participation in the Australian community. This essay will discuss Australia's refugees, particularly Burmese group who had applied to be resettled to Australia.
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Since 1988, many Myanmar people fled the country due to ethnic tensions and government oppression. An estimated one million Myanmar people fled to neighbouring countries, predominantly Thailand. Significant numbers have arrived in Australia as refugees under the Migration Refugee Special Humanitarian Programme, that was often after long stays in refugee camps (Department of Social Services, 2014). Within the country, decades of war and militarisation have resulted in social and economic devastation. At the same time, many Burmese also seeks refuge in neighbouring countries because of the arrests and harassment of pro-democracy activists. By the end of 2002 an estimated 600 000 Burmese were internally displaced, including people who were forcibly relocated by the military, and others who refused to relocate or who fled the relocation areas because they could not survive there (Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, 2006). Myanmar is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. The population is ethnically complex and is composed of approximately 135 ethnic groups and sub-groups, each with its own dialect, beliefs and customs. The largest ethnic group Burmans form 68 per cent of the population. Other ethnic groups included Shan, Karen, Karenni, Chin, Rakhine, Chinese, Indian, Mon and Rohingyan (Department of Immigration and …show more content…
According to the 2011 Census the median age of the Myanmar-born in 2011 was 41 years compared with 45 years for all overseas-born and 37 years for the total Australian population. The age distribution showed 6 per cent were aged 0-14 years, 13.9 per cent were 15-24 years, 38 per cent were 25-44 years, 29.2 per cent were 45-64 years and 12.9 per cent were 65 years and over. There were 10 554 males (48.5 per cent) and 11 208 females (51.5 per cent) of the Myanmar-born in Australia. The main languages spoken at home by Myanmar-born people in Australia were Burmese (10 407), English (4150) and Karen (3517). According to the 2011 census 60.4 per cent spoke English very well or well, and 37.9 per cent spoke English not well or not at all. At the 2011 Census the major religious affiliations amongst Myanmar-born were Buddhism (6539), Baptist (5805) and Catholic (4491). However, 2.3 per cent of the Myanmar-born stated 'No Religion' which was lower than the total Australian population (22.3 per cent), and 1.5 per cent did not state a religion. At the time of the 2011 Census, the median individual weekly income for the Myanmar-born in Australia aged 15 years and over was $374, compared with $538 for all overseas-born and $597 for all Australia-born. The total Australian population had a median individual weekly income of $577. At the
Since 1988, many Myanmar people fled the country due to ethnic tensions and government oppression. An estimated one million Myanmar people fled to neighbouring countries, predominantly Thailand. Significant numbers have arrived in Australia as refugees under the Migration Refugee Special Humanitarian Programme, that was often after long stays in refugee camps (Department of Social Services, 2014). Within the country, decades of war and militarisation have resulted in social and economic devastation. At the same time, many Burmese also seeks refuge in neighbouring countries because of the arrests and harassment of pro-democracy activists. By the end of 2002 an estimated 600 000 Burmese were internally displaced, including people who were forcibly relocated by the military, and others who refused to relocate or who fled the relocation areas because they could not survive there (Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, 2006). Myanmar is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. The population is ethnically complex and is composed of approximately 135 ethnic groups and sub-groups, each with its own dialect, beliefs and customs. The largest ethnic group Burmans form 68 per cent of the population. Other ethnic groups included Shan, Karen, Karenni, Chin, Rakhine, Chinese, Indian, Mon and Rohingyan (Department of Immigration and …show more content…
According to the 2011 Census the median age of the Myanmar-born in 2011 was 41 years compared with 45 years for all overseas-born and 37 years for the total Australian population. The age distribution showed 6 per cent were aged 0-14 years, 13.9 per cent were 15-24 years, 38 per cent were 25-44 years, 29.2 per cent were 45-64 years and 12.9 per cent were 65 years and over. There were 10 554 males (48.5 per cent) and 11 208 females (51.5 per cent) of the Myanmar-born in Australia. The main languages spoken at home by Myanmar-born people in Australia were Burmese (10 407), English (4150) and Karen (3517). According to the 2011 census 60.4 per cent spoke English very well or well, and 37.9 per cent spoke English not well or not at all. At the 2011 Census the major religious affiliations amongst Myanmar-born were Buddhism (6539), Baptist (5805) and Catholic (4491). However, 2.3 per cent of the Myanmar-born stated 'No Religion' which was lower than the total Australian population (22.3 per cent), and 1.5 per cent did not state a religion. At the time of the 2011 Census, the median individual weekly income for the Myanmar-born in Australia aged 15 years and over was $374, compared with $538 for all overseas-born and $597 for all Australia-born. The total Australian population had a median individual weekly income of $577. At the