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There have been three major influxes of Bosnians to Australia. The first period occurred in the aftermath of World War II, and the second occurred in the late 1960s/early 1970s following an economic depression and open border policy in the former Yugoslavia.

The most recent wave of migration was during the 1990s when many Bosnians sought refuge from the war. This migration was assisted under the refugee scheme of the Red Cross in Australia. It generally brought Bosnians from all socioeconomic backgrounds, but mainly families with mixed ethnic backgrounds. Consider that some Bosnians who arrived during the mid-1990s may have witnessed atrocities and experienced other war-related traumas.

There are some Bosnians that have arrived in Australia in more recent years. These are often double dislocated persons who migrated from Bosnia in the 1990s and spent a substantial amount of time in another Western country (e.g. Germany, Austria and Scandinavian nations). They may not have succeeded in gaining citizenship or resident status and have chosen to migrate to Australia instead. While born in Bosnia, these migrants may not have a very strong affiliation with their Bosnian identity or the cultural behaviours of the country.

According to the 2021 Census, 27.2% of Bosnians living in Australia identified as Muslims, 20.4% identified as Roman Catholics and a further 16.9% identified with Serbian Orthodox.¹ The rate of no religious affiliation was higher among Bosnians living in Australia than those in their home country, with 22% not identifying with any religion.¹ A further 10.6% identified with some other faith (including other variations of Christianity) and 2.9% did not respond.¹