Ethiopians in Australia
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Migration History
Ethiopian migration to Australia has been a relatively recent phenomenon, commencing in the 1970s and 1980s when large numbers of Ethiopians became refugees amid environmental and political crises.1 Over half a million Ethiopian refugees fled their country during ‘the Derg’ military junta regime (1974 to 15987) (see Political History). The ensuing decades of extreme political turmoil, recurrent drought, famine, and devastating civil war caused mass displacement, leading many to migrate to neighbouring countries such as Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Egypt.2
Australia accepted a few hundred Ethiopian refugees during the 1980s and 1990s.3 However, the vast majority (over 70%) of Ethiopian-born people have arrived since 2000 through Australia’s Offshore Humanitarian Program or Family Visa Streams.4 For instance, approximately 3,000 Ethiopians arrived between 2000 and 2005 alone.3 This cohort mostly consists of refugees and their family members, many of whom have fled political persecution by the post-Derg government. This includes human rights activists and members of persecuted ethnic or religious groups.
Between 2018 and 2023, the Australian government granted roughly 1,500 humanitarian visas to people originating in Ethiopia.5 This includes a significant proportion of single or widowed mothers and their children under the Vulnerable Women and Children humanitarian program. However, this humanitarian intake is dwarfed by the number of Ethiopian refugee applications received (over 10,500 during the same period).5
Migration Experience
Most Ethiopian refugees arrive from neighbouring African countries, such as Sudan and Kenya, after years of involuntary displacement.6 Individuals and families may have waited decades in refugee and displaced persons camps before being resettled in Australia.6 Prolonged experiences of displacement in surrounding countries can affect the practice of culture and traditions and the formation of identity, leading to fundamentally different experiences. For example, many have never lived in Ethiopia or were born in refugee camps.
Additionally, some individuals may have been displaced by the Eritrean–Ethiopian War and the subsequent divide between the countries (see Political History). For example, people in mixed Ethiopian/Eritrean marriages often could not return to either country without splitting up their families and had to move to a third country. Ultimately, it is essential to recognise that there is no uniform understanding of the typical Ethiopian migration experience.
Community Diversity
Australia’s Ethiopian community is very diverse, including people from different ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural backgrounds. It is common for people of different backgrounds to unite for national celebrations. There are also quite healthy relationships between Ethiopians and Eritreans in Australia – especially among the youth – formed on the basis of their shared habesha identity (see Core Concepts). For example, it is common for Eritrean community representatives to be invited to Ethiopian events to symbolise good faith between the two communities. However, there is also a tendency to gravitate towards one’s own religious or ethnic community.
Ethnicity
The largest Ethiopian ethnic groups in Australia are the Oromo, Tigray, Amhara and Harari. Others also include the Gaurage, Afar and Sidamo. Relations between ethnicities in Australia have been strained in the past as a result of political developments in Ethiopia. Generally, refugees who fled political or ethnic persecution in Ethiopia are more likely to be sensitive to issues surrounding . For example, some Oromos may prefer to identify as ‘Oromo Australians’ rather than ‘Ethiopian Australians’, feeling that the national identity does not represent them. However, Amharic speakers and individuals who are ethnically mixed tend to prefer to use the label of ‘Ethiopian Australians’. One may find that some Ethiopians oppose the use of ethnic signifiers (seeing them as divisive), whilst others are deeply proud of their ethnic identity. Either way, it is reported that Ethiopians living in Australia are more nationally minded than ethnically minded. Some see the ethnic federation as the main source of their country’s problems due to the way it has fostered identity politics (see Ethnic Relations in Core Concepts).
Religion
Ethiopian communities are primarily organised around their religions and places of worship. According to the 2021 Census, approximately 35.4% of the Ethiopian-born community in Australia identify as Orthodox Christians, including Orthodox (25.8%) and Eastern Orthodox (7.9%), while 27.5% identified as Muslim.4 A further 13.9% identified as Christian (not further defined), and 4.5% reported no religious affiliation.4
Muslim Ethiopians tend to worship at mosques with the broader Australian Muslim community. These include many people from the Oromos, Harari, Afar and Gurage ethnic groups. Meanwhile, Orthodox Ethiopians generally worship at churches devoted to their specific denomination, either Ethiopian Orthodox or Greek Orthodox. Pentecostal Ethiopians usually attend Protestant churches that have a dedicated day or night for their community’s form of worship.
As the Ethiopian ‘Tewahedo’ Orthodox Church is closely correlated with the national identity, Orthodox celebrations also tend to act as cultural occasions that are attended by many diverse groups of people. Ethiopian Orthodox Churches have also been effective in promoting and continuing Amharic language ties in Australia, as congregations often require their members to speak the language during service. Most members of the Ethiopian Pentecostal church converted whilst living in refugee camps in Africa or after their arrival in Australia.7
Experience in Australia
Media reporting often does not differentiate between the different ethnicities and nationalities of the African people living in Australia. Some Ethiopians express disappointment about the lack of education and awareness among the Australian public about their country and the Horn of Africa. As with other African communities in Australia, Ethiopians are sometimes the target of intolerance and hostility from the Australian public. It is reported that they commonly encounter a stereotype of their people as ‘starving Africans’. According to the Scanlon Foundation’s 2015 survey, 60% of Ethiopians said they had experienced discrimination in the past 12 months living in Australia.8 Some Ethiopian migrants describe feeling a social gap between themselves and Anglo-Australians.
The majority of Ethiopians live in Victoria—namely Melbourne and surrounding areas. Churches and mosques have been instrumental in supporting immigrants through the challenges of language and social adjustment. Ethnic stores and shops have also provided a form of social support, as dining at restaurants serving Ethiopian cuisine can relieve people’s sense of loss of their homeland.
The Ethiopian in Australia and other countries has also been able to give a political voice to those remaining in Ethiopia who are censored by their government. However, people may feel distressed that they are unable to help whilst in Australia. Some younger, second-generation migrant may be less concerned with the politics of their homeland. Some individuals may also prefer not to involve themselves in such conversations, finding memories too painful or preferring to leave politics in the past.