Community

The Khmer Community in Australia 

Khmer or Cambodian is the native language of over 15 million people living in Cambodia, South Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

It is one of the Mon-Khmer family languages, which extends from India to the South China Sea.

Despite one hundred years under French rule, Khmer people have retained their original language and culture.

SBS broadcasters see their role as supporting and stimulating community activities that keep the Khmer language and culture alive, for all Australians.

Arrival and Settlement

A Khmer community has been present in Australia for a comparatively short period of time. According to a research conducted during 1998 on behalf of the New South Wales Khmer community there is no record of any migration until the early 1960s when six Khmer youths arrived in Australia to study under the auspices of the Commonwealth Colombo Plan.

In 1970, some thirty students arrived under the same study program.

When Pol Pot's brutal Khmer Rouge regime seized power in the mid-1970s most of these students decided to remain in Australia and became the first significant group of Khmer settlers here.

The Cambodian refugee influx into Australia began in the late 1970s.

People who arrived as refugees represent the largest proportion of the Khmer population in Australia.

Since the closure of the refugee camps on Cambodia's borders in the early 1990s, migration from the country has been dominated by people who've arrived under the Family Reunion Migration Program and other humanitarian schemes.

Statistics from the Bureau of Immigration and Population Research notes that in 1976 the Cambodian-born population in Australia numbered 496.

In 1996 that number had increased to more than 21,000.
 

Here is a list of some of the organisations serving Australia's Khmer community.

 
COMMUNITY INFO  No Translation yet 

The Khmer Community in Australia

Khmer or Cambodian is the native language of over 15 million people living in Cambodia, South Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

It is one of the Mon-Khmer family languages, which extends from India to the South China Sea.

Despite one hundred years under French rule, Khmer people have retained their original language and culture.

SBS broadcasters see their role as supporting and stimulating community activities that keep the Khmer language and culture alive, for all Australians.

Arrival and Settlement

A Khmer community has been present in Australia for a comparatively short period of time. According to a research conducted during 1998 on behalf of the New South Wales Khmer community there is no record of any migration until the early 1960s when six Khmer youths arrived in Australia to study under the auspices of the Commonwealth Colombo Plan.

In 1970, some thirty students arrived under the same study program.

When Pol Pot's brutal Khmer Rouge regime seized power in the mid-1970s most of these students decided to remain in Australia and became the first significant group of Khmer settlers here.

The Cambodian refugee influx into Australia began in the late 1970s.

People who arrived as refugees represent the largest proportion of the Khmer population in Australia.

Since the closure of the refugee camps on Cambodia's borders in the early 1990s, migration from the country has been dominated by people who've arrived under the Family Reunion Migration Program and other humanitarian schemes.

Statistics from the Bureau of Immigration and Population Research notes that in 1976 the Cambodian-born population in Australia numbered 496.

In 1996 that number had increased to more than 21,000.




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Community Contacts

Here is a list of some of the organisations serving Australia's Khmer community.

Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia
PO Box 344
Curtin, ACT 2605
Phone:02 6282 5755
Fax: 02 6282 5734
Email

New South Wales

Khmer Community of NSW
26 Bonnyrigg Ave,
Bonnyrigg NSW 2177
PO Box 104, Bonnyrigg NSW 2177
Phone 02 9823 3479
Fax 02 9823 5393

Cambodian Buddhist Society of New South Wales
68 Tarlington Pde.,
Bonnyrigg NSW 2177
Phone 02 9823 6754/6404

Salvation & Cambodian Culture Association of NSW
1 Stuart Street,
Canley Vale NSW 2166
Phone 02 97242986, Fax: 02 97235834

Khmer Krom and Australian Buddhist Association of NSW
54 Beale crescent,
Fairfield West NSW 2168
PO Box 1421, Green Valley NSW 2168
Phone 02 9609 3047

The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association of South Australia
46 Murray St,
Angle Park SA 5010
Phone/Fax 08 8243 0936

Australian Capital Territory
Cambodian Association of the ACT
PO Box 872,
Civic Square Canberra, ACT 2608
Phone 02 6290 2327 / 02 6259 2066

Victoria

Khmer Community of Victoria
458-460 Springvale Rd,
Springvale South 3172
Phone 03 9574 2959
Fax 03 9574 2969

Cambodian Association of Victoria
52 Queens Ave,
Springvale, VIC 3171
Phone 03 9546 3466
Fax 03 9546 3604

Cambodian Community Welfare Centre Inc
16-20 Silver Grove,
Nunawading, Vic 3131
Phone: 03 9791 8344
Fax: 03 9877 9732

The Khmer Buddhist Centre Inc. Melbourne
458-462 Springvale Road,
Springvale South Vic. 3172
Phone: 03 9548 5285
Fax: 03 9512 6057

Cambodian Buddhist Association of Victoria Inc.
159 Clarke Road,
Springvale South, Vic 3172
Phone: 03 9546 2432
Fax: 03 9547 5865
Web: www.cbav.org

Dhamaram Buddhist Temple Inc.
53 Balmoral Ave,
Springvale Vic 3171
Phone: 03 9540 3374

Cambodian-Australian Christian Church Inc
P.O Box 109, Springvale, Vic 3171
Phone: 03 9558 4033
Fax: 03 9512 3881

KhmerKrom Friendship Society
P.O Box 44 Springvale, Vic 3171
Phone: 03 9793 2803

South Australia

Cambodian Australian Association
c/o The Parks Community Centre
Cowan St.,Angle Park, SA 5010
Phone 08 8243 1679, 08 8268 2776
Fax 08 8347 2322

The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association of South Australia
46 Murray St, Angle Park SA 5010
Phone/Fax 08 8243 0936

Western Australia

Cambodian Welfare and Cultural Centre of WA
66 Parry St, Perth WA 6000
Phone/Fax 08 9227 1237