Measuring diaspora populations and their socio‐economic profiles: Australia’s Chinese diaspora

Abstract

Data on diasporas are incomplete, inaccurate, and beset by definitional fluidity as the concept itself evolves. Despite their significant role in homeland development, members of a diaspora population are typically passed over in origin countries' censuses, and policies and planning rely instead on statistics generated in destination countries. To analyse the data available from destination countries, this article deploys two coordinated concepts-diaspora and transnationalism. We construct a demographic and socio-economic profile of the Chinese diaspora population in Australia spanning 2000-2016. That work is based on the 2016 Australian Census and on Migrants Integrated Dataset (ACMID) and 2016 Australian Census and Temporary Entrants Integrated Dataset (ACTEID) micro-files sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.The profile is disaggregated by permanent or temporary residency status, visa, and citizenship, stratified by geographic distribution, and compared with that of Australia's overall migrant population. Nuanced understandings of the size, composition, distribution, and socio-economic integration into the destination lays a baseline necessary for policymakers and agencies in the countries of origin as they work toward more targeted diaspora engagement practices. Those understandings also inform retention strategies in Australia concerning diaspora groups that can enhance economic and social inclusion.

Valuing the archive for research and learning and teaching in geography

“…Martin and Strengers (2022) show how use of a card game can elicit insights from participants in a study on everyday practices and renewable energy generation—which also touches on concerns about climate change. That work is followed by a comprehensive analysis of Australia’s Chinese diaspora in which Tan and Liu (2022) argue for nuanced understandings of demographic change to inform “retention strategies in Australia concerning diaspora groups that can enhance economic and social inclusion.” While much of the diaspora to which they refer is based in cities, different change‐dynamics are examined by Plummer and Argent (2022) in an incisive work about the wool industry and path dependence and relative resilience of four rural local government areas in Western Australia. Then, in an article that shows the importance of research‐informed learning and teaching, Roelofsen and Carter‐White (2022) report on results from a 2‐year research‐teaching project embedded in a postgraduate course on heritage management that includes virtual field trips to sites of profound trauma.…”

Coexistence and collaboration: Our Institute’s 2023 conference in Perth

“…Last but not least, I am delighted to report that the 2022 Wiley prize recipients for highly esteemed papers were also announced at the conference dinner. The three papers, all available in our journal website, are by Hine et al (2022), Roelofsen and Carter‐White (2022), and Tan and Liu (2022). Our warmest congratulations to all three writing teams, and our thanks to Wiley as well.…”