Uncovering Australia's diverse ethnic composition: How Aboriginals and immigrants shaped modern Australian society

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### Three major historical stages of the Australian race
According to the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, the current Australian resident population is:
1. **Descendants of European immigrants** accounted for 76% (including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, etc.)
2. **Asian group** accounts for 17.4% (China, India, Vietnam, etc.)
3. **Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander** 3.2%
4. Other ethnic groups accounted for 3.4%

This data reflects the history of Australia's immigration changes over the past 200 years. From the white-dominated society during the British colonial period in 1788, to the large-scale European immigration wave after World War II, to the rapid growth of Asian immigration in the past three decades, today's unique "salad bowl" multicultural pattern has been formed.

### The contemporary situation of indigenous populations
Australia's Aboriginal people are made up of more than 250 language groups, mainly found in:
- Northern Territory (26% of the population are Aboriginal)
- Western Australia (3.3%)
- Queensland (4.6%)

Worth noting:
1. The life expectancy of Aboriginal people is 8.6 years shorter than that of non-Aboriginal people
2. The unemployment rate is three times that of non-Aboriginal people
3. The Aboriginal Languages Protection Act was passed in 2019
4. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is co-managed by Aboriginal people

### Four major turning points in immigration trends
1. 1788-1900: The British convict exile system brought about the white majority
2. **1945-1975**: Post-war European reconstruction program introduced Italian and Greek immigrants
3. 1973: The abolition of the White Australia Policy and the start of Asian immigration
4. **2000 to present**: skilled immigrants account for 68% (2021 data)

The main source countries of immigrants at present are:
- China (8.5% of total immigrants)
- India (7.4%)
- United Kingdom (5.1%)
- Philippines (3.4%)

### The five pillars of multicultural policy
The Australian Government maintains social inclusion through:
1. Racial Discrimination Act (1975)
2. Translation and interpretation services (covering 150 languages)
3. Immigration settlement services (free language training in the first year)
4. Cross-cultural competence training (compulsory course for civil servants)
5. National Community Council (32 branches nationwide)

### Future trends in population structure
According to the Australian Treasury's forecast:
- By 2031, the Asian population will exceed 20%
- The indigenous population growth rate is 17% (2021-2031)
- Muslim population share is expected to rise to 3.5%
- Mandarin may become the second most commonly used language (current users 2.7%)

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Hot issues related to Australia's ethnicity

#### 1. Is there racial discrimination in Australia?
According to the 2020 Human Rights Commission report:
- 1 in 5 Asians have experienced racial discrimination
- Complaints against Chinese people increased by 300% during the epidemic
- The government has set up a 24-hour anti-discrimination hotline (1300 656 419)

#### 2. How do mixed-race people define their identity?
Australia adopts the principle of "self-identification":
- 2021 Census allows multiple ethnicity selections
- More than 1 million people choose dual ethnicity
- Aboriginal ancestry can be registered with community approval

#### 3. How can new immigrants integrate quickly?
Three official channels are recommended:
1. AMEP Adult Immigrant English Program (510 hours of free courses)
2. Multicultural Community Service Center (provides employment guidance)
3. Community language schools (maintaining the cultural heritage of the mother tongue)

#### 4. Cultural integration cases with Australian characteristics
- Sydney Lunar New Year Celebration (one of the largest in the world)
- Melbourne Greek Festival (the largest Greek cultural event in the Southern Hemisphere)
- Darwin Aboriginal Art Biennale
- Perth Diwali Fireworks Show

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Through this article, we can see that Australia's ethnic composition retains the imprint of colonial history while continuing to absorb new immigrant cultures. From the original Aboriginal society to the current multicultural country, the evolution of this population structure has profoundly influenced Australia's social policies, economic development and cultural forms. Understanding Australia's ethnic composition is of great reference value for those who plan to immigrate, study abroad or do business.

Thank you for your reading. I hope this article can help you understandAustralian ethnic compositionIf you have more questions, please leave a message in the comment area. In the next issue, we will discuss "Interpretation of the New Policy on Australian Skilled Immigration Points", so stay tuned!