Community
Australia
About 8,100 people born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, and many more have Somali roots. More than half live in Victoria, mostly in Melbourne, and many work as carers and drivers on incomes well below the Australian average.
Who lives there
The 2021 Census counted 8,101 people born in Somalia. 53% are women, the median age is 38, and 68.6% are Australian citizens (ABS QuickStats 2021). Children born in Australia to Somali parents are not in that number. Counted by ancestry, the community is more than twice as large.
Victoria has the largest community. 10,019 Victorians have Somali ancestry, and 4,291 of them were born in Somalia. The City of Wyndham has the most (1,555), followed by the City of Hume (1,326) (Victorian Government). Greater Melbourne alone had 4,229 people born in Somalia in 2021 (ABS, Greater Melbourne). The community is fairly new: in 1991 Victoria counted only 242 Somalis (Victorian Government).
Work and money
- Work: 57.7% are in the labour force. Of those, 20.0% are unemployed, 39.3% work full-time and 32.2% part-time.
- Jobs: community and personal service workers 26.7%, machinery operators and drivers 23.7%, professionals 14.7%.
- Income: a median of $516 a week per person, against $805 for all Australians.
- Language: 17.6% speak English not well or not at all (ABS 2021).
Who serves the community
Federal, state and local governments. Victoria's government publishes its own Somali community profile and works with community groups.
What the community faces now
- High unemployment (20%) and low incomes, at the 2021 Census.
- Many people work shifts as drivers and carers, which leaves little time for family and community.
Top needs
- A trusted, lawful, low-cost way to send money home that shows results.
- A way to use professional skills in health, IT and education at home.
- A strong link to Somalia for the second generation, through language, history and service.
- A voice: Australian citizens can speak to their own MPs about Somalia.
- Paid work that flows both ways.
What we don't know yet
Figures for Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, the second generation, and the names of community groups. If you know, use "Fix this page".
Sources
- ABS QuickStats 2021 · abs.gov.au
- Victorian Government · vic.gov.au
- ABS, Greater Melbourne · abs.gov.au
Gathered in our research record “Community profiles”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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