Armenian Australians refers to Australians of Armenian national background or descent. They have become one of the key Armenian diasporas around the world and among the largest in the English-speaking world.

While the Armenian community in Australia is relatively recent compared to other Armenian diasporas, Australia's economic prosperity over the last couple of decades has attracted many skilled Armenian migrants. The official relationship between Australia and Armenia started on 26 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 15 January 1992.

Overview The influx of Armenians into Australia has come from many different Diaspora countries; these countries include Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Ethiopia, Singapore, and India.

Today the Australo-Armenian community includes members born in up to and over 43 different countries. The main concentration of Armenians in Sydney are in the City of Ryde, followed by the City of Willoughby, and the City of Warringah. Smaller communities exist in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth.

Organisations All traditional Armenian diaspora parties have established in the country: Social Democratic Hunchakian Party Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Armenian Revolutionary Federation

There are also many associated political groupings like: Armenian Youth Federation of Australia Armenian National Committee of Australia

Other operating social and cultural organisations within the Armenian Australian community: Armenian General Benevolent Union Hamazkayin Regional Committee breaking down into sub-divisions/committees. SBS Armenian Radio Armenian Chamber of Commerce in Australia Homenetmen AustraliaHomenetmen Australia Regional Website Hye Hoki

Cultural centres In Sydney there are several main cultural centres to which Armenians gather, one located in Willoughby, New South Wales named the Armenian Cultural Centre and another located in Bonnyrigg, New South WalesArmenian Info & Portal Web Site named the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre, and smaller Cultural Centres in Neutral Bay, City of Ryde, Frenchs Forest (Ararat Reserve) and Naremburn, Sydney. Melbourne also has several cultural centres.

Education Armenian is an accepted language in the NSW HSC. Also known as Armenian Continuers, the course is taught at Saturday schools or as a subject at full-time Armenian schools.

Armenian Schooling has become stronger throughout the Australian community with two full-time schools operating in Sydney. These are:

Galstaun College AGBU Alexander Primary School

Alongside which a number of Saturday schools operate as listed below:

Toomanian Armenian Saturday School AGBU Alex Manoogian Saturday School Tarkmanchatch Armenian Saturday School Serop Papazian Armenian Saturday School Looyce Armenian Catholic School

Religion

+ Armenian Australian demography by religion (note that it include only Armenian born in Armenia and not australian with armenian ancestries)Religious group202120162011 Catholic 67 60 72 Oriental Orthodox 423 498 444 Protestant and Other christian 515 443 401 (Total Christian)1,005 1,001 911 Islam 0 0 5 No religion 127 73 40 Buddhism 0 0 0 Hinduism 0 0 0 Judaism 0 4 0 Other 4 5 12 Not stated 67 81 76 Total Armenian Australian population 1,202 1,162 1,041

+ Armenian Australian demography by religion (Ancestry included)Religious group202120162011 Catholic 4,090 3,394 2,711 Oriental Orthodox 8,079 8,309 7,814 Protestant and Other christian 7,417 5,762 5,255 (Total Christian)19,580 17,465 15,843 Islam 113 64 45 No religion 3,354 2,065 1,196 Buddhism 24 29 19 Hinduism 11 10 5 Judaism 25 21 18 Other 41 33 33 Not stated 576 712 513 Total Armenian Australian population 23,722 20,403 17,767

The oldest and largest Armenian church in Australia and throughout the worldArmenians#Religion is the Armenian Apostolic Church, which in Australia is led by Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian who is the Primate of the Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic churches and replaced Archbishop Aghan Baliozian. The Armenian Catholic community is led by Father Parsegh (Basil) Sousanian. there is also a presence of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Sydney and Melbourne in addition to the Holy Trinity Armenian Brotherhood Church and the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church, both in Sydney. The Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection is located in Chatswood, New South Wales. The Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Trinity in Wentworthville, New South Wales. The Armenian Catholic Church is located in Lidcombe, New South Wales. The Armenian Evangelical Church is located in Willoughby, New South Wales. The Armenian Brotherhood Holy Trinity Church is located in Ryde, New South Wales.This page contains addresses of all Armenian Brotherhood Churches Around the World The Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church is located in Northbridge, New South Wales.

Notable Armenian Australians The Australian Armenian community has produced many notable figures who have become key members who shape the identity of Armenians in Australia. Below are a few of these members.

Gladys Berejiklian – member of the NSW Parliament for Willoughby, Treasurer of New South Wales (2015–2017), Premier of New South Wales (2017–2021) Vic Darchinyan – Three-division world champion boxer George Donikian – Network Ten news presenter Brian Goorjian – Regarded as Australia's most successful basketball coach. Slava Grigoryan – classical guitarist, two-time ARIA winner. Joe Hockey – member of parliament for the Division of North Sydney (1996–2015), Treasurer (2013–2015), ambassador of Australia to the United States (2016–2020) John Kachoyan – Director and writer Yurik Sarkisian – Olympic silver medalist and two-time world champion weightlifter, set 17 world records during his career. Jano Toussounian – Australian/Armenian actor

See also

Armenian diaspora European Australians Immigration to Australia

Notes

References

External links http://www.agbu.org.au http://www.aacca.com.au/ http://www.ararat.org.au/ http://www.nareg.com.au/nas/ http://armenianchurchsydney.org.au http://www.anc.org.au/ http://www.ayfaustralia.org