On 25 February 2025, the Buddhism in Australia research project held its second advisory committee meeting online. The meeting brought together scholars and community leaders to share insights and guide the project’s next steps.
Dr Juewei Shi presented fieldwork findings from Queensland, New South Wales, Darwin, and Broome, while Dr Sioh-Yang Tan reported on the project’s overall progress. Dr Ruth Fitzpatrick shared her literature research and highlighted the growth of Buddhist communities from the 1950s to 1970s, and Professor Cristina Rocha shared updates on a forthcoming book. Plans for digital learning resources were also discussed by Associate Professor Sue Smith.
Upcoming field trips include Melbourne, Bendigo, Launceston, Perth, and Christmas Island. A key focus was the development of a national survey to explore Buddhist identity, rites of passage, and perspectives on contemporary issues. Facilitated by Associate Professor Anna Halafoff, the committee engaged in a brainstorming session to generate survey themes and questions. Suggestions included questions that address Buddhist identity, Buddhist rites of passage, and Buddhist views on contemporary issues such as environmentalism and emerging technologies.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and impactful research. As Ven Juewei reflected, the project is helping to bridge time, space, and connection to the land called Australia.