Buddhism in Australia: Wellbeing, Belonging, and Social Engagement
The first nation-wide, comprehensive study of Buddhism in Australia, from the 19th century to the present day, this project aims to provide new knowledge of this previously under-researched religion in Australia. It will employ mixed methods, including digital oral history interviews, cultural heritage case studies, and the first large-scale survey of Australian Buddhists.
This project presents a timely opportunity to develop new knowledge of the rich history and contemporary lives of Buddhists in Australia, focusing on understanding Buddhist practices, social engagement, and flows of migration across the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Aims And Objectives
The project has five objectives, to:
- Document the presence of Buddhism in Australia and the religious lives and activities of Australia’s Buddhist migrants from the 1800s;
- Identify the factors that enable or impede a sense of belonging of Buddhists in Australian society;
- Analyse individual and organisational Buddhist contributions to health, wellbeing and social engagement in Australia;
- Investigate the ongoing relationships that have been established between Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Buddhists in Australia;
- Raise the profile of Buddhism in Australia, and increase religious literacy of Australians through the production of educational resources on Buddhism in Australia.
Project Output
Timeline
September 2024
- The CIs are meeting on 9 September for post-fieldwork debrief and to plan for field trips to NSW and Southeast Queensland in December 2024
August 2024
- A meeting was held on 13 August to discuss directions and strategies in archival research, with a focus on Parts 1A )pre-1901) and 1B (1901-1973)
- On 14 August, a debrief meeting on videography was held
- Field trip 2 to Darwin and Broome commenced on 18 August, partly to coincide with the Shinju Matsuri Festival. We documented the presence of Buddhists in the presence and the past in this 8-day journey. Follow our journey @buddhinau
June & July 2024
- Research team meetings held on 5 and 18 June to review the fieldwork locations
- Between 26 June and 8 July, the research team and videography team embarked on the first fieldwork trip of the project. Covering Bribie Island, Mackay, Townsville, Cooktown, Atherton Tablelands, Thursday Island, Cairns and places in between, we conducted interviews and heritage research to uncover traces of Buddhism and Buddhists up north. Follow our journey @buddhinau
May 2024
- Brainstorming meeting on Educational Resources held on 7th May 2024
- Research team meeting held on 8th May 2024 to discuss the fieldwork schedule
- Advisory meeting held on 28th May 2024
2024 Apr
The research team met to scope literature review for Part 1A: pre-1901, Part 1B: 1901-1973 and Part 1C: 1973 to 2025.2024 Mar
- Project site developed
- Research ethics application submitted