Research by Professor Cristina Rocha and Dr Kathleen Openshaw from Western Sydney University has provided new insights into the complex relationship between African expressions of Christianity and settlement in Australia.
The African Expressions of Christianity in Australia Report – commissioned by the African Australian Advocacy Centre (AAAC) –found religion is key throughout the migration process of most Africans to Australia.
The report is based on research conducted between March 2020 and June 2023 as part of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery project which involved participant observation, interviews, and focus groups with Christians of African heritage in Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Co-author Professor Cristina Rocha, Director, Religion and Society Research Cluster and School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University, highlighted that according to the Australian 2021 Census 447,523 people living in Australia were born in an African country, and that the African diasporas are incredibly diverse across all demographic indicators.
She said many arrive as refugees, but a growing number arrive as international students and through the ‘skilled stream’ visa category work in professions such as tertiary education, health, and mining.
“The research found faith provides a sense of personal protection, existential meaning and providence, encouraging resilience and strength, with churches the primary institutions through which African migrants seek out support, community, and belonging,” said Professor Rocha.
“However, some churches’ conservative ways are out of step with Australian society at large, particularly regarding gender norms, and may hinder integration and be unappealing to youth born in Australia.”
The research explored the challenges faced by African migrants including language barriers, poor mental health, finding belonging as a LGBTIQA+ Christian, and experiencing racism inside and outside spaces of faith.
It also outlines a series of recommendations to improve the experience for African migrants, calling on the government and NGOs to explicitly recognise churches as important sites for settlement support.
Co-author Dr Kathleen Openshaw, School of Social Sciences at the University, said the recommendations support productive partnerships with churches given that they are important social centres for the vast majority of people of African heritage who identify as Christian living in Australia.
“Among the report’s recommendations is that settlement support agencies need to be cognisant of the strong spiritual component in the lives of African Australians to better serve them,” said Dr Openshaw.
“In addition, youth services should collaborate with churches to respond to the complex needs of African Australian youth. We also found churches have a role to play in addressing issues of
racism and cultural literacy.”
The researchers found more research is required to understand the experiences of LGBTIQA+ African Christians in Australia.
To view the report and recommendations, visit the webpage .
