Migration from South Africa to Australia

Abstract

This study is about migration between Australia and South Africa. It examines mobility between these countries and the linkages created through this movement, particularly focussing on the largest flow from South Africa to Australia. There has been consistent growth in the number of South Africans living in Australia in recent decades as they have responded to conditions in their origin country and sought out new countries to call home. Despite being among the top ten source countries for the Overseas-born in Australia, and forming a conspicuous group in the Australian community, there has been little research on the migration and experiences of these migrants. This study employs a transnational lens to address this gap in the literature and provide a topical and comprehensive overview of migration between South Africa and Australia. A mixed methods approach is used here to maximise the benefits of quantitative and qualitative data. Secondary administrative data provide crucial information on the scale and composition of movement between these countries and identifies patterns, trends and key migrant characteristics. This provides a useful framework within which primary data from two online surveys and a series of semi-structured interviews are contextualised. These data show that migration from South Africa to Australia is primarily permanent movement driven by push factors in South Africa, chiefly the security situation. Unlike some skilled migrant groups, economic factors were present among the reasons South Africans emigrate but were by no means dominant. While this movement continues to be dominated by White, English-speaking South Africans this study found evidence of increasing ethnic diversity among this group. However, it also highlights difficulties recruiting migrants from less well represented ethnic backgrounds and identifies this as an area for future research. This study reveals South Africans in Australia to be highly educated: a clear benefit for Australia. At the same time, primary data shows that South Africans maintain significant social and emotional ties with their origin country as well as some financial and political linkages. Hybrid identities are common and a number of migrants hold dual citizenship. Although return migration is rare, in some cases it does not necessarily signify the end of migration.