The Romani people in Australia are citizens of Australia who are of Romani descent. They are sometimes referred to as Roma. Most Roma in Australia trace their roots to the United Kingdom and Greece, who in return trace their roots to northern India.
The first Roma arrived in Australia in 1788, with migration patterns continuing throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The population is currently estimated to be between 5,000 and 25,000 peoples, with significant numbers of Roma living in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
The Romani community is underrepresented in Australian society, and is commonly referred to as the ‘invisible community’. Many members are not registered on the electoral roll, nor do they identify as Romani in the census. Reasons behind this include the nomadic lifestyle of many Roma, where they temporarily live in various states and regions, and fear of discrimination.
In Australia, the Romani community engages in many traditional practices, including marriage, fortune-telling, nomadism and poetry writing. These cultural practices are central to the diaspora as a whole, however they slight vary across populations due to contextual influences.
Despite its wide use, many Romani people consider the term "Gypsy" to be a racial slur, and are offended or made uncomfortable by its use. The word traces its origin to Europeans incorrectly surmising that Romani people originated from Egypt.
Origins and History
The Roma population originated in the northwestern regions of India. Following a history of violence and brutality, communities have migrated internationally, with the majority of members living throughout Europe. It is estimated that the Romani diaspora has a population somewhere between 2-5 million peoples, however the nomadic nature of their culture challenges the accuracy of such statistics.
The arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 brought Romani people to Australia. It is estimated that within the convict population, approximately sixty people were of Romani descent. Notable names in this population include James Squire, who went on to establish the first brewery in Australia.
Following the outbreak of World War II, the Australian Romani population further increased as members sought to escape extermination by the Nazi Regime. Other factors that increased patterns of Roma migration include the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) which saw the community become the target of persecution by these world powers.
Geography and populations
According to the 2011 Census, the Australian Romani population measured to approximately 775 people. This figure is largely disputed among researchers and the Romani community due to the group's practice of nomadism and their desire to isolate from western culture, which makes accurate statistics challenging to acquire. The real population is estimated to be around 20,000-25,000 people.
Romani communities are dispersed across all Australian states, with significant populations located in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Around 14,000 Roma live in Western Australia, mostly immigrants from Macedonia and their children. Nearly all lead sedentary lives. Here, culture maintains a strong presence. The community continues to organise cultural events, Rom-exclusive sports competitions and teach the language of Romanes.
Historically, Romani communities across the world have held jobs that support their nomadic lifestyle. As well as this, the lower levels of education within the group also affects the job titles they can pursue. The typical occupational fields for this community include agriculture and livestock traders, repairmen and engineers, and entertainment, often seen through fortune-telling and music. In Australia, similar job titles are held by the Roma. In the early twentieth century, men often worked in the cane fields across Queensland and women worked as entertainers to the public.
Culture and tradition within the Australian diaspora
The customs and traditions of the Romani diaspora differ in each established society due to factors such as the environment, population size and public attitudes, which influence the practice of culture. There are some cultural values that are fundamental to the ethnic group and therefore widely rehearsed. Marriage is a large institution within Romani culture and is highly valued. The family structure typically includes a mother and a father, their children, and their married son's immediate family.