Mauritian Australians are Australians of Mauritian descent, or who were born in Mauritius.
The Census in 2011 recorded 23 280 Mauritius-born people in Australia, an increase of 28.1 percent from the 2006 Census.
The 2011 distribution by state and territory showed Victoria had the largest number with 11 600 followed by New South Wales (5752), Western Australia (3932) and Queensland (1476).
Mauritians are a rapidly growing migrant group having increased steadily over the past 30 years.
Many Franco-Mauritians and Creole mixed families seeking better opportunities for their children migrated to Australia. The Franco-Mauritians helped to develop Queensland's sugar industry.
Cultural background
As Mauritius is a country with a multicultural and multiethnic society, Mauritians have different and diverse ethnic backgrounds. However, in the 2011 Census most Mauritius-born people living in Australia reported being of Mauritian descent (13,651), followed by those of French (4,536) and Chinese descent (2,057).
Base on ethnic lines, Creole Mauritians (Black and mixed-race) represent 50% of the community in Australia, this group were largest numbers leaving Mauritius after independence from colonial rule (Britain, and previously, France) in 1968. Chinese-Mauritians make up 7%, arriving mostly during the 80s and 90s, those of Indian ancestry are 20-25% and Creoles of African ancestry 20-25%. Most of the Afro-Mauritians and Indians have arrived after the 2000s, and are the fastest growing part of the community. Mauritian-Australians have a growing presence in Australian popular culture, including in music, literature, and television. Aisha in The Slap is a notable example, identified in the TV series adaptation as 'Mauritian-Australian'. Havana Brown is a significant Australian musician of Mauritian background.
Language
The main languages spoken by Mauritius-born people in Australia were French (12,545), English (5,665) and Mauritian (2,654). Note that Australia has a large French-speaking Mauritian community in relation to percentage of the overall Mauritian community, they represent 1.4% of the Mauritian community, although numbers would be much higher, but most of the second generation speak English. The French speakers using the language as mother tongue represent the White-Mauritians or gens de couleur (mixed-race Creoles) ethnic groups, making up at least 50% of the Mauritian community in Australia. In comparison, in Mauritius 4.1% of the population speaks French as a first language (mother tongue) with 68.6% using French as a second language making a total of 72.7% French speakers.
Notable people
Ivan Astruc- Australian rules footballer
Jake Adelson- footballer
Angry Anderson- rock singer-songwriter, television presenter-reporter and actor
Ludovic Boi- footballer
Ralph Babet- Senator
Shalom Brune-Franklin- actress
Havana Brown- DJ, singer, recording artist, record producer and dancer. Orwin Castel- footballer Denis Constantin- badminton player Jean-Paul De Marigny- footballer, Football Manager, former Socceroo Marcus Dimanche- footballer Chris Driver- footballer Edward Duyker- historian, biographer and author Drozena Eden- Australian rules footballer Laurina Fleure- Model and TV Personality Andrew Florent- tennis player Oliver Florent- Australian rules footballer Marlee Francois - footballer Tyrese Francois- footballer Genevieve Gregson- Athlete Doug Ithier- footballer Mahesh Jadu- actor Bob Joshua- politician Patrick Kisnorbo- footballer, Football Manager, former Socceroo Cooper Legrand- footballer Bert La Bonté- actor John La Nauze- historian Fabrice Lapierre- long jumper Disco Montego- R&B & Dance group Thomas Shadrach Peersahib- herbalist, teacher, activist Lloyd Rees- painter Anabelle Smith- Diving Arthur Stace- soldier Starley- singer and songwriter Nick Sullivan- footballer Nikolai Topor-Stanley- footballer, former Socceroo Jordi Valadon- footballer Bernard Zuel- journalist