Buddhism in Australia Survey Officially Launched

Sioh Yang Tan

The Humanistic Buddhism Centre at Nan Tien Institute, in collaboration with Deakin University, Western Sydney University, and Charles Darwin University, officially launched the Buddhism in Australia Survey on September 23, 2025.

The hybrid launch event drew 32 participants, including Buddhist community leaders, researchers, and members of the public. Notable attendees included Venerable Thubten Chokyi, Chair of the Australian Sangha Association, and Venerable BonHyon Sunim, a committee member. Chief Investigators from the project team including Venerable Dr Juewei, Associate Professor Anna Halafoff, Associate Professor Sue Smith, Professor Cristina Rocha, and Professor Andrew Singleton were also present.

Venerable Juewei outlined the project’s objectives, emphasizing three key themes: belonging, wellbeing, and social engagement of Buddhists in Australia from the mid-19th century to the present. Using mixed methodologies, including fieldwork, surveys, and heritage studies,the research team will document the history, heritage, and demographics of Buddhism in Australia. Their findings will be shared through academic publications, a monograph, project reports, and digital educational resources. These outputs aim to benefit both the academic community and the broader public, while also giving back to Buddhist communities across Australia for their support.

Anna Halafoff expressed gratitude to the venerables, Buddhist community leaders, proofreaders, and research assistants who have contributed to the project. She emphasised that the research is community-informed, reflecting the priorities and concerns that Buddhist communities themselves identified. The project team has also consulted with the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils and numerous Buddhist groups across the country.

Anna Halafoff reported on the fieldwork conducted so far, noting that the team has travelled extensively to film and document the lives of Buddhists past and present, from Thursday Island, Torres Straits in the north, down to Launceston, Tasmania in the south. A major outcome will be a digital map of Buddhism in Australia, featuring links to recorded interviews with Buddhist leaders, curators, and descendants of early Buddhists.

At the heart of the initiative is the first large-scale national survey of Buddhism in Australia. Open to anyone aged 18 and over, the survey invites participants to share their practices, beliefs, values, and experiences of belonging and wellbeing. It is available in six languages: English, Cambodian, Mandarin, Sinhalese, Thai, and Vietnamese.

“This is a valuable opportunity to dig deeper into the beliefs, practices, and experiences of Buddhists,” said Andrew Singleton. “It will also provide critical insights into wellbeing, belonging, and social contributions, helping to inform policy-making and multicultural engagement.” Since its release in mid-September, the survey has already received more than 400 responses in just two weeks.

The event concluded with Venerable Juewei, the project’s lead Chief Investigator, officially launching the survey.

The Buddhism in Australia research project is generously funded by Hsing Yun Education Foundation Australia. For more information on the project, visit: https://buddhisminaustralia.org