Australian Buddhism Research Team Documents the Diversity of Buddhist Life in Western Australia and Christmas Island

In early November, the “Buddhism in Australia” research project, a partnership between Nan Tien Institute, Deakin University, Western Sydney University, and Charles Darwin University, commenced its fifth round of fieldwork. Associate Professor Anna Halafoff, Associate Professor Sue Smith, and videographer Filip Milovac travelled across Western Australia and Christmas Island to document the rich diversity of Buddhist cultures in Australia.

In recent years, the number of Bhutanese migrants settling in Australia has steadily increased, with Perth becoming one of the largest centres of Bhutanese population nationwide. The research team began their fieldwork at the Association of Bhutanese in Perth, where they interviewed Venerable Tshering Wangchuk. The interview provided valuable insights into the establishment and growth of the Bhutanese Buddhist community in Western Australia.

In the afternoon, the team visited the Dhammaloka Centre in Nollamara, home of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia (BSWA). They conducted interviews with long-term volunteers Boon Tan and Sandra Henville, whose longstanding contributions to community service and Buddhist education reflect the strong grassroots engagement within Western Australia’s Buddhist community. The research team also met with Jeffrey Tan, founder of the Christmas Island Mahayana Buddhist Society (CIMBS). Although now residing in Perth, Jeffery has been actively involved in Buddhist community development on Christmas Island since the 1980s.

At Fo Guang Shan Perth, they interviewed Venerable Chokyi, President of the Australian Sangha Association (ASA), and Natasha Tang, President of the Buddhist Council of Western Australia and an advisor at BLIA Western Australia. Their perspectives highlighted the ecumenical spirit of Buddhism in Australia today.

On 1 November, the team flew to Christmas Island, beginning three days of intensive filming. Located in the northeastern Indian Ocean, the volcanic island is famous for its spectacular annual red crab migration, when millions of crabs move from the forest to the coast during the first rains of the wet season, forming one of the island’s most iconic natural scenes.

Chinese indentured labourers first arrived in the late 19th century to work in the phosphate mines, bringing their religious traditions with them. According to the 2021 Australian Census, 22.2% of the island’s residents have Chinese ancestry, while 15.2% identify as Buddhist, much higher than the national averages. These figures reflect the island’s close geographical and historical ties to Asia, as well as its migration history.

The first stop on the island was the Christmas Island Mahayana Buddhist Society (CIMBS). The team interviewed community leaders and long-term residents, documenting stories of early migrant labour, temple construction, and the evolution of religious activities over generations.

On the second day, cultural heritage consultant Helene Bartleson guided the team to nearly ten Buddhist and Taoist temples built by early Chinese settlers. Many of these temples continue to be voluntarily maintained by island residents. Some have been repurposed by local Buddhist and Taoist organisations.

Bartleson emphasised that these temples are valuable cultural heritage, embodying the island’s layered history of migration, spirituality, and community. Anna Halafoff noted that preserving buildings and artefacts in a remote tropical climate poses considerable challenges. She stressed the need for continued support from both state and federal governments to help the local community conserve these culturally and religiously significant sites.

On 4 November, the research team returned to Perth to interview Tholla Chan, a representative of the Cambodian Buddhist community, and to continue filming Buddhist temples and centres from a range of traditions and cultural backgrounds. This fifth round of fieldwork highlighted the vibrant multicultural, multi-tradition character of Buddhist life across Western Australia and Christmas Island.

 “Buddhism in Australia: Belonging, Wellbeing and Social Engagement” is a three-year research project funded by the Hsing Yun Education Foundation Australia.