Middle-class diaspora: recent immigration to Australia from South Africa and Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study documents immigration to Australia of South Africans and Zimbabweans over the past two decades, their socio-demographic characteristics and the notion of a continuing middle-class diaspora. It examines the resettlement experience of both groups during their first 18 months in the Australian labour and housing markets, and perceptions of their acceptance within the wider Australian community. Focusing on Perth, a major destination area, it examines their spatial assimilation, taking account of important subgroups such as Jewish and Afrikaans speaking South Africans, and black Africans from Zimbabwe. It finds that both South Africans and Zimbabweans as a whole are readily assimilated into the Australian community and labour and housing markets.

Keywords:

• immigration
• resettlement
• Australia
• South Africans
• Zimbabweans

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Middle-class diaspora: recent immigration to Australia from South Africa and Zimbabwe