My name is Lisa Singh and as CEO of the Australia India Institute, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the launch of this landmark report on Victorians’ Perceptions on India and the Indian Diaspora: A State-Wide Survey.
I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.
Can I also acknowledge Consul General Sushil Kumar, welcome sir.
And to all of you as either members of the Indian diaspora here in Victoria or the broader Victorian community.
The Indian diaspora has left its mark in every corner of Australia – in business, academia, the arts, science, technology, and beyond.
They have not only built bridges of friendship and understanding between our two nations, enriching the cultural tapestry of this land with beautiful traditions, festivals, and values.
But they have also demonstrated dynamism and enterprise, making significant contributions towards the economic growth of our nation.
Today more than 976,000 people claim Indian ancestry in Australia – its our fastest growing diaspora community.
And it’s Victoria – that is home to the most Indian immigrants in the country.
As Australia’s economic and geostrategic ties with India continue to grow, it has never been more important to better understand the role and the relationship with our Indian diaspora.
Which brings me to this landmark report. The institute identified how integral this community is– across all aspects of Victorian society and economy – and we sought to capture this information.
The state-wide survey is the first of its kind.
It is the only comprehensive survey of the Victorian population focussing on attitudes towards India and the Indian diaspora.
The report contains the results of thousands of survey respondents and analyses interviews with various people of Indian heritage.
We commenced this report at the Australian India Institute in 2022 and it was a thought project between myself and Dr. Karen Barker, who is not with us here today but one of the co-authors of the report with Dr. Dhanji and our discussion in developing this particular project with the Victorian Government to fit in with the importance of how the Victorian government can deliver on its Victoria India strategy.
It was really about trying to capture the impact of the community to the broader Victorian community.
And the results show that Victorians overwhelmingly value the contributions of the Indian community – and believe they positively enhance all aspects of Victorian life.
Regardless of age and gender groups, more than half of the Victorian respondents said they regularly interact with the Indian diaspora across different areas.
They are aware of the unparalleled skill sets that Indian migrants bring across key economic sectors of interest to the State;
Skill Sets that respondents said should be capitalised on by the Victorian government to transform their soft power potential and engage in policies relevant to improving the bilateral economic relationship.
And to its credit, the Victorian Government has already placed great value on nurturing these deep people-to-people ties.
Promoting travel and tourism for Indian visitors, attracting Indian international students, and supporting the skilled migration of Indian professionals.
There has been no better time for the Australia-India bilateral relationship, with the bonds between our two nations skyrocketing.
The findings show, it has even sparked interest among the younger generations of Victorian residents to learn more about India and the Indian diaspora through public and cultural events, and social interactions.
However, the report also revealed the gaps that need to be addressed; one being the lack of visibility of Indians in leadership positions.
If we are planning on promoting a more inclusive Victoria, we need conclusive findings such as that of this report – to better understand this burgeoning part of the Victorian community and shape policy discussions.
Our Indian diaspora plays an invaluable role in driving forward the economic, social, and political trajectory of the State.
And this is an opportune moment to capitalize on the global spotlight on India and advance discussions on how the Australia-India bilateral relationship can be a force for positive change.
On that note, it’s my pleasure to introduce one of the co-author’s of the report, Aii Academic Fellow Dr Surjeet Dhanji to say a few words