-born Community Information Summary Historical Background

The first Slovak migrant recorded in was Brother Jakub Longa, a Jesuit priest sent to Australia in 1888 to undertake missionary work in the Northern Territory and later in South Australia.

More significant numbers began to migrate in the late 1920s. In 1928, 160 came to eastern Australia in search of work. Given the economic conditions at the time, leading to the Great Depression, many sought work in the outback; clearing bush, distilling eucalyptus oil and undertaking seasonal casual farm work.

By 1939, about 350 Slovaks lived in Australia. This number increased to around 3000 following World War II when many arrived as displaced persons. Initially the new arrivals settled in all parts of Australia, however. They gradually moved to the more established Slovak communities in the major centres of Brisbane, and .

In the late 1950s, more than 3000 Slovaks from the northern parts of Yugoslavia were permitted to migrate and came to Australia. Following the Prague Spring of 1968, around 1200 Slovaks with relatives or friends in Australia arrived.

Since the fall of the communist regime of the former Czechoslovakia in 1989 and establishment of the Slovak Republic, there has been a small but steady stream of migration to Australia.

2016 Census

Geographic Distribution The latest Census in 2016 recorded 4,432 Slovakia-born people in Australia, an increase of 12.5 per cent from the 2011 Census.

The 2016 distribution by State and Territory showed New South Wales had the largest number with 2,252 followed by Victoria (726), Queensland (654) and Western Australia (381). Age and Sex The median age of the Slovakia-born in 2016 was 40 years compared with 44 Age and Sex Per cent years for all overseas-born and 38 (%) Male Female years for the total Australian population. 25

20 The age distribution showed 1.9 per cent were aged 0-14 years, 3.2 per 15 cent were 15-24 years, 54.8 per cent were 25-44 years, 20.8 per cent were 10 45-64 years and 18.9 per cent were 65 years and over. 5

0 Of the Slovakia-born in Australia, there were 1,989 males (44.9 per cent) and 2,438 females (55.0 per cent). The sex ratio was 82 males per 100 females. Age

Ancestry

In the 2016 Census, the top ancestry Ancestry ResponseSlovak responses* that Slovakia-born people 77.6% reported were Slovak (3,797), Hungarian (378) and Czech (131).

In the 2016 Census, reported over 300 different ancestries. Of the total ancestry responses* 11,367 responses were towards Slovak ancestry. Other Ancestry Hungarian 9.4% 7.7% * At the 2016 Census up to two responses per person German Czech were allowed for the Ancestry question, therefore 2.6% 2.7% there can be more responses than total persons.

Language Slovak Language Spoken at Home The main languages spoken at home 62.8% by Slovakia-born people in Australia were Slovak (2,785), English (1,258) and Hungarian (136).

Of the 3,159 Slovakia-born who spoke a language other than English at home, 95.0 per cent spoke English very well or well, and 4.6 per cent spoke English English Other not well or not at all. 28.4% Languages 3.2% Czech Hungarian 1.6% 3.1% Religion

Religion At the 2016 Census the major religious No Religion, Catholic affiliations amongst Slovakia-born were so described 52.9% Catholic (2,344), Lutheran (93) and 29.4% Christian, nfd (88).

Of the Slovakia-born, 29.4 per cent stated 'No Religion' which was lower than that of the total Australian population (29.6 per cent), and 4.9 per cent did not state a religion.

Other Lutheran Religion 2.1% 6.5% Judaism 1.6% Christian, nfd 2.0%

Arrival

Compared to 61.8 per cent of the total overseas-born population, 65.9 per Arrival in Australia cent of the Slovakia-born people in Per cent (%) Slovakia-born All Overseas-born Australia arrived in Australia prior to 20 2007. 18 16 14 12 Among the total Slovakia-born in 10 8 Australia at the 2016 Census, 12.8 per 6 cent arrived between 2007 and 2011 4 and 18.6 per cent arrived between 2 2012 and 2016. 0

Year of Arrival

Median Income At the time of the 2016 Census, the median Individual Weekly Income for the Slovakia-born in Australia aged 15 years and over was $763, compared with $615 for all overseas-born and $688 for all Australian-born.

The total Australian population aged 15 and over had a median Individual Weekly Income of $662. Qualifications Qualifications At the 2016 Census, 80.4 per cent of the Per cent Slovakia-born Total Population Slovakia-born aged 15 years and over had (%) 45 some form of higher non-school qualification compared to 60.1 per cent of 40 the Australian population. 35 30 25 Of the Slovakia-born aged 15 years and 20 over, 3.0 per cent had no qualifications and 15 were still attending an educational 10 institution. The corresponding rate for the 5 total Australian population was 8.5 per 0 cent. Degree and Advanced Certificate Level Inad No higher Diploma and Level Desc/Not Qualifications Diploma Level stated - Attending Ed Inst Level of Qualification

Employment Occupation Among Slovakia-born people aged 15 Per cent Slovakia-born Total Population years and over, the participation rate in (%) the labour force was 71.2 per cent and 30 the unemployment rate was 4.8 per cent. 25

The corresponding rates in the total 20 Australian population were 64.6 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively. 15

10 Of the 2,904 Slovakia-born who were employed, 51.9 per cent were employed in 5 either a skilled managerial, professional or 0 trade occupation. The corresponding rate Managers Prof Tech & Comm & Clerical Sales Mach Labourers in the total Australian population was 48.8 Trades Personal & Wrkrs Op & per cent. Service Admin Drivers Occupation

Produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Department of Home Affairs

All data used in this summary is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing.

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