Community Directory People from Burma/Myanmar
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Community Directory People from Burma/Myanmar Project Initiative Burmese Advisory Committee Creative editor & compilation Aung Thu Consultancy Mark Caruana Administrative assistance Elizabeth Philpsz Cover design Ye Win This Community Directory is an updated publication of the Baulkham Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Center Inc. 15 Hunter St, Parramatta NSW 2150 Tel: (02) 9687 9901 Fax: (02) 9687 9990 E-mail [email protected] Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is correct. However, BHHP MRC will not bear any responsibility for information that has changed after the publication of this document. Printed by: Click Printing Shop 2, Ground Floor, 34 Campbell St, Blacktown NSW 2148 Tel: (02) 9831 1993 Fax: (02) 9831 3174 Copyright: BHHP MRC All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced in full or part without the written permission of the publisher. ISSN 1832-7974 2006 Reprint Table of Contents Foreword a Acknowledgement b About Australia Migration from Burma 1 Census 1-3 Information for new arrivals 4-11 Media 12-13 Religion & Associations 14-19 Periodical Publications & Health 19 Projects for Students 20 Businesses Medical Doctors, Dentists, Optometrists 21-24 Lawyers, Interpreters 25 Businesses Export & Import 26 On Line Businesses, Dine in & Take away 27 Finance 28 Design & Construction, Electricians 29 Mixed Businesses, Finance 30 Activities Social and Welfare Groups 31 Community Organizations 32-34 Sports & Entertainment 34 Burmese in New Zealand Religion 36 Media 36 Education & Training 37 Social & Welfare Groups 37 About Burma Map, Geography and History 38-40 Facts about Burma 41 Ethnic Map, Heritage, Burmese culture 42-50 National Anthem & State Seals 51-54 Burmese Embassies Abroad 54-55 Australian Embassies Abroad 56-57 How to Find Related Websites for Burma 58-60 FOREWORD For a long time, migrants from Burma in Australia have felt the need for a Community Directory. The Burmese Advisory Committee of BHHP MRC discussed this need and agreed to take it up as a project under the Community Settlement Services Scheme of the Dept of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs. It was decided to compile a White and Yellow Pages Directory. This directory will serve as a handy reference as a Who’s Who in the Burmese community for all States in Australia as well as for Burmese across the Tasman, where the community is smaller and even more isolated. Mr. Aung Thu accepted the challenge to spearhead and co-ordinate this pioneering task, as a first of its kind in Australia. He consulted with several people, spending hours of voluntary time on his computer, telephone and e- mail, attracting much-needed sponsorship and promoting the project on community radio. The many persons who helped him are gratefully acknowledged in this Directory. The Directory also includes an information fact sheet on Burma and a list of basic mainstream service providers aimed at assisting new arrivals. Besides addresses and phone numbers, the directory includes e-mails and website addresses where applicable. Some names are translated in the Burmese font and a logo added. All listings are in alphabetical order. A special thanks to an encouraging number of Burmese businesses who kindly donated $50 for a half page or $100 for a full page of advertisement. As a result, the Burmese Advisory Committee has raised much-needed funds to ensure its sustainability in providing a 2nd edition. It is hoped that this directory will be updated regularly and eventually be available on-line. An appeal goes out to expand entries to this Directory to include all Burmese associations, groups and businesses in other States in Australia besides NSW. We hope this Directory will serve a useful purpose for both the Burmese and the Australian community, and will serve as a referral tool to other service providers who come in contact with people of Burma in Australia. Mr. Safar Sarmed Chairperson a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Several persons have helped in the compilation of this Directory. My thanks to all and to the Burmese Advisory Committee who agreed to undertake this directory as their task. To DIMA for providing the funds through the Community Settlement Services Scheme and expert advice through its consultants Ian Johns and George Chami. To Melissa Monteiro, Manager of Baulkham Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Center, who offered a venue and the administrative back- up resources of the Centre. To Mark Caruana (Community Settlement Services Co-ordinator) and Marla Phu (CSS Project Worker and co-worker on this project) both of who offered on-going support to complete this task. To Elizabeth Philipsz (current CSS Project Worker) for her enthusiastic support in the 2006 reprint. To U Maung Maung Myint for his encouraging advice and assistance with software difficulties. To Burmese radio co-ordinators, U Pantra (MCRA-FM2000), Terrell Oung (SBS Radio-Burmese Program), Sydney Educational Radio (2-SER) & The Voice of Mon Radio (ACT) for the promotion of this 2006 reprint. To businesses who offered their tangible support by advertising in this directory and to U Pantra for contacting some Burmese business people. To Ko Ye Win, Nyein Aye Aye Kyi and Aye Hnin Thu for their advice in professional scanning design and in taking photos to create the logos; to Aye Hnin Thu for solving computer problems, without whose assistance I would not have been able to complete this task. To Clarissa Mulas from WSAHS (Western Sydney Area Health Service) and Peter Rogers from WESTIR (Western Sydney Training Information & Research) for providing the 2001 Census data. To all, I say thank you and I greatly appreciate the support received from many friends on the reprint as well. Even though corrections have been made from the previous print, there may be still being some omissions or errors, which are not deliberate but inadvertently done. Aung Thu (Volunteer Co-ordinator) 2006 Reprint with Correction MIGRATION FROM BURMA Burma gained Independence from Britain on the 4th January 1948. The first wave of Burmese in Australia was Anglo-Burmese who found post-colonial life in Burma difficult after independence. Between 1947-1959, it is estimated that 3,500 Anglo-Burmese came to Australia and between 1965-1972 an additional 2,500 arrived as humanitarian entrants, assisted by their families and the World Council of Churches. Many settled in WA as the airfares were cheaper, employment was available and they felt that the climate was similar to Burma. During that period, more Buddhist Burmese settled in Australia, mainly spouses of Anglo-Burmese or students who did not wish to return to Burma. Between 1994-1997, more than 1,000 Burmese were admitted under the Humanitarian Program, some coming via Thailand which included a small number of Christian Karens. More recently, for the period of 1999-2004 a total of 453 Burmese- born were admitted to Australia - 241 were as family reunion, 114 as humanitarian entrants and 98 as skilled migrants. 2001 Census Population by State ANCESTRY (Burmese and Anglo-Burmese) State in Australia Burmese Anglo-Burmese Total Western Australia 5,698 639 6,337 New South Wales 2,664 63 2,727 Victoria 1,100 65 1,165 Queensland 580 35 615 ACT (Canberra) 281 12 293 South Australia 125 - 125 Northern Territory 77 - 77 Tasmania 31 - 31 1 CENSUS DATA From the 2001 Census, a microcosmic study of five local government areas (LGAs) in Western Sydney, namely Auburn, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd and Parramatta provide some useful demographic information on the Burma-born in their area. These five LGA areas are home to 38% of all Burma-born migrants and new arrivals to Sydney. Burma-born by LGA 1996-2001 Census NSW LGA 1996 2001 CHANGE Auburn 254 444 190 growth Blacktown 234 313 79 growth Parramatta 207 243 36 growth Holroyd 46 93 47 growth Baulkham Hills 59 77 18 growth 800 1,170 370 growth Burma-born by Gender - Census 2001 LGA Male Female Total Auburn 254 190 444 Blacktown 162 151 313 Parramatta 138 105 243 Holroyd 44 49 93 Baulkham Hills 42 35 77 640 530 1,170 Burma-born by Private Dwelling & Tenure Type Dwelling Burma-born % of Total Rented – other landlord 519 43% Dwelling being purchase 334 28% Fully-owned dwelling 273 23% Other tenure 31 3% Rented – Housing Authority 21 2% Tenure not stated 15 1% Rented – landlord not stated 3 - Rented - co-operative housing 3 - 2 Burma-born in Australia by Language Proficiency Language proficiency Persons Percentage Speaks English well 462 37% Speaks English very well 358 29% Not well 246 20% Speaks English only 111 9% Not at all 39 3% Not stated 18 1% 1,234 100% Burma-born in Australia by Marital Status Marital Status Persons over 15 Percentage Married 722 65% Never married 296 27% Widowed 37 3% Divorced 36 3% Separated 22 2% 1,113 100% Source: 2001Demographic Profiles CALD populations in WSAHS MORE CENSUS DATA BIRTHPLACE – BURMA Both parents born overseas 10,621 97% Birthplace not stated 262 2% Both Burmese parents were born in Australia 37 - Mother born in Australia; father born overseas 28 - Father born in Australia; mother born overseas 25 - In 2001, the overwhelming majority (97%) of Burmese living in Australia have both mother and father who were born in Burma. The number of Burmese where both the father and the mother are born Australia-born, i.e. they are second-generation Burmese, is very small, totalling 37 out of a total Burmese population of 10,621. Compiled by Mark Caruana CSS Co-ordinator (Minorities) BHHP MRC 3 Basic Settlement Services BANK ACCOUNT It is advisable to open an account with a bank, building society or credit union within the first 6 weeks of arrival in Australia. The only document you need for identification purposes is your passport.