Buddhism in Australia Research Findings Featured across National Media Platforms

Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple

In September 2026, to coincide with the release of findings from the three-year Buddhism in Australia research project—a collaboration between Nan Tien Institute, Deakin University, Western Sydney University and Charles Darwin University—the research team shared its findings across several platforms of Australia’s principal public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). This included an interview on ABC Radio National’s Soul Search on 17 September and an opinion piece published by ABC Religion and Ethics on 22 September.

The article, focusing on the survey of Buddhists in Australia, was co-authored by Professor Anna Halafoff and Professor Andrew Singleton, both sociologists at Deakin University, Associate Professor Venerable Juewei, Director, and Dr Sioh Yang Tan, researcher at the Humanistic Buddhism Centre, Nan Tien Institute. It presented key findings from the first nationwide survey of Buddhism in Australia. A total of 2,317 adults completed the survey. Almost three-quarters of respondents were born overseas, yet they reported a strong sense of belonging in Australia and high levels of wellbeing. The survey also revealed the rich diversity of Buddhist traditions and practices in Australia and highlighted the positive role that Buddhist beliefs and practices play in respondents’ sense of belonging and wellbeing.

Andrew Singleton, an expert in quantitative and qualitative research who led the survey design and statistical analysis, described it as “one of the most interesting surveys I’ve ever worked on.” A distinctive feature of the survey was that it was offered in seven languages, with participants recruited through community groups, Buddhist organisations and temples, as well as social media. This enabled the research team to reach Buddhist communities whose first language is not English. Singleton said he was delighted by the richness and quality of the data collected.

Speaking with Soul Search host Meredith Lake from Alice Springs in Central Australia, Anna Halafoff explained that the Buddhism in Australia project was broad in scope. It included not only people who identify as Buddhist, but also those who engage with Buddhist values, ideas and practices without necessarily identifying themselves as Buddhists. The project traces more than 150 years of Buddhist history in Australia: from early Sri Lankan, Chinese and Japanese migrants working in mining, pearling and agriculture, through the mid-twentieth century when Buddhism was largely promoted by Anglo-Australians, to the growth of Asian Buddhist communities following changes to immigration policy from the 1970s onwards.

Halafoff noted that Australia’s first Buddhist temple was established by Sri Lankan migrants on Thursday Island in the 1880s. The research team interviewed descendants of the early Sri Lankan Mendis family and found that their Buddhist faith has continued through the generations, with descendants establishing and supporting the Brisbane Buddhist Vihara. For Halafoff, uncovering this continuity was one of the highlights of the project.

She emphasised that Buddhism in Australia offers a way of rethinking Australian history through the religious and worldview diversity that has long existed in the country, revealing the interconnected histories of Indigenous, Asian and European peoples. “The connection and relationships between these different communities have existed for a very long time, and they continue today,” she said.

Venerable Juewei joined the program by phone to share her experiences of fieldwork in Far North Queensland, including Cooktown and Cairns. She spoke of listening to the stories of descendants of early Buddhists, learning how migrants sustained their faith through the establishment of temples, and engaging with archaeologists and curators. These experiences, she said, revealed a much broader history of Buddhism in Australia and demonstrated the importance of traditional beliefs to early Chinese migrants living far from their homelands. Despite experiencing discrimination, Chinese migrants and their descendants became part of Australian society through social participation and charitable service. In more recent times, organisations such as the Buddha’s Light International Association have continued to contribute to Australian society through cultural, educational, charitable and festival activities.

Discussing Fo Guang Shan’s global propagation of Humanistic Buddhism, Venerable Juewei described the establishment of Nan Tien Temple by Fo Guang Shan founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun as an important milestone in the development of Buddhism in Australia. Beyond a place of religious practice, Nan Tien Temple has also contributed to local tourism, economic activity and employment. Throughout his life, Venerable Master Hsing Yun advocated Humanistic Buddhism and a philosophy of “giving”—giving others joy, confidence, hope and assistance. The Buddhism in Australia research project, supported by the Hsing Yun Education Foundation, can likewise be seen as his gift to Buddhism and the Australian society.

By documenting more than a century of Buddhist history and connecting diverse cultures and communities, the project brings greater recognition to the efforts and resilience of generations of Buddhist communities. It also demonstrates how Buddhism has enriched the lives of generations of Australians and continues to contribute to Australia’s diverse and multicultural society.

Listen to the podcast “The untold stories of Buddhism in Australia” on ABC Radio National’s Soul Search: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/soul-search/the-untold-stories-of-buddhism-in-australia/107099528

Read “Australian Buddhists: What our survey discovered about their wellbeing and belonging” on ABC Religion & Ethics: https://www.abc.net.au/religion/australian-buddhists-survey-about-their-wellbeing-and-belonging/107183158