6.Post WWII Migration to Australia
Throughout history, people have fled persecution and conflict. It wasn’t until after World War I that an international response to displaced persons was made and the actual term ‘refugee’ was used.
Refugees are defined by the United Nations as people ‘who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted or mistreated, are outside the country of their nationality and are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country. Their persecution may be due to their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion’.
Australian governments altered their migration policies in response to global events and internal requirements, as a result Australia experienced waves of migration post World War Two:
- European migration, policy of populate or perish
- Asian migration, policy of assimilation and integration
- Boat people, Multi-culturalism