Bhutanese Community in Australia

The Bhutanese Students’ Association- BSA, Armidale, NSW, Australia was instituted on 18th March 2011 to maintain solidarity and promote welfare amongst Bhutanese community of Armidale, NSW. Currently, there are 41 members including four executives who are elected annually. BSA in Armidale is guided by two patrons who are retired professors of the University of New England. The term for patrons is not fixed.

Objectives of BSA- Armidale are to:

1. 1. Organize events of national significance and importance to sustain and promote Bhutanese values, tradition and culture;
   2. Promote interactions and solidarity amongst Bhutanese communities and friends of Bhutan through social gatherings including celebrations of national festivals;
   3. Promote awareness about Bhutan by participating in events and festivals organized by the UNE and other agencies in Armidale and nearby regions;
   4. Provide information and guidance to Bhutanese students aspiring to study in Armidale; Assist new students/members in finding accommodation, studies and addressing other issues such as emotional and mental distress;
   5. Provide necessary support, including financial support to the members facing hardships;
   6. Promote collaboration and networking between Bhutan and the University of New England.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bhutanese-Student-Association-BSA-Armidale-NSW-Australia-115848193662544/

Email: dtsheri3@myune.edu.au

The formal association of Bhutanese in Tasmania, Australia, is called Drubs Association in Tasmania Inc. (DAT Inc.), and it was incorporated on 14th October 2021. Establishment of the DAT Inc. was motivated by a pressing need to safeguard the welfare of every Bhutanese and nurture the growth of the Bhutanese population in Tasmania in a context that was rendered highly risky and uncertain by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, the DAT Inc. endeavours to: –

1. 1. Present Bhutan honourably to the greater Tasmanian community.
   2. Protect and promote the welfare of every Bhutanese in Tasmania.
   3. Serve as a platform for Bhutanese living in Tasmania to associate in a uniquely Bhutanese way among themselves and with the greater Tasmanian community members.

Being newly established and considering the size of the group, the DAT Inc. is still in the process of adopting a constitution and electing a governing body. Nevertheless, with the unanimous consent of all members, Mr. Karma Wangdi is officiating as the President of DAT Inc currently.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2254290228233016/

Email: info.tasdrubs@gmail.com

Brisbane Bhutanese Association Incorporated (BBAI) is a community of Bhutanese students and family members residing in Brisbane and other parts of Queensland.

BBAI was incorporated as an Association on 17 January 2019 by the Queensland Government. The executive members of the association are elected annually, and are dedicated to encouraging community engagement, support, and societal and cultural strengthening.

BBAI’s vision is to promote a harmonious, vibrant, and caring Bhutanese community bonded by trust, faith and values, and guided by standards of honesty and integrity.

Website: https://brisbanebhutanese.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BBAIgroup/?ref=share

Email: brisbanebhutanese@gmail.com

Sydney Bhutanese community Group was established in October 2012 with Dr. Tshering Dorji as the founding president. The group was initially called as True Bhutanese Sydney but renamed as Sydney Bhutanese Community in March 2020.

The group aims to bring together all the Bhutanese residing in Sydney which consist mostly of students from Bhutan. The group also acts as a contact point for all the Bhutanese living in Sydney. The group organises community events such as meeting with the visiting officials from Bhutan, festival events, spiritual events, etc. including cross cultural exchanges with other communities.

SBC group is still an informal organisation and hence the executives are voluntary and not elected. SBC plans to be registered as an incorporated Association in 2022. Dr Sherub Phuntsho is the current president and he took over the presidency in January 2015 from Dr. Tshering Dorji. Mr. Yeshi Dendup and Mr. Karma Jigdrel Tshering are the vice presidents. Currently SBC has about 120 adult members from just about 30 members when it was first founded. SBC members are connected via a closed facebook group.

Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/411533078912917

Email: sherub_p@yahoo.com

The Association of Bhutanese in Perth Inc. was founded in 2014 with the vision to promote the welfare and happiness of Bhutanese in Perth, strengthen communal ties and represent the Bhutanese community in the diverse multicultural setting of Australia. Striving towards the core vision of building a happy Bhutanese community, ABPI organises events and functions as well as assists newly arrived Bhutanese settle in Western Australia.

The ABPI team comprises a Board of Directors and Executives who are elected biennially and annually respectively. Mr. Tshewang Rinzin is the current President of ABPI.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/820060721410001

Website: www.abpiperth.com

Email:perthabpi@gmail.com

 Druk Melbourne Association Inc. (DMA) is a not-for-profit community organization formed by Bhutanese international students and permanent residents in Victoria. After its establishment in early 2017 and functioning as an informal organization for two years, DMA was  incorporated in 2019. Currently There are two hundred and fifty Bhutanese people formally registered as members with the association. 

DMA has been interacting and developing networks with other local organizations and communities to strengthen the relationship and connection between Bhutanese and Australians in Victoria. DMA is highly vibrant and aspires to promote and preserve Bhutanese culture in the multicultural setting of Victoria.  

DMA provides a platform to Bhutanese residents to stay connected and build strong communal relationships. The members are kept well informed about the activities and other social programs organized by the association in the best interest of the community members.  

The association is administered by an Executive Committee who are elected annually by the community members through proper voting procedures. The association currently has eleven executive committee members, and the serving president is Mrs. Deki Peldon in her second term.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/149051065608259 

Email: drukmelbourneassociation@gmail.com

Australia Bhutan Association of Canberra Incorporated (ABAC) was established in 2011 as a non-profit organisation for the Bhutanese community in Canberra. It is managed by volunteers who serve are elected annually as Executive Committee members. ABAC oversees all community engagement activities including organising important national and cultural events in the Australian Capital Territory.  It aims to serve as a platform for Bhutanese in Canberra to connect with eachother and build linkages with other communities in Canberra.

Mr. Tshering Penjor is the current President and he is supported by a 10 member Executive Committee  and Advisors who are past executive members and continue to contribute to the Association’s growth.