OUR STORY
OUR VISION to create opportunities for Pacific Communities
OUR MISSION is to empower, advocate, partner and share information
across Pacific communities in NSW, Australia.
Who are we?
The NSW Council for Pacific Communities (NSWCPC) was established in 2003 with the guidance of Pacific community leaders and representatives from the Community Relations Commission (now Multicultural NSW) Since its inception the Council has continued to receive invaluable advise and support from these leaders, ensuring strong and inclusive leadership. Our formation was inspired by the success of the NSW Governments Pacific Youth Partnership, which highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and Pacific communities. is a registered, not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2003 as a peak body for collaborative work with government and Pacific communities across NSW.
History
The NSW Council for Pacific Communities was established to cover 8 Regional Advisory Councils;
-
Manly & Dee Why
-
Mt Druitt, Blacktown, Parramatta & Penrith
-
St George, Sutherland, Eastern Suburbs & Sydney
-
Canterbury, Bankstown Auburn & Ashfield
-
Campbelltown, Liverpool & Fairfield
-
Newcastle, Hunter Region
-
Griffith, Riverian Region
-
Wollongong, Illawarra Region
In 2014 restructure of the NSW Council for Pacific Communities has seen the 8 Regional Advisory Councils replaced using the model of the Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW (ECC) with an invitation to individual OR organisational memberships from government, NGO’s churches and groups that engage with Pacific communities to align with the NSW Council for Pacific Communities. This restructure will reflect our ongoing commitment to providing collaborative work in New South Wales.
What We Do
The NSW Council for Pacific Communities represents:
-
The interests of Pacific communities to government
-
Helps to develop projects to benefit Pacific communities
-
Aims are to enhance trust, understanding
-
Encourages community capacity
-
Build and develop collaborative relationships
-
Enabling communication and partnership across the community, private and government sectors
-
Advocacy and Networking
-
Support Pacific organisations and groups in NSW
Who are the Pacific People?
The 2021 Australian Census showed a significant rise in people claiming Pacific Islander ancestry, with over 337,000 people identifying with Pacific heritage, making up 1.3% of the population, with Samoans, Fijians (including Indo-Fijians), and Tongans being the largest groups, experiencing rapid growth faster than the general population. Key findings include a near doubling of the Pacific heritage population since 2006, strong growth in Samoan (nearly 100,000), Tongan, and Fijian communities, and specific regional concentrations, like in Brisbane for Samoans.
Key Figures & Trends Total Pacific Population: 337,000 people (1.3% of Australia's total). Growth: The population grew almost twice as fast as the overall Australian population between 2006 and 2021. Largest Groups (by heritage): Fijian, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islander, and Papua New Guinean. Samoan Community: Nearly 100,000 people claimed Samoan heritage, with significant populations in Brisbane and Sydney.
Fijian Community: The largest overall group when including both indigenous and Indo-Fijians, according to Dev policy Blog analysis. Important Nuances Ancestry vs. Birthplace: The data reflects self-identified ancestry, not just country of birth, capturing a broader heritage. Double Counting: People can claim multiple ancestries, so straightforward counts can sometimes overrepresent individuals. Indo-Fijians: Many Indo-Fijians identified as Indian rather than Fijian, affecting raw Pacific counts but highlighting complex heritage. In essence, the 2021 Census confirmed a thriving and rapidly expanding Pacific Islander community in Australia, with strong growth and significant cultural presence across various island nations.
WE Recognise that Pacific Peoples belong to either the Micronesian, Melanesian or Polynesian coutnreies situated with in the Pacific Regions.
