In 2001, it is estimated that about 860,000 Australians were living overseas on a long-term or permanent basis. This is Australia's own "diaspora" - a disproportionately well-educated, high-income group of Australians living outside Australia's borders. More than a third are in the UK, but emigration to Asia is rising fast. Most left to find better employment opportunities and richer careers.
Australia is in a global competition to attract skilled people. So what should we do about the diaspora?
The possibility of Australia developing an emigration policy which is integrated with immigration policy and wider economic, social and human resources policies needs to be given consideration.
CEDA's partners on Australia's Diaspora were the National Centre for Social Applications of GIS (GISCA) at the University of Adelaide, and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. The researchers were Graeme Hugo, Dianne Rudd and Kevin Harris.