By Vu Lam

What does it mean to be Asian-Australian? It is a question that is both simple and incredibly complex. On the surface, it refers to Australians with Asian heritage. But dig a little deeper and you will find it’s about much more than just ancestry.

Being Asian-Australian is about straddling two worlds. It’s the university student who speaks Mandarin at home but cracks jokes in Aussie slang with mates. It is the small business owner who serves laksa alongside meat pies. It’s the politician fighting for better representation while navigating the expectations of both their constituents and their immigrant parents.

Recent events have put Asian-Australian identity in the spotlight. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a disturbing rise in anti-Asian racism. Suddenly, Asian-Australians who had lived here for generations were being told to ‘go back to China’. This ugly incident reminded us that for many, being Asian-Australian still means facing discrimination, no matter how ‘Aussie’ you might feel.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Asian-Australians are making waves across all sectors of society. Look at MasterChef Australia, where judges like Melissa Leong and Poh Ling Yeow have become household names. Or consider the impact of politicians like Penny Wong and previously Gladys Liu, representing different parties and opposing political leanings but both breaking barriers in their own ways.

In the arts, Asian-Australian voices are finally getting the spotlight they deserve. Benjamin Law’s The Family Law on SBS brought an Asian-Australian family to prime-time TV. Meanwhile, writers like Alice Pung and Melanie Cheng are penning stories that resonate with readers of all backgrounds. 

Or Anh Do, the Vietnamese-born comedian, author and artist, who has become a household name. From his bestselling memoir The Happiest Refugee to his popular TV show Anh's Brush with Fame, Do's work showcases the unique perspective Asian-Australians bring to our cultural landscape. Yet, I can’t help but wonder: does his widespread acceptance come at the cost of downplaying his ‘Asianness’ or ‘Vietnameseness’? It’s a question many of us reckon with: how much of our cultural heritage do we need to shed to be seen as ‘true blue’?

The term ‘Asian-Australian’ itself is a bit of a headache. It lumps together people from vastly different cultures – from Korean to Indian, Vietnamese to Filipino. Each of these communities has its own unique experiences and challenges. A third-generation Chinese-Australian in Sydney might have very little in common with a newly arrived Nepali student in Perth. This oversimplification can lead to stereotyping and a failure to recognise the diversity within our communities.

There is also the constant juggling act of identity. Many Asian-Australians report feeling ‘not Asian enough’ when visiting their ancestral countries, but still facing the perpetual foreigner syndrome at home. It’s the frustration of being asked ‘But where are you really from?’ for the umpteenth time, even when you were born in Bondi.

Yet, this in-between status also gives us a unique perspective. As Australia grapples with its place in the Asia-Pacific region, Asian-Australians are uniquely positioned to bridge cultural gaps. They’re the diplomats who can navigate business deals in Beijing, the chefs introducing Aussies to the delights of Filipino cuisine and the community leaders fostering understanding between different cultural groups.

In essence, being Asian-Australian in this day and age is about embracing complexity and, at the risk of sounding cliché, diversity. It is about challenging stereotypes, whether that is the model minority myth or the assumption that all Asians are good at maths. It’s about creating a new identity that honours both heritage and home.

So, what is Asian-Australian? It is a work in progress, a constantly evolving identity that reflects the changing face of Australia itself. It is not about fitting into a box, but about creating a new space where multiple identities can coexist. And in doing so, Asian-Australians are helping to shape a more diverse, inclusive and vibrant Australia for all of us.

Dr Vu Lam is the researcher in charge of the Southeast Asia portfolio at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Research Service. The views expressed here are personal.

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