About us

Since Karen people first settled in Australia, they have understood how important it is for the community to be organised. While the community was still small, its members began organising themselves as a group, and as it grew, they formed a committee in 1996. The committee's purpose was to work for Karen people who had resettled in Australia, particularly on social and political matters. So that the organisation could be formally recognised, the committee began writing its first constitution on 17 February 1997. In the same year, Karen communities in different states began forming their own committees, meeting by teleconference. On 14 February 1998, the Australian Karen Organisation's constitution was recognised by the Australian Government. In April 1998, the organisation's committees from across Australia held their first national conference in Sydney, and on 16 July 1998 the Australian Karen Organisation was recognised by the Australian Government.