Our Community

Eritrean-Australian Community in Gold Coast, Queensland

We are the Eritrean-Australian Community in Gold Coast, Queensland! As a vibrant and engaged community, we are dedicated to providing essential services and support to newcomers in our area.

Our community is comprised of Eritrean-Australian who have made Gold Coast their home, bringing with them a rich tapestry of culture, tradition, and experience. We are proud to contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of the Gold Coast community.

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to welcoming and assisting newcomers to settle into their new lives in Australia. We understand the challenges and opportunities that come with starting afresh in a new country, and we are here to offer guidance, support, and friendship every step of the way.

Through our community services, we provide a range of support programs tailored to the needs of new arrivals. From assistance with housing and employment to language classes and cultural orientation, we strive to empower individuals and families to thrive in their new environment.

As active participants in the Gold Coast community, we are dedicated to fostering understanding, collaboration, and mutual respect among all members of society. We believe in the strength of diversity and the power of unity in building a vibrant and inclusive community for all.

Whether you are a newcomer seeking support or a member of the broader community interested in learning more about Eritrean culture, we welcome you to connect with us and join us in our journey of community building and mutual support.

Eritrea is an African country on the Red Sea coast in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city Asmara landscapes from its 630-mile Red Sea coastline to its high craggy mountains to the desolate Danakil Depression. The capital of Asmara, at 7,600 feet above sea level, is located on a high plateau in the center of the country. The descent from Asmara to the port of Massawa is one of the most spectacular drives in the world, taking nearly three hours over hairpin curves to cover the 65 miles to the coast. On the coast there are some 350 islands. Eritrea was called Mdree-Bahree (which means Land of the Sea) by the local people. The term “Eritrea” derives from the Greek term Sinus Erythraeus, which can be translated in English as Red Sea. Eritrea shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti. The current population of Eritrea is 6,274,796 (2023 est.). Eritrea population is equivalent to 0.05 percent of the total world population. Eritrea ranks number 111 in the list of countries by population. The land has a total area of 117,600 km² and a total coastline of 2,234 km. Eritrea is thus the 22nd smallest country in Africa and ranked 101st in the world.

The culture of Eritrea is the collective cultural heritage of the various populations native to Eritrea. Eritrea has nine recognized ethnic groups. Each group has their own unique traditions and customs, but some traditions are shared and appreciated among different ethnic groups. The local culture consists of various, and often quite similar, traditions practiced by the nation’s many Cushitic speaking Afro-Asiatic ethnic groups, in addition to those practiced by the area’s Nilotic minorities. Eritrean culture is in some ways similar to the cultures of other countries in the region.

The Afar, also known as the Danakil, Adali, and Odali are an ethnic Cushitic people inhabiting the Horn of Africa. They primarily live in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in northern Djibouti, as well as the entire southern part of Eritrea.

The Bilen are a Cushitic ethnic group in the Horn of Africa. They are primarily concentrated in central Eritrea, in and around the city of Keren and further south toward Asmara, the nation’s capital.

The Hedareb or bdawe are one of the nine ethnolinguistic groups in Eritrea. They are a Beni-Amer division, a subgroup of the Beja.

The Kunama are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting Eritrea and Ethiopia. Although they are one of the smallest populations in Eritrea, constituting only 2% of the population, 80% of Kunama live in the country.

The Nara are an ethnic group inhabiting southwestern Eritrea. The society is divided into four subtribes, who traditionally were animist but now follow Islam. They are mostly subsistence farmers.

Rashaayda or Bani Rashid is a tribe of ethnic Bedouin Arabs descending from Banu Abs native to the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. They currently inhabit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Palestine, Jordan, Eritrea, Sudan, Libya, and Tunisia.

The Saho are an ethnic Cushitic peoples inhabiting the Horn of Africa. They are principally concentrated in Eritrea, with some also living in adjacent parts of Ethiopia. They speak Saho as a mother tongue, which belongs to the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family and is closely related to Afar.

The Tigre people are an ethnic group indigenous to Eritrea. They mainly inhabit the highlands of Eritrea and the Sudanese states of Kassala and Red Sea. They are closely related to the Tigrayans and Beja. The Tigre speak the Tigre language, which belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic family.

The largest ethnic group are the Tigrigna, a Semitic people who make up 55% of the total population. Tigrigna, Tigre, and Arabic are the three official languages in Eritrea. Tigrigna is spoken by about half of the population. The next largest group are the Tigre, nomadic pastoralists of the northwest with cultural ties to Sudan.

Traditional foods in Eritrea vary by region but the main staple dish is Tsebhi –spicy meat, fish, or vegetable stew served with Taita (traditional flat bread). Ful, kicha fitfit, and gaat are popular breakfast items while shiro, ades, zigni, and hamli are favoured for lunch and dinner.

The coffee ceremony in Eritrea is much more than just a simple act of brewing and consuming coffee; it’s a cherished cultural tradition that fosters social connection and bonding among family and friends. It is always freshly roasted, grinded, and brewed in a clay pot called a Jebena and usually served black with sugar.

Eritrean music can be categorized into three general genres: traditional, revolutionary, and modern. Each genre has played a pivotal role in shaping and mobilizing society. Each ethnic group has a unique traditional music and dance. The revolutionary songs were mostly inspired during the armed struggle for independence, but even with the new generation patriotic songs are equally as important. Modern Eritrean music has roots in the 1960s and has produced artists that have had a major influence in the region.

The Eritrean War of Independence was a conflict fought between the Ethiopian government and Eritrean separatists from September 1961 to May 1991. Eritrea was claimed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1947 after Eritrea was liberated from Italy’s occupation that began in 1890.

Martyr’s Day is an Eritrean public holiday celebrated on June 20 each year. It Honors those who gave their lives during the Eritrean War of Independence that lasted for thirty years as well as those who gave their lives in defence of Eritrean sovereignty during Ethiopian aggression from 1998-2000. Eritrea also Honors those who paid the ultimate price in service of the country.

The Game Changer in the Independence Struggle Celebrated on February 08-10th, commemorating the start of the armed struggle for independence in 1975.

This date is commemorated by Eritreans because of its key role in the Eritrean War of Independence. Despite the wishes of the Eritrean nationalists and people, the United Nations General Assembly decided to forcefully federate Eritrea with Ethiopia, and Eritrea became a constituent state of the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1952. Eritrea’s declining autonomy and growing discontent with Ethiopian rule sparked an independence movement led by the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) in 1961.

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Covid-19 Enquires
For information about COVID-19 hotspots, restrictions, and testing
Ph 13 42 68
www.covid-19.qld.gov.au

Community Recovery Hotline
For vulnerable Queenslanders with no other means of support
Ph 1800 173 349

Lifeline
Personal Crisis Support
Ph 13 11 14
www.lifeline.org.au

Homeless Hotline
Information and referral service for those experiencing homelessness.
Ph: 1800 474 753

DV Connect
Domestic family and sexual violence support
Ph: 1800 811 811
www.dvconnect.org

ADIS 24/7
Alcohol and drug support
Ph: 1800 177 833
www.adis.health.qld.gov.au

police link
Non urgent incidents, crime, or police enquiries.
Ph: 13 14 44
www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting

City of gold coast
general Enquires
Ph: 1300 465 326
www.cityofgoldcoast.com.au

Community Support
www.cityofgoldcoast.com.au/communitysupport