The Australia Thailand Association in Canberra
The Patrons of the Australia-Thailand Association (Canberra) Incorporated are His Excellency, Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, the Thai Ambassador to Australia, and Ms Annette Ellis, former Federal Member for Canberra.
The Australia-Thailand Association (ATA) usually holds a number of functions throughout the year including talks on Thai topics, social tennis, picnics and dinners such as the mid-Winter Dinner,and the celebration of Loy Krathong in November.
As part of the membership, ATA members will receive about five Newsletters with interesting articles with a Thai focus throughout the year.
The ATA receives support from the Canberra Southern Cross Club to maintain its web site and from the ACT Government under the ACT Multicultural Grants Program to assist with newsletter production.
History of the Australia Thailand Association
In the early 1970s Ken Duncan started to think about forming an association to keep in contact with people who had served in Thailand as he himself had with SEATO, or those who had a particular interest in Thailand.
He was encouraged by Thai Ambassador Vivadh na Pombejra.
A list of those likely to be interested in an Australia Thailand Association (from SEATO, Foreign Affairs, and ANU) was drawn up and Ambassador Vivadh hosted a cocktail party to gauge support.
Soon afterwards the Australia Thailand Association was born, the inaugural meeting being held at the National Library on 4 July 1974 ......more......>
The ATA and Thai people in the Canberra region
In the 2006 Australian Census, 822 people living in the Canberra/Queanbeyan region were born in Thailand. This represented 0.22 % of the region's population. Australia is the most popular destination for Thai sudents studying abroad, with around 26,000 students currently in Australian educational instutions. This implies that in the next 20 years or so, most senior government officials and business leaders would potentially be Australian-educated.
The number of Australian's who visit Thailand for short term stays has increased consistently each year - from 71,000 in 1991 to over 406,000 in 2008. Australians traveling to Thailand account for around 6% of all international departures from Australian airports.
The ATA's membership includes its Patrons, the Association's elected officials and committee members, life members, and families, single people and business people with an interest in Australian-Thai relationships. If you are thinking of traveling to Thailand for a holiday or work, if you have an interest in Thai culture, food or language, of if you are married or are in a relationship with a Thai national, or have Thai children, then maybe you should consider joining the ATA.
If you are interested in joining the ATA, you should read and complete the membership application form.
If you are currently an ATA member you can renew your membership by choosing either 'Family membership renewal' or 'Single membership renewal' from the membership renewal form here.
The ATA constitution is available here for downloading or reading on-line.
Members wanting to nominate or be nominated for a position on the ATA committee can do so prior to the ATA Annual General Meeting normally held in September of each year.
If you wish to contact the Australia Thailand Association Canberra please click here .