The Telugu culture is a very rich and diverse culture which is celebrated in its literature, film, music, fine arts, dance, costumes, food, and festivities. The Telugu language is the 4th most spoken in the Republic of India and the 15th most spoken language in the world.  It is also the fastest-growing language in the United States,  where there is a large Telugu speaking community

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In Australia, according to the census data it is estimated around 70,000 people speak Telugu. In Victoria alone the census indicate that there are nearly 25,000 people who speak Telugu at home. However through our collective collaboration with other Telugu speaking organisations, movie distributors and registered migration agents we have ascertained that the actual number of people who speak Telugu as mother tongue in Victoria would be approx. 53,000 people.

The Telugu speaking individuals are normally professionals with university degree in medicine, Information technology, engineering and science with an average income more than $100,000 per annum and collective family income to be at $180,000. The suggestive numbers also allude to the fact that the average household spends approx. $60,000 in goods and services within Victoria generating approx. $1bn annual from 18,000 families alone. 

The migration of Telugu speaking Diaspora have always favored Victoria to call it as a home away from home, typical migration pattern includes people migrating on permanent resident visa and others coming as a student and then becoming permanent residents/citizens. This also means most of the migrant population has no immediate family members and rely on the wider Telugu Diaspora community.

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Evolution of the Community:

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The Telugu Association of Australia Incorporated (TAAI) is a voluntary community organisation established in 1992 to; bring together Telugu families living in the Greater Melbourne area, to foster friendships, celebrate Telugu language and culture, and provide support services to the community.

Over the years, the Telugu community has grown significantly due to the influx of IT professionals, engineers and doctors from India. Also, Victoria attracts a large number of Telugu students, from which a good ratio of them eventually become permanent residents.

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The TAAI now has a membership base of over 1000 people and the Telugu community is now at an important juncture and in need of a community and cultural Centre that we can call our common home. This centre will not only address our increasing cultural needs but also; showcase Telugu culture to local communities, exhibit migrant stories, preserve cultural artefacts and, most importantly, provide a platform for our future generations to stay connected with the literature, music and other art forms that represent Telugu language and culture. Furthermore, the Centre will help the Telugu community address broad society challenges such as sustainability, social integration, women empowerment, domestic violence and multi-cultural relations. While the Centre is planned to be situated in the Greater Melbourne area, the centre shall provide a focal point for national events and international exchanges.