Jinson Anto Charls, Northern Territory’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, joined Darwin’s Malayalee community on 27 September at the Italian Sports & Social Club Inc to mark Onam with a midday feast and cultural celebration. “I was delighted to join the Darwin Malayalee Association’s Onam celebrations, beginning with the traditional Onam Sadhya at midday,” he said. “It was a wonderful showcase of Kerala’s rich heritage through food, arts, and culture, bringing our community together in unity and celebration.”
The Darwin Malayalee Association, founded in 2008, estimates it now represents around 150 members, though local sources suggest the broader Malayalee presence in Darwin may be stronger, with some noting approximately 300 Malayalee households in the area. The association aims to preserve the Malayalam language, promote cultural events, and support social cohesion among Malayalees in Darwin.
Charls also serves as Member for Sanderson and holds responsibilities for people, sport and culture; disability; arts; youth, seniors and equality; plus veterans. He was born in Kerala, migrated to Australia in 2011, and has lived in Darwin since 2015. Before entering politics, he spent years in health leadership roles.
In Australia, Malayali Australians totalled 78,738 at the 2021 census, making them among the fastest growing Indian communities. Though there is no public data reporting the exact number in the Northern Territory, the association’s estimates and community presence suggest a small but active Malayalee contingent in Darwin.
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