The Ijaw Association of Australia originally started under the name
Bayelsa Association of Australia with a few families in attendance in
Sydney, New South Wales on Saturday, 26th March 2016.

Over the years, the plan to expand the base of the group increased.
At the Association’s meeting held on Saturday, 21st January 2023, the
members overwhelming agreed and voted to change the name to the
Ijaw Association of Australia. With the change, the membership
numbers increased.

The Association is registered with the State of Queensland Department
of Fair Trading. The Association is a member of the Queensland
African Committee Council and the Community Alliance of
Queensland.

The Association is also affiliated to the Ijaw Diaspora
Council based in New Jersey, United States of America.

The Ijaw Association of Australia was formerly launched on Saturday,
28th October 2023 by the Hon Cameron Dick MP in Logan,
Queensland. Cameron is the member representing the electorate of
Woodridge, Queensland. He is also the Deputy Premier of the State of
Queensland and the Queensland State Treasurer.

To help with the Launching, the Association received support from the
Governor of Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri.

In acknowledgement of the Launching, recorded videos of best wishes
were also received from Nigerian Statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief
Edwin Clark, and from Ambassador Bola Igali, former Ambassador to
the Scandinavian, former federal Permanent Secretary and former
Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government.

Membership is open to anyone born of the Ijaw tribe or married to a
person of the Ijaw tribe. Membership spreads across all the States and
territories of Australia. We meet three times a year and have an annual
convention.