Australia-Tonga Relationship 

Bilateral relations 

Australia and Tonga enjoy a close bilateral relationship, supported by our development cooperation, Defence Cooperation Program, the Tonga Australia Police Partnership and people-to-people links. The Tongan Government established a High Commission in Canberra in August 2008, and maintains a Consulate-General in Sydney. In 2025, Tonga and Australia will celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations. 

People to people links 

Australia is an important focus for Tongans seeking education, travel and business opportunities. The largest communities of Tongans in Australia are in Victoria and NSW, with smaller groups in the ACT and Queensland. Over 40,000 Australians identify themselves as having Tongan ancestry. 

Since labour mobility restarted in September 2020, several thousand Tongans have arrived in Australia as part of Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme. 

Through the PacificAus Sports and TeamUp programs, Australia targets professional sports development (AUD1.4 million 2023-24) and inclusivity and health  (AUD2.4 million 2023-2025). The recently announced Pacific Rugby League Strategy will invest in sports for development to improve grassroots and elite pathways for athletes – especially women and girls – and to bring international sporting matches to Tonga.     

Australia has provided more than 600 scholarships (Australia Awards) to Tongan students since the 1970's. Tertiary-level scholarships are focused on addressing Tonga’s skills shortage in the fields of education, health, engineering, economics and public sector management. 

Open to all Australian undergraduates, the New Colombo Plan supports around 10,000 students a year to experience living, studying and undertaking work experience in the Indo-Pacific. Over 150 have undertaken mobility projects in Tonga, in fields of study including nursing, tourism, and sustainability. 

The Australian Volunteers Program matches a broad range of skilled Australians with partner organisations in the Indo-Pacific region, to support them to achieve their own development goals. By supporting sustainable development, the Australian Volunteers Program contributes to continued economic growth and improved stability and security. Australia supports volunteer assignments in Tonga working with government and non-government partner organisations.