AUD 261,000 Community Centre Dispute: What Happened, Why It Matters and the Question of Accountability

The dispute over approximately AUD 261,000 connected to the proposed Druk Community Centre in Perth has raised serious concerns within the Bhutanese Australian community.

The issue became public after Kalu Rinpoche posted a TikTok video accusing a Bhutanese couple involved in organising the Buddha relic tour in Australia of failing to hand over funds he says were raised for the centre.

The couple deny the allegations and, according to reports, have engaged legal advisers and are considering defamation proceedings.

At this stage, the situation is defined by competing accounts, and the facts are not fully agreed.

Opinion: A Few Voices Do Not Represent an Entire Diaspora

The recent Kuensel article, "Bhutanese diaspora fears loss of cultural identity", raises a concern that deserves discussion. However, it is important to recognize the difference between reporting individual opinions and presenting evidence of a widespread community issue.

Critical Reflection on the Recent School Violence Incident in Bhutan

Like many others, I first became aware of the incident through videos circulating on social media. My initial reaction was one of shock and sadness. As an educator, it was difficult to watch children experiencing fear, humiliation, and violence at the hands of their peers. While the videos themselves were confronting, what disturbed me more was the possibility that they represented a deeper issue rather than an isolated event.

What Bhutanese Boarding Schools Gave Us, and What They Took Away

For generations, boarding schools in Bhutan played an important role in giving children access to education, especially those from remote villages. Many students walked for hours, sometimes days, to reach schools that became their second homes. Boarding schools helped build literacy, opportunity, and the modern Bhutanese state itself. But behind the achievements and success stories, there were also silent struggles.

Six Years in Melbourne, and these 5 Things Still Surprise Me Every Single Day

On 21 February 2020, I arrived in Melbourne with excitement, uncertainty, and many assumptions about what life in Australia would be like. I thought I already had a picture of this country in my mind, beaches, relaxed people, and an easygoing lifestyle. But over the past six years, Melbourne has shown me a completely different side of Australia.

Living here has been more than just moving to another country. It has been a journey of learning, adapting, unlearning, and growing. Some things that felt strange in the beginning have now become normal parts of my life, while other things still continue to amaze me every single day.

From the discipline on the roads, to the convenience of public systems, to the multicultural communities that make this city feel alive, Melbourne has changed the way I see the world in many ways. And even after six years, there are still moments when I stop and think, “Wow, this still surprises me.”

Here are five things about Melbourne that still leave me amazed every day.