Tibetan Australians are speaking out about fears for their safety and their families back home as they rally for freedom of religion.
Community leaders travelled to Parliament House for Tibet Lobby Day on Monday to raise the alarm about the treatment of Tibetans by the Chinese Communist Party.
Yangkyi Sangpo said China continued to intimidate and repress Tibetans in Australia.
China has been accused of serious human rights violations in the autonomous region it annexed in 1951, including taking political prisoners, torture, forced abortions, forced relocation and abuse.
Beijing has denied human rights abuses and rejected findings from the United Nations and human rights groups.
Ms Sangpo was born in Tibet and reunited with her family in Australia after her father was imprisoned when she was four months old and her parents were forced to flee, leaving her with her extended family.
The 26-year-old said she was forced to grow up under Chinese rule in Tibet until she was able to move to Newcastle 14 years ago.
"I was forced into Chinese colonial boarding school at the age of six, like many other Tibetan children, I felt completely disconnected to my Tibetan identity," she said.
"I want to feel safe as an Australian Tibetan ... the Tibetan diaspora is constantly intimidated and threatened directly and indirectly by the CCP."
Shenphen Ringpapontsang, whose father was the Dalai Lama's representative in Hungary, chastised Beijing for trying to get involved in the succession as it actively works to suppress Tibetan culture.
The 36-year-old called on the Australian government to only recognise a future Dalai Lama appointed in accordance with the wishes of His Holiness.
China had branded the Dalai Lama a separatist and argued Beijing should have the final say in choosing a successor in accordance with its religious practices.
"In this weird, upside down world we live in today, the Chinese Communist Party seems to think that they have the authority to select the next Dalai Lama, despite, over seven decades, demonising and villainising His Holiness," Mr Ringpapontsang said.
"Despite using our holiest temple, the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, as a pig sty for their army, they still think that they have some sort of moral legitimacy to appoint the next Dalai Lama."
More than a dozen Tibetans joined in song and prayer for the Dalai Lama's health in Parliament House ahead of a meeting with MPs from all sides of politics.
Co-chair of parliament's friends of Tibet Susan Templeman said it was important members of the community were able to share their concerns with parliamentarians and speak out against repression.
"Australia has made it very clear that the Dalai Lama's office and Tibetans should be the ones who choose who the next Dalai Lama is," the Labor MP said.
