Hi
My experience in Australia
Being an Indian,I lived in Melbourne for around five years and never once felt discriminated against or racially abused. In fact I joined a major Australian company as a junior entry level position and rose to a middle management position fairly quickly. Yes there were jeers and taunts but all in good humor
Australia has given me an opportunity that I could never have dreamed of, I cannot find anything to complain about. I love the way we work, the fact that I can have a fair go if I tried hard enough, the fact that no one can discriminate against me because of my origin. Being able to have a great job with decent wages and having a safe working environment. A country where the taxes we pay are put to better use than most other nations.
Having been to many local Somersoft meetings in Melbourne (aka Kristine, Y man, Spiderman, Gerd, Peter, Rolf, Anna and many others).......I have always been encouraged and never once made to feel different.
I am now an Australian citizen and a very proud one at that, I am aware of my Indian roots and my culture. Mixing this with modern Australian values is a deadly combination for success in life. Its a fantastic feeling.....I staunchly believe in what Australia stands for
I understand the need to assimilate, but at the same time assimilation does not mean partaking in every frivolity that we as Aussies are associated with.
Indian students
In the last two years of my stay in Melbourne, I have noticed an increase in the number of Indian students. I lived in Laverton (Melbourne west). 90% of these students are misled about their studies. People who get them on to these courses concentrate on and market stuff like
1.Permanent residence is virtually guaranteed after their studies
2.The welfare system will take care of their basic needs
3.Free Medicals
4.Easy jobs
5.Good income
etc etc
BUT NO ONE ACTUALLY TELLS THEM ABOUT THE MERITS OF AN AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION, and what it can do to their careers globally.
So most of these students come here to pursue a perceived better life. You get a mix of poor students who since have taken on huge loans and virtually will do anything to support themselves in Oz. You see them at servos, checkouts, grocery stores and the like..... Some of them are from ethnic minorities in India who have never been to a city before in their lives (Thats the reach and tools that educational marketing gurus have).
They land here without any orienteering about the country, not having enough language skills (Any one can pass the IELTS with a band 6......a requirement to prove competence in English) therefore they stick together in clusters and are looked upon as a threat by some local lads as they always speak in local lingo and move around in groups. They follow the herd....live together, work in the same occupations, eat in the same restaurants.
Where is the opportunity to learn about Australian culture and mannerisms. Even the colleges they go to are filled with international students????
About the cartoons that appeared in Indian papers
Not worth writing anything about .......Plain stupid
Coppers in Oz are fair, just and extremely helpfull
Even though many Indians will not agree with me but here are some facts
"India has around 26 different states......Each state has reservations for jobs, educational institutions, medical treatment based on ethnicity, race and religion, caste and creed. Racism is an accepted practice sadly so go figure"
Conclusion
I feel that some of these attacks are race driven, also its a situation about being in the wrong place at the wrong time
I strongly believe the some one has to look more closely at our educational institutions and the methodology of recruiting students. If we continue on this path of putting commercial interests above anything else, we will have an unbalanced society leading to the alienation of minorities
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