Main reasons for our immigration to Australia

Woorim Beach, Bribie Island, QLD

I first considered immigration to Australia in late 1999. It took me seven years to find the right pathway, get a visa and migrate to Australia. I couldn't get an Australian Permanent Residency visa (PR visa) with my Croatian degree. Later on, I found I could study in Australia. I saved money and applied for a student visa, and we were able to move into Australia as students. After finishing my study in Australia, I've made an online application for a Permanent Residency visa, and it was granted in November 2009. As you can see, it was a long process. I've written a book about it. 

To keep my dream alive, I needed good reasons, and it is best to start this blog by writing about those reasons as they will introduce you to Australia and life over here.

Cultural Diversity

My primary reason for moving to Australia was the multiculturality. No matter how different you might be, over here, you will find a matching group of people and feel safe and supported living close to them. While writing my book, I noticed so many different nationalities of our Australian friends I have mentioned in the book. It is amazing how normal it feels for all these people to live in harmony.

Welcoming Nature of Australians

I believe this cultural diversity leads to my second most important reason for moving to Australia, which is the welcoming nature of people over here. It is quite common to stand next to somebody in everyday situations and have a welcoming chat that many times starts with 'Where are you from'? This question most often has the tone of appreciation coming from the fact the person asking has also migrated from somewhere and is willing to share their story with you if you are willing to do the same with them.

Growing Economy

The growing economy was another major reason for me to move to Australia. The ever increasing economy results in the abundant job and business opportunities like nowhere else in the world.

Australia is expanding at such a quick pace that we, in a way, depend on migrants to top up missing workforce shortages. By close control over the qualifications of migrants and rate of migration, the government is keeping the unemployment rate low and at the same time enabling this continuous growth.

High Living Standard

No significant surplus of people looking for work (rate of unemployment kept less or around 6%) holds salaries and standard of living high. I believe that, due to the low unemployment rate, there is not much exploitation of the workforce present in Australia compared to what we were experiencing in Croatia.

Abundant Business Opportunities

There are plentiful opportunities to import or manufacture new products or create services that are currently not present on the market. Finding something unique to offer can result in being the leader in the market and earning significant sums of money. Another way to make a good living is by starting a business of doing something already present on the market if you can recognise there is a lot of demand for that service or product.

Great Social Security System

Another significant benefit of living in Australia is a great social security system to support you in the time of trouble. You can rest assured that the government will help you in case you are not able to work for some reason or in case your company goes bankrupt as it happened to me a few years ago (yes, that can happen too, not all the entrepreneurs make perfect decisions)

Beautiful landscapes and beaches of the island nation

The final reason is the beauty of landscapes and untouched nature of this vast country. 

Australia is sometimes called the island nation as most of the population lives within 100 km from the coast. We lived 11 years in Melbourne and now over two years in Brisbane, and most of the time we are within 15 minutes from a beautiful beach. 

Over here in Brisbane, we are still going for a swim on the beach, although it is 29 April and in Australia, we count the winter is starting on 01 June. A beautiful climate was one of the main reasons we moved from Melbourne.

I love it here. Living in Australia, I feel safe, welcomed and surrounded with abundant opportunities for growth. I can wholeheartedly say that moving to Australia was the best decision of my life.