As all other countries Australia has its set of problems. No place is perfect and as a migrant it is crucial to consider both good and bad aspects of a country - for a realistic view on what the country is all about - before taking the plunge and moving there. It is not always that easy to find information / opinions on the negatives of a country as so many websites / blogs / forums seem to concentrate only on the positive aspects. Yes, I agree that when moving to a new country you will need to have a positive outlook on things, but please don't be fooled into thinking that Australia has no problems and that your life here will be a permanent holiday ! Challenges a country battles with are most definitely a text book case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, then it don't matter !
I think the 5 biggest problems Australia faces at the moment or will face in the future are :
1. The big red threat – China. I have been very surprised to see how big the influence is of China here in Australia. I have spoken to many ppl in clothing/appliances/furniture and many have told me how importing from China has changed the way they do business, cut jobs and closed down businesses. This spells trouble in my mind and if ppl aren’t encouraged to buy Australian Made I fear the Australian market won’t be able to keep up with cheaper and often lesser quality imports. I am not sure what the government has in place to protect local businesses, but I haven’t seen huge success in keeping all things Chinese at bay.
2. Water. After all the rain we have had in the passed two weeks, I was stunned to hear on the news last night that 80 % of NSW is still experiencing severe drought. It really hit home just how dry Australia is and just how severe the problem is. In Sydney we have water restrictions. This means that you are only allowed to water your garden with a hosepipe on Wednesdays and Sundays. Other areas of Australia have even stricter regulations. It is probably an idea to inform yourself a bit better on what the restrictions entail and how this could influence your life if your were to move here.
3. Australian Youth and too little accountability. I for one am not particularly impressed by the youth of Australia. I have seen a number of stories in the press since arriving, where young ppl have committed serious crimes – but instead of society being outraged at their actions, loads of excuses are thought up for their actions. Blaming their upbringing, environment, schooling, parents, etc, instead of keeping children/teenagers accountable for their actions. I have not seen a particularly overwhelming zeal when it comes to academic excellence or gaining the best education available and these are all things that worry me. Not only do I often think about the influence this has on my own two kids, but I am also concerned for the Australian economy in the long run, if this group is to be the future work force. I find that there is a general lack of respect amongst children – they don’t respect themselves, their parents, their belongings, etc.
4. Medical care. I for one am not blown away by the standard of medical care in general. There are often long waiting lists for procedures, even for older ppl who may need to have these procedures done urgently. I recently needed to have a scan done and we weren’t sure whether it was for a serious condition or not – still I had to wait almost 3 weeks for an appointment. Keep in mind the fact that I have private medical insurance and am paying a lot more than the average resident. Nope, not the best care I have seen.
5. Over-organized, over-structured red-tape jungle. I am a big fan of living in a structured and organized country but I am afraid they do go a bit far in Australia sometimes. Anything innovative, new or entrepreneurial is choked to death by all of the permits/licenses and red-tape to get it off the ground. In the end it is often easier just to work for a large corporation rather than starting your own enterprise, which I find sad, especially for immigrants who are mostly independent self-starters, often with strong entrepreneurial drive.
Sunshine
I think the 5 biggest problems Australia faces at the moment or will face in the future are :
1. The big red threat – China. I have been very surprised to see how big the influence is of China here in Australia. I have spoken to many ppl in clothing/appliances/furniture and many have told me how importing from China has changed the way they do business, cut jobs and closed down businesses. This spells trouble in my mind and if ppl aren’t encouraged to buy Australian Made I fear the Australian market won’t be able to keep up with cheaper and often lesser quality imports. I am not sure what the government has in place to protect local businesses, but I haven’t seen huge success in keeping all things Chinese at bay.
2. Water. After all the rain we have had in the passed two weeks, I was stunned to hear on the news last night that 80 % of NSW is still experiencing severe drought. It really hit home just how dry Australia is and just how severe the problem is. In Sydney we have water restrictions. This means that you are only allowed to water your garden with a hosepipe on Wednesdays and Sundays. Other areas of Australia have even stricter regulations. It is probably an idea to inform yourself a bit better on what the restrictions entail and how this could influence your life if your were to move here.
3. Australian Youth and too little accountability. I for one am not particularly impressed by the youth of Australia. I have seen a number of stories in the press since arriving, where young ppl have committed serious crimes – but instead of society being outraged at their actions, loads of excuses are thought up for their actions. Blaming their upbringing, environment, schooling, parents, etc, instead of keeping children/teenagers accountable for their actions. I have not seen a particularly overwhelming zeal when it comes to academic excellence or gaining the best education available and these are all things that worry me. Not only do I often think about the influence this has on my own two kids, but I am also concerned for the Australian economy in the long run, if this group is to be the future work force. I find that there is a general lack of respect amongst children – they don’t respect themselves, their parents, their belongings, etc.
4. Medical care. I for one am not blown away by the standard of medical care in general. There are often long waiting lists for procedures, even for older ppl who may need to have these procedures done urgently. I recently needed to have a scan done and we weren’t sure whether it was for a serious condition or not – still I had to wait almost 3 weeks for an appointment. Keep in mind the fact that I have private medical insurance and am paying a lot more than the average resident. Nope, not the best care I have seen.
5. Over-organized, over-structured red-tape jungle. I am a big fan of living in a structured and organized country but I am afraid they do go a bit far in Australia sometimes. Anything innovative, new or entrepreneurial is choked to death by all of the permits/licenses and red-tape to get it off the ground. In the end it is often easier just to work for a large corporation rather than starting your own enterprise, which I find sad, especially for immigrants who are mostly independent self-starters, often with strong entrepreneurial drive.
Sunshine
2 comments:
I was surprised to read your comments on the health system. Does Australia have any type of national health?
Olga
Hi Olga,
Nice to hear from you !
Yes, Australia does have a national health system called Medicare (http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/) . When you come to Aus on a temp visa you are required by law to take out private insurance, while permanent residents automatically qualify for Medicare. I have many Australian citizen friends who are back on Private Medical (despite the cost) after being on Medicare for a while. There is also generally a vast difference between the service you get in the cities compared to the countryside. Staffing is a major problem, as in many other countries around the world. I haven’t had to visit the dentist yet, but from what I have heard from my friends, dental care is extremely expensive, much the same as in the US ?
Love
Sunshine
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