Top 10 Reasons Why Filipinos Are Migrating to Australia

As far as many countries are concerned, I find Australia being extremely attractive. Obviously, if you are a keen follower of this blog, you might have noticed how often I write about this country.

I have never visited Australia by the way, but I’m really hoping I get to go sooner. Well, maybe next year after the wedding, and of course after I give birth. Golly, I can actually pop in 2 weeks! 😀

Haha 😀

Anyway, I’ve done my research and these definitely made me more ecstatic on visiting the country soon, plus I realized that I also share the same sentiments with fellow Filipinos in terms of reasons of going there. No wonder, more and more are opting to migrate there!

Here are top 10 reasons why Filipinos are traveling, or even migrating to Australia:

1. The Food

Source: https://www.lonsdaleinstitute.edu.au/blog/12-iconic-foods-must-try-australia/

The food is something you should watch out for when you go to Australia. The result of multiple Michelin star restaurants, cafes, bistros, fast food chains are basically credited to the huge migrant population across the country. You can lavish on varied dishes and diverse cuisines, and they are all made from the freshest ingredients farmed and cultivated in Australia.

To also highlight the food enthusiasts and talents of the country, TV cooking shows such as My Kitchen Rules and Masterchef Australia are also quite popular where amateur chefs vie to win awesome prizes and much-coveted fame and titles.

 

2. The Coffee Culture

Source: https://www.australia.com/en-nz/things-to-do/food-and-wine/a-coffee-lovers-guide-to-melbourne.html

Are you one of those people who always have to supply their coffee fix? I have a lot of friends who can’t even function right if they don’t get their coffee! Talk about how my merhubby is one of them! 😀

Now if you answer yes, Australia has another attraction to keep your traveling feet itchy to visit.

Australia is quite famous for their coffee culture –everyone seems to be drinking coffee here. There are so many coffee shops all over, serving hot coffee or cold variations especially in major cities. Migrants definitely have another reason to love about this country!

 

3. The Climate

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-09/climate-change-could-shrink-australia-ski-season-csiro-says/8166372

Coming from a tropical country with only two seasons to enjoy, the summer and the rainy, it’s also quite a huge charm to experience the other three – the spring, the autumn, and of course, the winter. More reasons to update social media with cute Instagram-worthy photos!

Australia seems to be very ideal as its temperate weather provide such a homey feel to its residents. As spring, summer, autumn, and winter are all present in the east coast, the full experience of basking under the summer skies and sunny spring, as well as the coolness and breeziness of winter and autumn are completely enjoyed.

However, due to the country’s location in the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed, wherein winter happens in July to August, and summer is felt from December to January.

4. The World’s Most Liveable Cities

While I was more familiar about Vienna, Austria and Toronto, Canada as two of the most liveable cities in the world, I also happen to find out that Melbourne, Australia is the top one in the list of the most liveable cities in the world. Not to mention that Adelaide and Perth also come in 6^th and 7^th place.

The recent report by The Economist Intelligence Unit, which ranked 140 cities by looking at “30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure,” produced this data according to EIU.

The Economist ranks each city a total score out of 100 for all these categories, and Melbourne’s overall rating was 97.5. Melbourne now occupies the top position being the winner in 2017 – it’s 7th year in a row.

 

5. The Social Security

After knowing that Melbourne, Australia is in the top 1 in being the most liveable city in the world, it is no wonder that they have excellent social security.

In Australia, a master program called Centrelink by Social Security Department is readily available to provide social security benefits such as student benefits, sickness, unemployment, and many others. You can even extend these benefits to your family members, which I think is extremely helpful.

This is rewarded to migrants who have settled in Australia for a minimum of two years though.

 

6. The Healthcare

Being a nurse, I have always wondered why free healthcare is not extended in most hospitals here in the Philippines. I mean, wouldn’t it be beneficial for all and at the same time more life-saving especially for our less fortunate brothers? Anyway, that’s a different topic worthy of a discussion in a different time.

Australia, on the other hand, has this wonderful benefit. If you are an Australian Permanent Resident, you and your family have a wide access to free medical treatment, procedures, facilities, and medicines. Now, who wouldn’t want that?

 

7. The Education

Source: https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/internationalising-australian-higher-education/

I actually have attended a seminar here in Manila about possible educational opportunities in Australia that will yield you better credentials and give you greater potentials in getting better and high-paying jobs.

University fees vary from state to state, and the schedule can also be flexible enough for you to get part-time jobs. You can study, at the same time earn.

Should you have any financial incapacity to support your education, you can also take advantage of the Higher Education Loans Program (HELP). This program can cover tuition fees, university materials, miscellaneous fees, and many more depending on your situation and eligibility.

 

8. The Indefinite Living Condition

If you are holding an Australian Permanent Resident Visa, you have the privilege to live in Australia whenever you want to. Your Visa is valid for 5 years so you can travel in and out of the country given that your visa is still valid. After 5 years, and you wish to settle down in Australia indefinitely, you can do so as well.

Should you have plans of traveling outside Australia after such time, you’ll have to apply for a Resident Return Visa; and you may have to check though if you are eligible for it. Anyway, you can always follow up and work on your requirements.

 

9. The Trail to Australian Citizenship

Source: https://www.arlaw.com.au/news/news-on-australian-citizenship-ombudsman-report/

Applying for Australian Citizenship status, you have to remember that you would need to live and stay in Australia for four years prior to your application to become eligible. You also have to prove and be of good character while you are living there, the same as maintaining good English language proficiency. You would need to take and pass the citizenship test as well to demonstrate and prove adherence to the Australian community, responsibilities, and way of life.

Should you qualify to become an Australian citizen, a big advantage is waiting for you.  If you are a migrant moving to the country, you should know that Australia honors dual citizenship and that children born to permanent residents in Australia can apply for citizenship even if their parents don’t yet qualify.

 

10. The Economy and its Opportunities

The Australian economy is known for its stability and solid foundation especially to all those who have experienced working in the country for many years. Consequently, this also allowed the Australian dollar to have the reputation of being one of the strongest and safest currencies in the world. For migrants coming from most South East Asian countries, such as the Philippines it is simple and affordable to send money back to their countries of origin.

In terms of minimum wage, Australia’s rates are quite high compared to other countries. While Australia offers $17.70 per hour, in United Kingdom it is just $AU14.66 per hour, in New Zealand $AU14.22 per hour, in France $AU14.98 per hour, in Germany $AU13.17 per hour, in Canada between $AU10.45 and 13.81 per hour depending on the province, and in the United States a far distant $AU10.08 per hour.

With this in mind, it doesn’t seem like a shock to anyone with a job in Australia to be able to afford rent and food regardless if they are working in a gasoline station, salon, restaurant, retail outlet, hotel, office, or if they are a professional.

With about 10% of Filipinos living and working abroad, sending money home is important and is deemed second nature in most Filipino family settings. According to the World Bank, in 2016, OFWs sent home $29.9bn, trailing only behind India and China, contributing about 10% of the country’s GDP – and according to the data of Philippines Statistics Authority, Filipinos in Australia accounted for 2.2% of all remittances in 2016.

OMG. Researching about Australia opened a lot of new facets for me, and at the same time brewed the dream of also experiencing a similar or even greater system sometime in the future for me and my family, whether it is here or somewhere in the world.

For your Australian Migration inquiries, you can also check out Gogozing Migration and find out more details on how you can visit or migrate! Follow them on Facebook, and Instagram as well! 😀

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog, as much as I did writing it. Did this make you want to go to Australia more? Let me know in the comments! 😀

 

**, Via

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