This year marks my tenth year living in Australia as an immigrant! Initially, the decision to transition from studying abroad to immigrating to Australia was somewhat impulsive, but now I have grown to deeply love life in Australia. During my time as an international student, Australia meant beautiful scenery and a busy schedule, as I had to balance my studies with part-time work to cover living expenses. During my time as an immigrant, however, my perspective on Australia has gradually changed. The living environment goes without saying; the relaxed and peaceful lifestyle, the relatively fair society, and the comprehensive welfare system are the three reasons why I love my life here now!
I. Living Environment: Fresh Air and Safe Food
Environmental pollution in China has become a cliché topic, covering atmospheric pollution, water pollution, waste management, persistent organic pollutants, and more. The air contains many pollutants, and people living in such an environment for a long time are prone to illness. Because the air and water have been polluted, the price people pay is that 70%-80% of cancer cases in Beijing are related to environmental pollution, with lung cancer becoming the number one killer. In addition to environmental issues, food safety is also a cause for concern, with issues like tainted milk powder, gutter oil, clenbuterol, and fake beef. Perhaps you might say, "I haven't noticed these problems; aren't I living just fine?" But I want to ask, "When the problem actually happens to you, will it be too late?"
Although issues like air and food quality may seem distant, they are actually very close to our daily lives. Many people choose to immigrate precisely because of the living environment, and for Australian immigrants, nothing resonates more than the aspects of air, water, and waste management. After immigrating to Australia, I chose to bring my parents over to live with me, mainly to allow my family to live in a healthy environment. After all, the living environment is truly important; living healthily is what makes one a winner. If the money is still there but the person is gone, what is the point?
II. Educational Environment: Advantageous Development and Rich Activities
Most children today study very hard, and with the progress of the times, this situation seems to be intensifying. Most children have to learn many things from a very young age. I imagine children today participate in various extracurricular tutoring classes, having no time of their own to properly enjoy the pleasure of reading. It is all for the sake of an exam; if they do well, they can get into a good university, and if they do poorly, they can only attend inferior ones, and after graduation
they struggle even to find a job. This series of "chain reactions" makes parents worry, and looking at the current situation, there is not a single parent who does not worry about their child's education.
Although I also immigrated to Australia after experiencing the grind of the Gaokao, my childhood was much happier compared to children today. Aside from practicing the piano for two hours every day after school, I did not attend any other tutoring classes, and I do not place such a heavy "burden" on my own children's learning environment. The curriculum in Australian primary and secondary schools covers eight major themes: English, Mathematics, Studies of Society and Environment, Science, Arts, Languages, Technology, and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. Students can choose specialized subjects based on their personal interests and circumstances, allowing children to fully leverage their hobbies and strengths to acquire knowledge. Extracurricular activities are also rich and diverse, including camping, indoor sports venues and swimming pools, music centers, tennis, volleyball, and multi-purpose halls with rock climbing facilities, as well as clubs for instrumental music, drama, musicals, debate, public speaking, chess, photography, and comics. Children can fully enjoy happiness while learning classroom knowledge and cultivate their own hobbies.
III. Social Environment: Fair Treatment and Welfare System
Australia has a significant number of billionaires and multi-millionaires, but even the lowest-paid workers have sufficient purchasing power for survival. Currently, 40% of the Australian workforce are self-employed, such as electricians, plumbers, and cleaners; their income is not inferior to that of ordinary office workers in companies. Only after immigrating to Australia did I realize that the income gap between mental and manual labor is not worlds apart; rather, it is about individuals fully utilizing their talents, and the labor provided generally receives equivalent rewards. Such a job market eases the pressure of education, and getting into university or pursuing a master's degree is no longer the only road to Rome. In my view, such treatment is quite fair! People do not have so much life pressure and can do what they enjoy.
The Australian welfare system is already one of its well-known advantages and is also one of the main reasons that attracted me to immigrate to Australia. After immigrating to Australia, one can enjoy a wide variety of benefits, including free medical care, baby bonuses, childcare subsidies, free education, home buying grants, student loans, etc. Although there is a social medical insurance system now, the problems of difficulty and high costs in seeking medical treatment still exist. Examples of people who have worked hard for most of their lives only to go bankrupt due to a major illness are everywhere; just look at the cases on various crowdfunding platforms. Of course, Australia is not heaven, and many immigrants have simply chosen to tolerate and overlook some of the darker and unsatisfactory aspects for certain reasons. For me, Australia is just a place where my family and I can survive more easily and develop freely!