Immigrating to a new country is exciting. Exciting because you will be in a new environment. You are looking forward to a better life for your family. But it can be overwhelming as well. Because of the uncertainty of not knowing if everything will be according to plan. And, if you will be able to settle in quickly to this new and amazing country.
We have our own stories. We have heard other people’s stories as well of the common challenges new immigrants face here in Australia. Sure it is a bit difficult. But if you focus on your goals, you will surely overcome these. Just keep on persevering. Just like our story here on our website, Our Australia Life. With trust and faith, combined with commitment and perseverance, we kept going despite all the setbacks.
Here are some of the 8 common challenges immigrants face in Australia:
8 Common Challenges immigrants face in Australia
Homesickness
Homesickness is one of the most common challenges immigrants face in Australia. Yes, you will be busy with things that need to be done upon arrival. You will be busy opening your bank account and going to Centrelink among other things. You will be excited about exploring and experiencing this amazing country. But once everything settles, you will start to feel homesick. In our case, it is I who feels this more often. That is because I do not have any immediate relatives here.
Homesickness is not just missing our families back home. It is also missing things that you often do back home. Especially those which you can no longer do here. As well as the places that you used to love going to. Homesickness is a normal feeling when being away from where you spent most of your life.
But thanks to the technologies available now. It is easier to overcome homesickness. We can keep our communication open with your family back home. And we can talk to them regularly. We can do this either through phone calls or messenger group chats. Or through video calls too.
It is perfectly ok to cry from time to time if you need to. This is normal when you feel homesick. You can let those tears out. It will be good for the soul. But after that, it will be helpful to remind yourself of the reasons why you immigrated to Australia. You will be motivated to push through.
Housing availability and affordability
Another common challenge immigrants face in Australia is housing availability and affordability. We were able to stay at my sister-in-law’s family’s place when we arrived here in Australia. However, we really planned to get our place once my husband gets work. But when my husband got his first job, looking for a place to rent was a challenge. It is a disadvantage if you do not have a previous local rental history. It took us a while before we got our first rental property. Most real estate agents prefer those with rental history.
Affordability can also be a challenge in looking for a place to rent. Especially if you still do not have a job. And if you have a limited budget when you immigrated to Australia. If you have no one to stay with, an option for you is to share and live with other people. This is just in the meantime while saving to afford to live on your own.
You have another option which is staying in rental public housing. This is provided by the government. However, this option is for low-income earners only. Also, there is usually a long waiting list. One more thing to note is to make sure to avail of the rental assistance provided by the government. That is if you are eligible.
Housing affordability does not only apply to rental properties. We also experienced this when we were starting to buy our own house. Property prices have gone through the roof. Initially, we thought it will take us several years before we can finally buy our first house. But thanks to the pandemic, we were able to climb the property ladder in time.
Employment Opportunities
We had high hopes that we will secure a job easily once we start our life in Australia. That is because we had stable jobs back in our home country. However, who would have thought we will be unemployed for one whole year upon arriving in Australia? This opened our eyes to reality. That is, employment opportunity is a common challenge immigrants face in Australia. Here are some reasons.
First, having no experience in looking for a job for quite some time is a challenge. This is for some of us who stayed in our last employer back in our home country for a long period. We need to re-orient ourselves on how to go about the application process.
Another challenge is having no local experience. Some employers prefer someone with Australian work experience over someone who only has overseas qualifications. Not knowing the employment process in Australia will be a challenge as well. Most employers in Australia require a cover letter when an application is submitted.
These are some of the reasons why employment opportunity is a common challenge immigrants face in Australia. To address these, here are some suggestions.
- Be on the lookout for opportunities even before immigrating to Australia.
- Be ready to accept roles that are different from your previous job back home. Even entry-level ones just to have Australian work experience.
- If you want to get the same job you had back home, getting local industry qualifications will help.
- The Australian Government has an employment service program called JobActive which you can utilize.
- Get in touch with agencies that specialize in your field of experience. There are lots of Australian employers who use their services to get possible applicants.
Language barrier
English is the main language being used in Australia. Immigrants will be challenged to interact with other people if not proficient in the English language. Getting around will be difficult. That is why, language barrier is another challenge that immigrants face in Australia.
Though English is not our first language, we are quite proficient in it. However, we still need to get used to how Australians talk. They talk with a distinct accent which is like the British accent. And they also have slang terms that they fondly use.
To overcome this challenge, it will be helpful to learn about Australian slang. Watch Australian TV shows to get used to how Australians talk. You can engage in conversations more often which will be helpful too. You will be exposed to how Australians talk. But the most important thing is to politely ask them if you do not understand what they mean.
Cultural differences
Experiencing culture shock is very common when traveling to different places. What more when immigrating to a new country? That is why it is also a common challenge immigrants face in Australia. Every country has its own culture. Especially here in Australia where people are very diverse.
It will be helpful to learn about Australian culture before immigrating. And if you know someone already living in Australia, ask them questions. Questions like how Australians think and how they act will be beneficial.
Building Network
Australians are known to be friendly. However, building a new network here in Australia is still a common challenge immigrants face. It is normal not to have many connections when you are starting life in Australia. Do not feel pressured on building a new network soonest. Each of us has our own pace in creating new connections. It will just happen as time goes by.
Make sure to be open to opportunities to make new friends. You can join groups with similar backgrounds and interests. When invited, attend parties as well. This will be a good venue to meet new people. Who knows, you can make new connections. You may even find out unknown connections. Possible with people you have been interacting with.
Private Transportation Issues
Another common challenge immigrants face in Australia is private transportation issues. Here in Australia, it is important to have at least one family car. Especially when you have kids. Though public transportation here in Australia is good and very well maintained, having a car is necessary. It will be helpful to explore and move around.
Immigrants can use overseas licenses to drive in Australia. However, it is only valid for a certain period. Within that period, you will need to convert it to a full Australian license. Otherwise, you will need to go through the whole process of getting a full license. That is going through a minimum 12-month learner permit period. Then an actual driving test. You will then be under a two-stage Probationary license. Only then you can get the full Australian license.
Obtaining a full Australian license from an overseas license may still be a challenge for some immigrants. That is because driving laws and regulations here in Australia are different from their home country. Most noticeable is that cars are right-hand driven in Australia. In most countries, cars are left-hand driven cars. Also, some immigrants may have developed some “bad” driving habits. This is for those who have been driving already in their home country. These “bad” habits can make them fail their driving test. Therefore, they will not obtain a full Australian license immediately.
So, it is important to get a driver’s license in your home country before immigrating to Australia. It is also important to learn Australian driving laws and regulations. Not just learn but understand as well. That is even if you have already been driving for a long time. Take note that different Australian states have different laws and regulations. So you must consider that as well.
Discrimination and Racism
Unfortunately, discrimination and racism are happening anywhere. That is why this is another common challenge immigrants face in Australia. We are fortunate enough to have not experienced any discrimination or racism. However, we have seen and heard such stories from friends and family.
To address this, try to avoid situations that can lead to discrimination and racism. If you feel someone is discriminating or making racist remarks, just ignore them. You can just walk away. Be the bigger person. Do not engage in any conversation with that person. Otherwise, if you need assistance, visit Help Stop Racism (australia.gov.au) for more information.
These are the most common challenges immigrants face in Australia. Always remember, for every big decision you make, there will always be challenges. Immigrating to a new country is one big decision any person or family will make. Challenges are therefore inevitable.
However, do not let these challenges discourage you from immigrating. There are more reasons for you to move here. And a million reasons to love this amazing country.
