Indians in Australia: 10 Facts to know

BY MEGHA SHARMA

This article is an attempt to familiarize all Indians in Australia, to know about the past and present relations these two countries share. Australia is becoming one of the most favourite countries for emigrants. With a total number of 300 thousand (3 lakh), Indians formed 1 % of the population of Australia as per the population census of 2011. Thus to know more about the land becomes crucial for the aspiring students who want to study in Australia or people with plans to settle abroad.

• A small light on the migration history tells that during 1800-16, the colonizers took a small group of convict laborers. With later immigrants reaching a great number Australia banned any other migrations in 1901 with a restrictive act. The next period of migration was observed after 1966 with a large number of professionals migrating to the continent.

• India is the second largest international student enrollment country in Australia with VET being the highest sector. Indian students seek most of their courses in management and commerce fields from here in their higher studies as well. Victoria hits the top in the list of states chosen by the students with 16,798 enrollments, followed by New South Wales (7,623), Queensland (6,429), Western Australia (2,499), South Australia (2,477), the ACT (320), the Northern Territory (96) and Tasmania (84).

• New South Wales is also the land which has highest Indian origins' population followed by Victoria, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania.

• India's Tricolour was hoisted at 34, Mugga way, Canberra, Australia. Indian Tricolour was officially hoisted at India House, the High Commissioner's residence by Sir Raghunath Paranjpye at 0730 hrs IST (1200 hrs localtime at Canberra) on 15 Aug 1947, in the presence of the then Australian Minister for External Affairs Dr Herbert V Evatt, and over 300 guests.

• Students are allowed to work 20 hours a week besides their studies. So there is a great scope for internships for those who want to be multi-taskers. However, working for more hours might lead to a cancellation of the student visa. Further, to choose a job is a risky as one has to work sometimes at odd hours, especially in Melbourne where crime rates are high and the accommodations fall short leading students live in poor low-rent areas. One must be careful about these things while opting for jobs here. For immigration detail, one can visit: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/

• India is the 21^st largest exporter to Australia where as it imports a large amount of coal, gold, nickel, chickpeas, copper and wool.

• Australia publishes about 15 Indian languages newspapers and magazines in Tamil, Hindi and Punjabi. Punjabi Express, an English-Punjabi news magazine in Australia with the highest number of readers.

• "Australian Indian Radio (AIR) is a division of Brisbane Indian Times. The 24 hour online radio station will compliment Brisbane Indian Times by providing community news, interviews, upcoming events and Bollywood music. AIR completes our marketing and promotion package by including digital radio to our already thorough mix of print, website, email direct marketing and social media mix." This is the official Indian radio in the continent. It is not only a radio channel but makes an Indian origin person instantly fall into the trance of his essence. However, there are other channels as well that work in the same line of catering to the needs of Indian audience.

• With such a high population of Indians it becomes crucial that the land must cater to their religious needs as well. The country offers a democratic space to exercise one's religious faiths. Herein, one not only finds some Indian communities arranging for events to gather up but there are famous Hindu temples as well which compliments the needs of the entire indigenous populous.

ALSO READ: Here is an article on famous Hindu Temples in Australia: http://www.newsgram.com/hinduism-highlighted-beautiful-hindu-temples-australia-2/

• Every year Australian government celebrates "Australia India Business Council NSW Annual Address". It highlights the potential of Business partnerships between the two countries. Minister Christopher Pyne talked about India and Australia future relations in the 2015 meet as: "Our relationship with India has been underdone over the years, but I don't think that's going to be the case now and into the future…Prime Minister Modi granted me a one-on-one meeting which I think speaks volumes about his attitude to the future relationship with Australia." The following range of events were discussed by AIBC in the same event

1. Policy and business planning initiatives with major stakeholders including the Government of India, Government of Australia/State Governments, major government trade and investment bodies
2. Organising targeted business delegations to India.
3. Hosting Indian business delegations in Australia.
4. The Annual Australia India Address with very high profile speakers organised by each AIBC State office.
5. India Budget & Economic Update
6. Major business events with dignitaries from India and Australia.
7. Numerous business networking events for our members.
8. Business information and educational events for our members

With this one can definitely think over the idea of making Australia his /her home. Though initially problems were faced, but today both the countries stand together complimenting each other's need and have strong socio-economic ties which lead to the strengthening of their relations.

(Megha is a student at the University Of Delhi. She is pursuing her masters in English and has also done her studies in German Language.) twitter: https://twitter.com/meghash06510344