Latest news with #PriyankaAthalye
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Dignity, Peace: One Major Migrant Community Reveals Their Motivations for Moving Down Under
From job stability to shorter commutes, Indian-Australian families say the Lucky Country is a place for new opportunities, belonging, and dignity. This is one of the largest and fastest-growing migrant groups in the country with over 916,330 individuals born in India, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Four households in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and Perth shared with The Epoch Times on their motivations for relocating to Australia—and what convinced them to stay. Sydney: Chasing Stability and Dignity Pramesh Saini, 43, lives in Sydney's north-western Castle Hill, and first came to Australia as a student in 2009. Originally from a small town in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (72 million population), he chose to stay for the promise of stability and dignity of work. 'No matter what job you do, it pays well in Australia,' he said. 'In India, to afford a good lifestyle, you need multiple degrees, work three times as hard, and even then, it depends on your luck.' Related Stories 5/6/2025 5/4/2025 His wife Anita, who joined him in 2018, said Australia's public health system sealed the deal. Courtesy of Pramesh Saini 'After each of our [children were born], a caregiver visited our home to check if we were managing well. That level of care was deeply reassuring,' she said of her two daughters. Saini's family became citizens in 2024 and will now call Australia home forever. 'There is no way we are going back. My girls were born here and they identify themselves as Australians.' Melbourne: Infrastructure and Public Facilities IT consultant Priyanka Athalye moved to Australia in 2015, just a year after her first child was born in Pune in the massive state of Maharashtra (110 million population). Now settled in Vermont South, Melbourne, she says Australia offered what her family was looking for. 'Australia gave us a peaceful, safe life, and looking back after nine years, I'm grateful we chose this country,' she said. What stood out most was the infrastructure. 'By that, I mean well-maintained roads, expansive green spaces, parks, and natural areas. These things matter when you're raising children.' She added, 'Compared to Indian cities, it's much less crowded. That alone makes a huge difference in quality of life.' Courtesy of Priyanka Athalye Canberra: Government Accountability In the nation's capital, Manish Jain, 39, a technology consultant, and his wife Prerna have embraced a calmer pace of life after leaving the bustling megacity of New Delhi (30 million) in 2012. 'What I love about Australia is the public sector's accountability. It gives you confidence that systems will work,' Jain said. Life back in India, he recalled, was 'too fast-paced,' with little time left for family. Canberra's shorter commutes and slower rhythm give him more time with his two sons. 'Even though we're still busy, it doesn't feel overwhelming. And above all, there's a sense that everyone gets a fair go in Australia.' Courtesy of Manish Jain Perth: Work-Life Balance In Perth's west, event producer Priyanka Singh and her husband Varun Saini made their home on Wellington Street after moving from Vadodara, Gujarat. As a dual-income couple, Singh said their life in India was dominated by work. Perth offered a welcome reset. 'People say Perth is isolated, but it has everything—top companies, beautiful beaches, lakes, and parks. You get to enjoy nature while having access to opportunities,' she said. The balance between career and family was what tipped the scale. 'It's the kind of life you dream about—doing fulfilling work without compromising time with loved ones.' Courtesy of Priyanka Singh What's Driving the Shift? Migration from China, once dominant, has declined steadily since 2017, well before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global mobility. In contrast, Indian migration has surged, fuelled by a mix of opportunity, and a growing middle class looking to find their place in the world. 'The Australia-India Free Trade Agreement has eased migration pathways,' said migration specialist Ramneek Madahar, in an interview with The Epoch Times. Annathurai Gnanasambandam, director of Visa Help Australia, added, 'India's growing middle class has created a large pool of skilled, ambitious workers. Australia rewards hard work, respects diversity, and offers a high quality of life.'
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Inflation Still the Main Concern for Australia's Fastest Growing Migrant Community
Indian-Australian voters say cost of living was the main priority during the recent federal election, and will be something they hope the new government can deal with. The Indian community is predicted to overtake the United Kingdom as the biggest migrant group in the country, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimating 916,330 Indian-born residents locally. This population swell has led politicians from across the spectrum to actively court this diaspora, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pledge for a Hindi School in Sydney. Despite the high-profile outreach, day-to-day concerns weighed more heavily for Indian-Australian voters than cultural symbolism. Priyanka Athalye, a 41-year-old IT consultant and mother of three from Vermont South in Melbourne, said her vote was shaped by rising expenses and worries about the future. 'Cost of living was the key issue on my mind when I stepped out to vote last week,' Athalye told The Epoch Times. Related Stories 4/30/2025 4/21/2025 Resident of South Vermont in Melbourne voted on cost of living crisis. Courtesy of Priyanka Athalye 'Educational opportunities for our children when they grow up, in terms of university education ... and also, when they grow up, how will the property prices be, right? So it basically boils down to what the future opportunities hold in Australia.' In Sydney, Anita Kumari, a housewife from Girraween, west of Parramatta, echoed similar concerns. With two school-age daughters, her vote was driven by the cost-of-living crisis. 'Lately, living in Sydney has become very expensive. We have voted for a government that can promise us some relief,' she said. Canberra resident Gaurav Arora, 42, said mortgage repayments were his biggest burden. A resident of Bruce since 2018, he bought a home just before the pandemic, only to be hit by surging interest rates. 'My only hope is that I get a government that can make sure its policies lead to the Reserve Bank slashing interest rates further,' he said. Javed Ali, 32, a financial consultant from Box Hill, also in Melbourne's east, who works remotely, said economic concerns and high utility costs were top of mind. 'I have voted for a government that can give an uplift to our economy, which has taken a hit since COVID freebies started to flow in,' he said. Another Melbourne Resident who voted for a better economy. Courtesy of Javed Ali
