Australia has always been thought of as the lucky country and for those of us who live here it is definitely true. We have great healthcare and education systems, government financial assistance, easily accessible public transport and many other favourable qualities that puts Australia ahead of a lot of other countries. But for migrants Australia may not necessarily be considered lucky for them. While in a lot of cases Australia is a safe haven and a land of opportunity there are some aspects that may let migrants down.
Migrating to another country is hard enough in itself. Take into account Australia’s high cost of living compared to other countries and another set of challenges presents itself. In addition to moving their life and setting up from scratch in a new country, there are other things that migrants may need and often it will require money to do it. Unfortunately, they do not have the access to finance, loans or credit cards that we as residents can more often than not easily procure. And let’s face it, things are expensive and it’s not often that one can afford to make a large purchase outright. We all need a little help.
So what happens if they need a car to drive the kids to school? Or they need a new fridge or other essential item for the home? If they don’t have that type of cash available then what do they do? Basically, migrants have to be well financed or have some form of money or assistance when they arrive in Australia yet a lot of the money they do bring with them is often needed for living expenses and just getting by day to day.
It can be argued that they should try to find work so they have a steady income and can afford the extras but then there’s the work restrictions that are placed on them. In some cases migrants are only permitted to work 20 hours a week. Supporting a family on this restricted income is unlikely to leave a lot left over for saving should a big expense arise.
How can this be remedied? Perhaps giving migrants work rights and letting them get ahead financially would help ease the burden they are often faced with. If they want to work why stop them? If they are not taking a job that could otherwise be filled by an Australian resident this shouldn’t pose a problem.
Migrants don’t get the benefits that residents do. They pay more for schooling and healthcare and other services we often take for granted so why not let them earn a better income or offer them some sort of financing solution? Wouldn’t this this help make this great country greater?
If you have any questions about this issue and need expert advice, speak to one of the VSA team today. It is a complex subject so it is important to speak with someone in the know.
