The challenge of the future - multiculturalism

From the moment British PM David Cameron made the remark that multiculturalism had failed in UK, this issue has spread like wildfire across the globe. I guess this is the most sensitive write up that I had ever posted in my blog. This issue and debate had spread to Australia as the opposition shadow minister Scott Morrison was accused of making some remark regarding Muslims immigration.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/liberals-defy-call-to-sack-scott-morrison/story-fn59niix-1226007839008

What is multiculturalism actually?

As a Malaysian, I was told since young that I grow up in a multi-racial society. Our country people are living in harmony although we are of difference races. Indeed, in Malaysia aspect, our multiculturalism are mainly formed through 3 main races, Malay, Chinese and Indian. I grew up eating curry, roti canai, beef rendang, nasi lemak and char kuey teow. My grandma never went to any formal school to learn Malay language, but she likes to watch P-Ramlee movie (P-Ramlee was a famous Malay singer,composer,actor in 1960s). Although I am known as a Chinese in Malaysia, I find that I cannot fit into similarity with the friends from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. I can speak Malay, English, Chinese and Cantonese well. They are only limited to their own mother tongue. I love to eat nasi lemak, curry, Ipoh Hor fun and roti canai. They do not. Although there are still a lot of struggle as the race issue been politicalised by politicians these last few years, I feel myself more Malaysian than a Chinese. Since then, my idea of multiculturalism is of similar concept as what I think of Malaysia "version" - all culture blended into one. In food or cooking aspect, we called it "fusion". Yes, multiculturalism mean the "fusion" of all cultures.

When I arrived in Melb, I make a lot of friends from different countries. I am truly confident that due to my strong adaptability and multi racial background, I can mix and make friends with different races of people. However, when I meet Indian, they regard Malaysia Indians as descendants of Tamil Naidu. They speak Hindi, Gujarat, Punjab instead of Tamil. When I meet HKies, they all speak Cantonese. They regard themselves as "chong kuo yan" which mean "people of China". Due to the language barrier, people from China mainland hardly blend in together with HKie although they are "chong kuo yan" as well. I meet people from Vietnam, Greece, Malta, Mauritius, Croatia and so on. I hardly can find any so called "fusion" here. But we all still live in harmony. Each individual race are actually free to practice their own culture and customs here as well. But this multiculturalism is different from the Malaysia version, the "fusion" version. However, I guess is quite difficult to get to form a "fusion" since Aus has so much more different races compared to Malaysia which just consist of 3 main races.

Now the world is getting more and more globalised. We are actually living in a global village. Not only Australia, Canada and Singapore also has a recent spike of immigration intakes to draw skill talent to contribute into the countries' economy. People tends to move, relocate, and migrate for better life, better job prospect, or may be escape from unstable political condition. It is more frequent, more often and more aggressive now. With Internet and just one click of mouse button, we know what is the immigration requirements, job vacancy advertisements, which university offer scholarships, what kind of business opportunities available in US, Australia, UK, NZ and whichever countries.

However, how ready are we in facing such a challenge? We will have to face the challenge of living, working and socialising with different of people who speak different languages, having different backgrounds, different working culture mentality, different concept of living and working culture, different idea of life values.

As a new migrant, have we decided to leave behind whatever background and ready to integrate and assimilate into new environment, and a totally different values?

This is another article that writes about the challenge and struggle of Australia in facing the challenge of multiculturalism recently.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/multiculturalism-has-a-long-way-to-go/story-fn59niix-1226007830004

SBS documentary about immigration history of Australia

In conjunction with Australia Day, SBS specially broadcast 3 episodes of documentary regarding the immigration nation history of Australia. It is a very eye opening view as through the documentary, we can see how Australia transformed itself from only for 99% pure white British immigration policy until today multicultural society. Although there are still many struggles for Australia to go through as it is always a transforming nation. This is really an excellent documentary production of the year.

By the way, I believe this documentary may be restricted in a certain countries. I cannot access this documentary online when I was on holiday in Malaysia.

Episode 1:

Episode 2:

Episode 3:

New point system for general skill migration to Australia

This new point system was released last month. I was pretty much occupied with my exam at that time and delay of updating it into this blog.

The new system is a bit shocking to me. Major changes to the new system is that occupation point is no longer in the point system. It mean that those occupation such as engineer, accountant which deserve 60 points in the old system is no longer accountable into new system. The total point score for this new system is 65 points. It sound lesser points however it is actually tougher than previous system which required to meet min 120 points. IELTS score of 6 is not longer getting any point in the new system. Instead, only score 7 for each component will get 10 points. This changes is pretty have big impact towards those international student especially from Asia region.

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/points-fact.pdf

New migration processing point system coming soon

As the migration skill list shorten the demand list from 400 to less than 200 skill list. Migration to Australia through education seem to be getting tougher.

Latest news from The Australian.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/migrant-skills-go-to-the-top-of-the-list/story-e6frgcjx-1225950294947

Priority processing for skilled migration in Australia

Attached link is the latest news on the priority processing for skilled migration in Australia.

Link

SOL changes.... how far the changes can affect the student...

This is just for a sharing from what I am experiencing for some of the international student currently facing in Australia.

I am currently doing my postgraduate in pharmaceutical science. Many of my coursemate coming from South Asia were affected by the recent changes of new SOL list. They got the Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy in their original country and suppose to do the master program in order to get to migrate as Industrial Pharmacist. By the way, Industrial Pharmacist actually assessed by VET instead of Board of Pharmacy Australia which is far more easier to get through. That is why I found out that is reason why many of them are here to use the programme to migrate instead of register and assessed by Board of Pharmacy Australia as hospital/retail pharmacist.

As the new SOL list changed and effective on 1st July, Hospital Pharmacist, Retail Pharmacist and Industrial pharmacist are no longer listed in new SOL. As they already went through the master programme for one semester, it is quite difficult to make a choice whether to continue or discontinue. Good thing is Australia government has given quite a graceful transition period, all of them still can obtain the graduate visa and has 18 months to look for employer to sponsor to obtain the PR.

I tried to find out most of their situation at this moment (rather than just reading the negative news from media) as below:

1. Continue the course. Get the graduate visa and utilise 18 months period to find an employer sponsor after graduated.
2. Some may considering applying for similar programme in US university as it may be easier path to migrate in US compare with Australia
3. One of them right now working as pharmacist assistant as part time job and trying to ask employer to sponsor the PR for him. (this would be interesting new way if he really able to obtained employer sponsor)

Well, as the regulation change, it seem that the situation is not too bad. Many still can find their way to obtain the PR as I mention above.

Immigration issues on election table

Coalition leader, Tony Abbot had promised to cut down immigration level from 300,000 to 170,000 by end of his first term. In order not to hamper the country economy, employer nominated skill migration and visa 457 will be shield from the cut.

Likely foreign student will be the first hit by the reduction. Many dreams of migration through education will be shattered although thousands of dollars already sinked in. As I had mention earlier, migration would be a lifetime matters. If Australia really a dream place to be, a long term planning would be needed.

Refer to the latest news.