Racism in Sydney? should I be worried?

[soulseeker]

I am a Canadian citizen of Indian origin currently living in Toronto and my wife works as a nurse in Sydney. I have decided to move to Sydney but have heard about racism towards Indians and this worries me. I am also worried about whether we will ever be able to afford a house as Sydney is so damn expensive. What are the job prospects like for IT professionals? I will be sponsored under my wife's visa. Please give me some advice/suggestions.

[possums]

When I was working in an office in Sydney we took part in a course on workplace diversity and had to attend monthly meeting of updated information etc.

I worked in the city and out of 20 staff members I was the only one with Australian born parents, Australia is very multicultural especially in Sydney and Melbourne. In 2009 I sincerly hope you will not have to deal with racism.

As with the cost of a home in Sydney I can't help you as when I was living there I rented in the city, that was quite expensive but most of my friends and collegues lived west of the city and travelled up to an hour or more to get to work each day.

[misterbig]

Like Canada, you won't get much outright racism, if there are any prejudices it will most likely be spoken behind your back. As long as you stick to major cities you'll be fine as they're used to the influx of diversity.

Comparing Sydney and Vancouver though I find the homes very similarly priced in similar neighbourhoods. I do find there's more congregation of cultures in certain suburbs in Sydney than I do in Vancouver.

With the financial crisis ongoing, IT jobs will be just as hard to land in Australia as it is in Canada, but that doesn't mean there are no jobs - stick to big cities.

[dannykool]

I am a Canadian citizen of Indian origin currently living in Toronto and my wife works as a nurse in Sydney. I have decided to move to Sydney but have heard about racism towards Indians and this worries me. I am also worried about whether we will ever be able to afford a house as Sydney is so damn expensive. What are the job prospects like for IT professionals? I will be sponsored under my wife's visa. Please give me some advice/suggestions.

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Well you should know what Australia's history is and then decide. Google it and you will find. It does not get violent or physical, though. Socially, check it out for yourself and see if you can speak 'Strian'. Would be interested in your findings.

[misterbig]

Well you should know what Australia's history is and then decide. Google it and you will find. It does not get violent or physical, though. Socially, check it out for yourself and see if you can speak 'Strian'. Would be interested in your findings.

I think YOU need to google "Australian apology" and see what hits you get. Every country had its share of skeletons.

[dannykool]

Every country has its share, I agree but there seem to be 7 out of 10 skeletons in Australia.

I did google and the only apologies have come in 2008. The former prime minister was such an ass that my friend said he actually revived the famous 'White Australia' policy that existed from 1906 to 1973. Australia's history is well known and how it was built etc. Good for Brits though.

Since the original poster is non-white, I asked him to go out there and check it out before making any big decisions. They have wonderful beaches in Sydney...but did'nt they throw out the Lebanese a couple of years ago from those beaches ?

[misterbig]

Canada is also well known for its racist policies. Many Chinese were lured to Canada to work on the railway but after its completion they were levied a head tax to stop any further immigration. It wasn't until 1967 that Canada removed country of origin/race from their immigration policies. Ask Japanese Canadians how they felt about the WWII internment camps.

Today, our federal police will shoot you if you don't speak english and arrive in Vancouver - especially eastern europeans from Poland. We'll taser you to death and cover it up.

As for the Lebanese beach incident that was just a bunch of gangs acting up - I used to go to Cronulla regularly as I'm sure you must be since you're so informed. I'd rather have that than the Vancouver gang shootings that happen every week. If you're of Indian origin, watch out, the police love racial profiling.

[dannykool]

I agree with most of what you said..it is really all true and the Vancouver stuff. Not as informed as you might think (have not been to the area you mentioned), but it seems that Toronto is more open. Was a bit surprised about the non English immigrants in Vancouver, as the Chinese have really made a mark there, so they seem to be well set.

But yes, the profiling seems to be stronger in Vancouver than Sydney. TO is OK, though. TO vs Sydney ? Can't say, but Canada has opened up much more quickly than the Aussies have. That one for sure. A lot of people don't like them...and a lot of people like Canadians.