A social worker with 12 years of work experience in different social work settings, Ajeesh Sebastian came to Australia after a friend suggested there were good opportunities for social work in the Northern Territory.

He found a role in Alice Springs where he gained experience in remote areas like the Central Desert and Barkly regions. Ajeesh and his family have since moved to regional Victoria, where he works as a community mental health clinician. Ajeesh has a Master of Social Work from India.

Ajeesh said he enjoys his work and having supportive colleagues. He appreciates the rewarding salary and the opportunities to upskill. He also likes the work-life balance in Australia.

He said his children enjoy going to school. “They love the way they learn things and benefit from mingling with children from a range of multicultural backgrounds,” Ajeesh said.

Anjali Awal Prajapati’s passion for helping and caring for others led her to a career in nursing and a new life in Australia. With the support of her family, Anjali completed nursing training in India and then critical care training at a government hospital in Nepal. After graduating she worked in two hospitals in Nepal before coming to Australia to undertake her Master of Nursing at the University of New England.

On graduating, she decided to practice in Australia and now calls the New South Wales Hunter Valley region home. Working as a nurse in a hospital and in aged care, Anjali feels she has the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Anjali likes to explore new places, skills, people and cultures. She has found the multicultural community in the Newcastle area helpful and respectful of individual rights and freedoms.

Emma Duthart has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Salford, England. After graduating she worked for Steeper Group at The London Royal Hospital and various other hospitals in England, where she provided inpatient and outpatient services including a diabetic foot clinic. 

After doing some travelling, Emma moved to Australia and settled in Cairns, far north Queensland, where she now works as an orthotist in private practice. She sees patients with a variety of disabilities and conditions that need orthotic bracing and splints, ranging from helmets to spinal braces to footwear. Emma assesses her clients for prosthetics (artificial limbs) and orthotics (braces), takes casts and works with technicians onsite to help make the devices.

She enjoys providing a local service to people from all walks of life. “I love improving people’s gait and seeing them achieve their goals by using orthotics,” she said. 

Emma says Australia is a fantastic country to live and work in and she’s enjoying the diversity of people in her local community.

Working internationally was a childhood dream for Jenalyn Del Rosario. It’s a dream that became reality when she arrived in Australia from the Philippines.

Jenalyn now works as a clinical care coordinator in an aged care facility in south-west Sydney. She previously worked as a registered nurse in a public hospital in Central Luzon in the Philippines, and completed a Master of Nursing before moving to Australia.

Jenalyn says people treat you equally in Australia, and there are great opportunities if you work hard with passion in your heart. She says the community has been welcoming and friendly.

After working as an intensive care physician in the United Kingdom during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenna Godfrey came to Australia seeking adventure. On her arrival in Darwin she worked as a retrieval registrar for CareFlight which gave her the opportunity to learn about the rich history and culture of First Nations communities. She said it was a privilege to serve these communities, and has many wonderful memories of her time in the Northern Territory.

Now working as a general practitioner in Melbourne, Jenna only planned to come to Australia for a year but after falling in love with the country has decided to stay. Along with the career opportunities on offer, Jenna enjoys domestic travel, particularly snorkelling and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. In Melbourne she appreciates the wide variety of cuisine (most importantly the coffee), the diversity of ethnicity and cultures, and the differing landscapes.

A good education system, a sense of safety and feeling her culture and beliefs are respected were important factors for Nourhan Elzanati when deciding to make Australia home for her and her children.

Nourhan was born in Egypt. After graduating from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Alexandria, she worked as a community pharmacist, a medical representative, a patient educator and a personal assistant before moving to Australia. 

Now working as an intern pharmacist in Geelong, Victoria, Nourhan enjoys getting out into local natural environment in her spare time.

Australia’s good reputation, strong economy, well-paid jobs, modern lifestyle and high standard of living were the compelling reasons that convinced Patriz Hugo to migrate.

Patriz has found nursing in the regional Queensland city of Mackay has given her opportunities to further her professional skills and develop new social networks. Working with patients across age groups and with varying conditions has grown her experience in providing individualised nursing care.

“Mackay has given me an avenue to further my social skills as well as my professionalism. People are nice and friendly,” Patriz said.

Before gaining her Australian registration, Patriz worked as a registered nurse in a local hospital in Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Rupinder Kaur arrived in Australia on a student visa. While in Australia, she found work in the aged care sector as a disability support worker. After this experience, she chose to apply for a Postgraduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing and now works as a forensic health nurse.

Rupinder’s skilled migration pathway was through living and working in regional Victoria, where the slow-paced lifestyle provides a work-life balance and lets her spend more time with her young family. She found her colleagues and the local community very welcoming and has developed many friendships.

Migrating to Australia has been extremely fulfilling for Rupinder, both personally and professionally. “People should give it a go,” she said. “I feel happy and I’ve established myself.”

Selina Yue Zhang came to Australia as a mature student to undertake a Master of Social Work. In China, Selina worked as an English teacher and completed a Master of Linguistics. After spending some time in the workforce she decided to study abroad and experience something new.

Selina was initially employed part-time as a disability support worker while studying and secured a full-time position as a social worker shortly after graduating.

Selina said moving to Australia is one of the best decisions she’s ever made. She has good career opportunities and her employer provides free training to help prepare her for more senior roles. She enjoys the work-life balance, the inclusive working environment and flexible work arrangements available in Australia.

Selina enjoys Australia’s multicultural community and finds it interesting learning about different cultures. She hopes her experience will inspire more people to choose Australia as their home.

After first living in Australia as a graduate student, Sophie Minjia Zhong moved to Australia permanently and commenced work as a social worker in the aged-care sector. She said she enjoys a work environment open to mature-age employees who change career. She appreciates a work-life balance that provides her with plenty of time to spend with her family and to pursue her own interests.

Sophie worked in China as a teacher before she undertook graduate studies in Australia. She was attracted to Australia by its strong economy, diverse culture and natural environment.

She and her family have felt welcomed in their local community and are enjoying a wide range of cultures and foods, including those from her homeland.

Sophie said her local community celebrates diversity and different cultures.

Urvashi Chhabria moved to Australia from India with 6 years’ experience as a physiotherapist. She initially came in 2013 to do her Master of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy at the University of South Australia.

Urvashi said once she became a resident there were many career opportunities on offer. She now works as a senior physiotherapist in private practice in an Adelaide clinic where she enjoys helping people achieve their goals and live pain free.

Urvashi says the health system and facilities in Australia are of a high standard and structured to help people get access to the care they need.

In Adelaide, Urvashi enjoys the beaches, parklands, being surrounded by beautiful landscapes and the access to amazing wildlife.

Candice de Beer holds undergraduate and post-graduate qualifications in both Psychology and Education. Before moving to Australia she worked as a teacher in the private sector in South Africa. 

Arriving just before the COVID-19 pandemic meant the first months in Australia were 
challenging for Candice and her family. Now, Candice is working as a primary school relief teacher on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, and the family is settling in and making the most of the opportunities available. She says she enjoys the flexibility of her work and the many opportunities for professional development.

Candice says she has found her local community to be supportive and everyone is valued. She is volunteering in her community and her family have made friends quickly and adapted to their new environment.

Originally from the Philippines, Cecilia Bolasoc migrated to Australia in 1992 with a Bachelor of Education. She now lives in Perth, where she works as a disability education assistant. Having spent half her life here, Cecilia has adopted everything Australian and loves the culture and the lifestyle.

Cecilia believes the special needs education sector is perfect for migrants who want a worthwhile career where they can develop and grow, as it’s well supported and the rewards of the job outweigh the challenges.

“We're really lucky that everything is here,” Cecilia said. “Most of our students can receive funding from the government and we have everything we need to support them.”

Clara enjoys teaching and feels supported to further develop her skills as an educator. She is now studying for a Master of Learning Intervention to qualify as a special education teacher. As a recipient of a Commonwealth supported place, her university fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.

Based on her experience as a teacher in a government school, Clara said that school children in Australia are nurtured and well developed physically, mentally and academically.

Clara enjoys the multicultural aspects of life in Melbourne including the wide variety of Chinese foods available, so she can always get a taste of home from shops and restaurants. Besides work and study, Clara also finds time to pursue her interest in ballet dancing.

Since arriving in Australia Hein Kamffer, pictured above in front of his spouse Benjamin Summers, has worked as a secondary school teacher in the regional Queensland towns of Mount Isa and Townsville. He has recently started teaching in Brisbane and now calls himself a proud Queenslander.

With a Bachelor of Commerce and postgraduate qualifications in both Education and Law, Hein had no difficulty getting a job in Australia.

“I’m grateful to be living in a country where I can excel within my career and experience ongoing professional development with equal opportunities for all,” he said. Hein notes that both the culture and the development opportunities in the education sector in Australia are second to none.

Australia is also where Hein met his spouse. “Australians are incredibly welcoming of people who come from all over the world and integrating into Australian society is a seamless process,” Hein said.

Jim Fountain is a primary school teacher with more than 12 years’ teaching experience in both the private and public sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and a Master of Education from the University of Cambridge, where he qualified as a primary teacher in 2012. 

Jim secured a job within a month of arriving in Australia and now works at a private grammar school in Melbourne. He has found the work fulfilling, with plenty of scope for career progression.

One of the things he loves is the way Australians prioritise a work-life balance and encourage opportunities for adventure. 

“Australia’s love of the outdoors, opportunities to raise a family, safety and friendliness as a nation felt like the perfect fit. It has been the best decision we ever made!” he said.

When Lauren Andrews first moved to Australia she thought she might last six months, but six years later Sydney is home. She is making full use of her degree in Early Childhood Care and Education, working as a room lead educator and quality improvement leader at a childcare centre providing care for children aged 0-5 years.

Lauren likes the positivity of the Australian workforce and feels welcomed in her local community.

“I love the beach lifestyle! Coming from Ireland it did seem unnatural at first but now there’s not a day goes by that I’m not visiting one of the beautiful beaches around me,” she said.

Her advice to anyone considering a move to Australia: “You will never know until you try! If you are considering applying, you’re halfway there. You will not regret taking the chance to better your life both professionally and personally.”

As a senior health and safety professional in the steel manufacturing industry, Fran Moreira has worked all over the world. But it was Australia's workplace culture and family-oriented lifestyle that finally saw him settle down for good in Melbourne, a place he intends to call home for many years to come.

Fran believes Australia is a global leader in workplace safety and he encourages workers to consider the benefits of building a career here. “There are many opportunities for skilled workers, particularly in the health and safety management area,” he said. “If people work hard, the pathway for career progression is huge.”

Settling in Melbourne has been a welcome change for Fran's whole family. They enjoy the open-air lifestyle and often head outside to play sport or ride their bikes.

Ivan Vargas Diaz is a mechanical engineer now working as a senior test well engineer in Western Australia’s offshore gas industry. He has 14 years’ experience working in the oil and gas industry in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Albania for a number of operating companies. Among the projects he’s been involved with are ultra-deep water explorations wells in Türkiye and Colombia.

Having arrived in Australia in mid-2022, Ivan says that he and his family are still exploring their new community. “I really like that it’s a young cosmopolitan community rich in culture and different backgrounds.”

His advice to skilled visa recipients is to ensure they understand the scope of their visa and that they have savings to cover the initial costs of living, including accommodation and transport.

When he was living in Thailand, Kanok Pitiwatcharakul was encouraged to apply for positions in Melbourne by his manager who was from Australia. Taking his advice, Kanok is now settling into Melbourne where he finds the diverse community friendly and open.

Kanok said moving to Australia has given him more professional opportunities and an improved quality of life. He specifically mentioned the fresh air, public transport and salaries as factors that drew him to Australia. Kanok also enjoys Australia’s good work-life balance.

Leandre Piggott lives and works in Darwin, in the Northern Territory, where she and her daughter enjoy the diversity of a smaller community.

“Darwin is possibly the most culturally diverse city in Australia. The community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. I have never experienced anything like it and love living here,” she said.

On arriving in Darwin a few years ago, Leandre considered a career change and studied IT in addition to working as a consultant and project manager. In the process she discovered she actually preferred her work in project management in construction and development, and continues to grow her career in the sector.

Marlon Martinez Novoa’s international experience in the oil and gas industry resulted in several job offers before he accepted a role with his existing employer. He now lives on the Gold Coast and works in regional Queensland as a service supervisor at a plant that recycles the fluid used in drilling gas wells.

Marlon enjoys Australia’s multicultural work environment. He has both learnt from his colleagues and been able to share his experiences to improve local processes.

“Living overseas is a challenge itself, but … the Gold Coast offers a great environment where we feel safe, with local businesses available to cover our needs, a great education system for our child and kind people everywhere. Working as a FIFO [fly-in fly-out] is not easy as I have to leave my home on a regular basis but I know my family is always safe and happy in this community.”

With the help of a recruiter, Myles Prime found a job in Australia as a structural engineer in the building sector specialising in multi-storey residential towers, educational buildings, warehouses, temporary works and condition assessments.

He enjoys the challenges of complex projects, and said the scale of development in and around Perth makes the future very exciting. He appreciates the management structures common in organisations in Australia that allow him to be involved in high-level business operations.

Myles has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Cape Town. In South Africa he worked for an engineering consultancy in the commercial construction sector.

Among the things Myles likes about life in Australia are being able to live close to work, easy access to the best public transport system he’s experienced and the relatively affordable cost of living. He also enjoys the work-life balance which allows him to spend time enjoying water sports and being outdoors.

A passion for railway engineering has seen Pravin Pasare working on major railway projects in the United Kingdom and Singapore. He now lives in Perth, Western Australia, where he is a senior project manager for a railway extension and pedestrian level crossing removal project.

Pravin has degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Postgraduate Diploma of Project Management from Newcastle upon Tyne (UK). In Singapore Pravin was involved in the design and construction of a tunnel underneath a 350-metre-wide water canal. He also worked on the Tuas Viaduct project, the first integrated road and rail viaduct in Singapore.

Pravin’s two children are well established in their local primary school and participate in a range of extracurricular activities such as running clubs, art groups, dance, swimming and music lessons. He said the school is well organised and provides assistance to both students and parents, and the children are encouraged to learn at their own pace and according to their interests.

“Australia is the perfect place for children's education and safety,” Pravin said.

Eleven years after moving from China to Australia to study mechanical engineering, Qilin Chen signed the contract to buy his very first home in Melbourne. With his wife by his side and their first child on the way, Chen knew it was a defining moment – one that confirmed his decision to call Australia home.

After graduating from RMIT University in 2017, Chen worked for a year before being invited to apply for a Skilled Nominated visa, which allowed him to stay in Australia permanently. He says building a career here has given him access to a supportive environment, with a competitive salary, a good work-life balance and many opportunities for growth.

“I really enjoy working in Australia,” Chen said. “Engineering companies are very supportive of personal development and willing to provide resources and assistance to help you grow.”

When Ricardo Caballero Feito took the opportunity to move to Australia with his employer, international engineering company Ghenova, he was surprised at the number of opportunities here for skilled workers.

Ricardo has qualifications in naval architecture and ocean engineering, quality, health and safety, and project management. In Australia he is managing the engineering work and supporting the business development at Ghenova Australia.

Ricardo said moving to Australia with his work provided him with a unique experience and the ability to make a difference in a vital industry.

He enjoys Melbourne’s rich multicultural environment and Australia’s focus on work-life balance.

For both Ricardo and his partner, moving to Australia has provided adventure, new challenges and wonderful experiences.

When Anderson De Oliveira Bertucci started looking for international career experience and a better quality of life for his family, he decided Australia was the place for him and his family. With a Bachelor of Computer Software Engineering and 10 years’ experience as a systems and business analyst for corporations in Brazil, Anderson now works for an IT solutions and products company in Adelaide.

Anderson appreciates the career development opportunities and clear path to advancement his employer offers. He enjoys working in a multicultural environment where he can exchange experiences with talented colleagues from all over the world and learn new ways of doing things.

“Australia is a wonderful place to work due to its strong economy, competitive wages, and attractive lifestyle,” he said.

An IT programmer and developer, Jaco Smith moved to Australia from South Africa to further his expertise in clinical data management and analysis for research companies undertaking drug development trials which can then be used for gaining regulatory approvals.

Jaco has a postgraduate degree in Information Systems from University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. Before moving to Australia he worked in the clinical research organisation (CRO) industry. Jaco says that in Australia he enjoys meeting other highly skilled people in his field, and exchanging ideas that contribute to the science of drug development and clinical research.

Jaco now calls Adelaide home. He enjoys the quality of life, the ease of getting around (especially on public transport), participating in the local Parkrun and going on walks.

Manohar Mahato came to Australia with a degree in Computer Science, a Master of Software Engineering and experience in test automation and software development at an IT consulting company in India.

Now working as an application engineer at a road tolling company, Manohar said there are opportunities for career progression if you are dedicated, experienced or keen to learn new technologies. He has found the Australian work ethic excellent and his colleagues approachable and helpful.

Manohar finds life in Australia pleasant and satisfying.

“There are lovely people around who care about each other and are easy-going.”

With the beautiful landscapes, including the coast and beaches, he loves going on long road trips where he can see beautiful scenery and small towns.

Preet Sharma came to Australia in 2015 to complete her Master of Information Technology and now works as a cybersecurity incident analyst. She has found the tech sector here offers limitless avenues to progress her career and provides women in particular with many opportunities.

Before deciding to move to Australia, Preet compared other countries with similar migration pathways. She considered things like being able to bring family, working rights, language barriers – even the weather conditions – and found Australia was a perfect fit.

Preet said the process of moving countries has helped her learn more about herself and given her confidence and a newfound independence. “If I compare myself from 10 years ago, I’m far more confident today. I gained that confidence after coming here.”