Anil Wijesinghe
Embracing the quality of life
Q: What motivated you to relocate to Australia? Was it for work, family or another reason?
A: My family was the motivation for moving to Australia; and the experience of adapting to life both culturally and socially has worked very well.
As I’m over 60, I have been able to adapt to the cultural differences between Sri Lanka and Australia. Having said that, I’ve found it difficult to manage the winter season here in Perth.
Q: How do you stay connected with your Sri Lankan roots while living in Western Australia?
A: Through my network of friends as well as a church community that I maintain connections with.
Q: Can you share some of your favourites in the realms of the Aussie culture and lifestyle?
A: Among my favourites is meeting in cafes to engage in discussions – and the cafe culture in general.
Moreover, family is at the core in Australia. As such, most regulations revolve around promoting a family focussed culture.
Driving is a pleasure as most drivers follow the regulations. And in general, people are friendly and caring. Animals are also treated well.
And the health regulations are very good while healthcare is excellent. Services – along with most government organisations and NGOs – are exceptional. In fact, corruption is near zero.
There are also many government and private sector facilities for recreation. For families with children, excellent games facilities are available in close proximity to their homes.
Every city and town is well planned, and most products and services are available in supermarkets, salons, bakeries, laundry services, post offices, fuel stations, fast food outlets and so on.
Q: What advice can you offer Sri Lankans who are considering relocating to Australia for work or higher education?
A: The country offersexcellent facilities and a high quality lifestyle for any young family. So focus on your objectives – and don’t be distracted by the number of attractions there are.
If you are moving to study, focus on your studies and invest your time to achieve your goals. Prepare a plan and keep to it; you can easily be distracted as everything to allure a youngster is available here.
This is a great country for a young family as you can earn well. Similarly, costs are high – for example, rent can be very high. However, if you earn in Australia, you can afford to pay this.
Most importantly, a young family can save well with a smart plan.
