Perth - Asians
 

Due to leave for Perth in a few months and I'm interested to know how racially tolerant/multicultural the city is. I gather that the place has lots of Brits - which (I know this is contentious!!), for me, is helpful. (I'm getting nervous just typing!) But my wife is SE Asian and we do have slight concerns about attitudes towards ethnic minorities whose skin isn't white. Certainly when we've visited before, we've only encountered positives but a holiday is not the same as living there.
I'm not really interested in the one-off stories of abuse/intolerance - you can find those wherever you go in the world - it's more the general attitude.
I understand that the question is difficult to answer if you do not have Asian friends or family but I'd be interested in views - and in this case I do prefer the generalisations!
Secondly, how much of an Asian 'scene' is there? Besides restaurants, is Perth really multicultural or is it essentially a white city with the odd ghetto?

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Can't answer your question personally (I haven't yet been to Perth) but would like to wish you & your wife the very best of luck with the move.

Certainly here in Melbourne, people of all colors & beliefs are accepted & made welcome - which means we have a very well-integrated city, as well as a fantastic range of ethnic restaurants! ;)

Cheers,
Anya.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

I am particulary interested in this also. My wife and I are born and raised as brits but have parents that come from India. We have been in Houston for the last 7 years and are ready to move on as its not really the kind of place we want to settle. I just accepted a job in Perth and will be going out there in April. Heard only good things from people but never heard from any asians who have lived there for some time.

I have had my fair share of people with 'non-tolerant' opionions about people of colour in both the UK and the US, its one of those things that will always be around. I think it only get to be a problem when your faced with it all the time, either directly or indirectly. Like I said, I have an open mind about such issues and am not too concerned based on what I have heard about Perth, but would love to hear others opinion.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Same in Sydney, only more so. Sydney does everything better than Melbourne. And don't think it's confined to restaurants. There are the fruit shops, the butchers, the sea food shops, the newsagents, the bakers, the dentists, the doctors, the lawyers, the schoolkids everywhere and the commuters pouring off on the trains. I could go on. And my neighbours in a long established traditional Aussie suburb. One doesn't "notice" SE Asians anymore, merely the absences of traditional Aussies.

I couldn't be bothered going to SE Asia for an "Asian experience", it's on my doorstep!

In short, come on down. Choose your suburb and you'll feel right at home. A colleague, orginally from KH went back for a holiday and couldn't wait to "come home" to Sydney.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Banksia - I kind of thought that Sydney (and Melbourne also to a certain extent Anya) would be a real melting point - it's just that Perth is so isolated from the rest of Australia, a real pioneer place and yet so close to Asia - I hope that the situation there is a mirror of Sydney but I'd like some affirmation! Thanks for te replies thus far.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Obviously 'melting pot'! Funny how you can get quite self-conscious about your typos.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

read this link:

www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/591/591p4.htm

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Man, that is seriously F'd up, very uncool.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

I wouldn't worry - I don't think your wife will feel like she is part of an ethnic minority in the centre of Perth.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

'Melting point' - you've been here on one of our really hot days, then...?

;)

Anya.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

My Chinese co-worker avoids situations where he is likely to come in to contact with large groups of drunken bogons (white trash Aussies) as he feels that he would be racially abused. Skyworks is a prime example.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

One of my best mates is Thai and living in central Perth, which she loves. She's got Indian, Italian, Greek and Aussie friends now. I think she found England to be more racist, but it was more an underlying thing... people wouldn't insult her to her face but they just weren't that friendly / accepting and didn't include her.
The Northern Burbs are more "white" Aussie/ Brits/ Irish/ South African but I don't know about any ethnic tensions.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Forgive me, but what is 'skyworks'?

Any Sikh posters out there? Anyone know where most of the Sikh community lives in Perth?

Thanks.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

In the late 1980's in Perth there was a guy called JAck Van Tongeren who lead a gang of neo nazis that were involved in a wave of racist violence against Asians and tried to drive Asians out of the state. He was jailed for 12 years. The funny thing was he was part Asian himself.
REad the link below:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/com...E1702%2C00.htm

Re: Perth - Asians
 

What a tosser.... :mad:

Re: Perth - Asians
 

My wife found England to be very much the same as you described.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Jack van Tongeren is still around(out of jail), but on his way to court now I think. There was some stuff happening last year.


I wouldn't live in the South eastern suburbs if I were you, to many 'bogons' as Renth says.
Even though there is a big mix of people down here (I work in Maddington, near Gosnells), I think that there'll be more problems down here.

I think you'll be fine central or north, and probably south on the coast.
I don't think it's worse than anywhere else.
I wouldn't call Perth a white city with a few ghetto's.

Skyworks is the yearly fireworks on AUstralia Day. A very big event, lots of people, lots of drunken youths etc etc(not in all places, King's Park was very quiet, well this year anyway)

Re: Perth - Asians
 

hiya mankuna

try a couple of these links for more info on Perth's Sikh population.

http://www.sikh.com.au/inaus/index.h...html~bottomaus

http://www.ecu.edu.au/SSC/chaplaincy/faith.html

I go to a satsang on Sundays at Shenton Park and there is a lot of indian families attending.

Unfortunately you get racist pigs wherever you live! :mad: hopefully you won't encounter any!

love sophia xx

Re: Perth - Asians
 

If it's not too personal ABC, where is she from? My wife felt exactly the same - it was never explicit. Sometimes patronising, sometimes just exclusive (excluding?) behaviour.
Unfortunately, we've worked with (steady!) Australians in the past and experienced similar behaviour which was what triggered my thread in the first place. Just for the sake of balance, we've also worked with some fabulous Aussies who really were the salt of the Earth.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Basically there are dickheads and wankers everywhere. I just look in the mirror to see one.

There are soooo many asians in Perth, almost everyone wont even think twice about it, but there will be some comments from the low lifes, but I would just tell them where to go (but thats easier for me to say than your wife).

There are pockets in Perth where there are a higher concentration of asians and this would be around the uni's and school as there is many that coming over to learn. Kardinya, Winthrop are some down south, and there are plenty in the western suburbs that have loads of money.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

I work in retail in Perth city, so see the comings and goings of almost everyone. You wouldnt believe the amount of asians there are, so tell your wife not too worry. Also loads of lovely nice asian places to eat as well!!!!!!!

Re: Perth - Asians
 

A good friend of mine (Indian) and his Thai wife were over in Perth last year and couldn't believe how many asian people were around - they found it a fantastic experience.

Re: Perth - Asians
 

:D I know the feeling! I stay away from mirrors... :p


Great feedback guys...


I think we all agree that no place is completely free of this kind of thing.

God, I wish I would hear something about my 457.... My x-rays have were delivered about 10 days ago and still nothing. I am nervous as hell. If I got denied it would be devastating. :( The doctor who took them said they looked fine so I am probably worrying about nothing. I can't wait to leave Houston!

(Hey Sophia, thanks for the tip about Satsang on sunday.....I must admid I am not an avid follower, but my dad is. The most I do is visit the gurdwara now and again to keep my wife happy. Great to hear from you though!.)

Re: Perth - Asians
 

Yes - thanks for the replies - very reassuring.
One other thing - and I know that this has been explored in other areas but probably not from this angle. In terms of the suburbs - are there any recommendations for culturally diverse areas which are vibrant and yet safe, good schools etc. I know to a certain extent it's about exploring before you buy - which we're happy to do - but I'd appreciate a few names of areas so that I can do preliminary research. Thanks for the areas of possibles to avoid! (The stress on 'possibles' in the hope of preventing offence being caused!)

Re: Perth - Asians
 

I wonder about this too. As has been said, there's heaps of Asians etc etc around, but I do wonder which suburbs they mainly live.
Because the suburbs I know well, there aren't many, not like all the British in Joondalup and Mandurah areas for example.
I have a feeling 'they' might be more spread out, though there are probably a few suburbs which have a higher %?
:confused:

Re: Perth - Asians
 

South Perth has a large (wealthy) asian population.