Originally Posted by slipper

I am a British born Indian living in the UK who is thinking about doing (have gained admission) on a postgraduate course in accounting in Australia and then I hope to get a job out there doing CPA/CA.

But I never actually been to Australia - but I want to do this for many different reasons for which I wont go into.

But of course I read the news and the news regarding racism in Australia is quite frankly a little worrying for me. But on the other hand I feel the media may be blowing this way out of proportion? - Of course many student were assaulted and even killed.

The UK has its own problems for which I personally think is not that bad but because of the media coverage, Australia seems to have a serious issue.

I just wanted your thoughts with regarding this please.

Originally Posted by bra_boy

You should worry not about racism, but about the cash you put up for your accounting course. Some accounting courses here are awful, and it is clear that the universities are putting them on simply to milk foreign students. Do any local students attend your course - probably not. Don't be surprised if your class - apart from you - is 100% Chinese. You may find them more racist than any local. Anyway, good luck.

Originally Posted by slipper

Ok so is the main problem with Aussies against Indians is that Indians in particular do not socialise with anyone and cant speak English? Indians coming from India I honestly agree are like that in majority, the same with many Chinese people...

Is that the main dislike towards them?

If a British Indian shows even the Aussie how to drink properly in the pub, he would be OK?

Also I don't mind the odd comment because I can give it better then I get from people, but I just don't want to get beaten up by gangs!

I plan to stay in Sydney.

Originally Posted by soapy©

the media do blow it up but i have found in queensland (well the aussies i work with) that they hate anyone not born here and that can include aussies from other states

Originally Posted by ProudVIC

On average, people from other countries are rather ignorant of Australia, Australians and Australian culture.

We are isolated, we are way down there at the bottom of the map miles away from anywhere and most of these people rely on the media to tell them what Australia and Australians are like. Unfortunately the media deals in sensationalism and stereotyping and millions of people around the world currently believe that Australians are racist, backwards, uncouth, uncultured, unsophisticated, full of themselves, insular, and all live in a big flat red desert and ride kangaroos to the shops.

Australia is a first world country, one of the most developed nations in the world, and for the most part has a similar culture to the US and UK. A few people need to get over the novelty value of Australia and realise that we are just normal people living on the face of the earth like everyone else, we are not a bunch of redneck weirdos.

Originally Posted by soapy©

its the same with the english. aussies always say its in jest. but when they work out i'm scottish you should hear the hatred towards the english that i have heard. i have even found myself defending the english

Originally Posted by ProudVIC

On average, people from other countries are rather ignorant of Australia, Australians and Australian culture.

We are isolated, we are way down there at the bottom of the map miles away from anywhere and most of these people rely on the media to tell them what Australia and Australians are like. Unfortunately the media deals in sensationalism and stereotyping and millions of people around the world currently believe that Australians are racist, backwards, uncouth, uncultured, unsophisticated, full of themselves, insular, and all live in a big flat red desert and ride kangaroos to the shops.

Australia is a first world country, one of the most developed nations in the world, and for the most part has a similar culture to the US and UK. A few people need to get over the novelty value of Australia and realise that we are just normal people living on the face of the earth like everyone else, we are not a bunch of redneck weirdos.

Originally Posted by golgo13

The truth is that racism exists in many different forms, you need to remember that whilst Australia has quite a reprehensible past (as do many countries) it is a great country.

If you come to Australia with the mindset that its a racist country what is the point of coming?

Every culture has some form of prejudice, i mean the Hindus have a cast system do they not?

As very proud Black-British bloke the only racism I have witnessed has been an Australian born Serbian making monkey noises at Bruce Djite a black footballer in 2006.

Other than that its all about the attitude that your bring yourself, besides its a heck of a long way to travel...

Originally Posted by steve`o

had an example of that just yesterday,

f***kin mexicans too dumb to even que up properly
staff in a restaurant where i was repairing the oven

whats a mexican i asked ( didnt have a clue though i have heard it several times before )
victorians,
oldies from victoria they come up here every year in the winter to keep warm
there a f***kin nuisance

mmm nice customer skills i repied
got glared at

Originally Posted by Pollyana

I've heard the "Mexicans "comment many times, also heard the word "cockroaches" used in a similar way - which was explained to me as being used to describe them cos they crawl over the border from NSW.

Originally Posted by soapy©

it is the luck of the draw. if you were to listen to the shit i hear every day it would make yir hair curl

Originally Posted by Pollyana

I've heard the "Mexicans "comment many times, also heard the word "cockroaches" used in a similar way - which was explained to me as being used to describe them cos they crawl over the border from NSW.