New South Wales remained the most popular destination for migrants to settle in 2009-10, despite an increasing number of new arrivals choosing to live in other states.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) Settler Arrivals 2009-10 publication shows the number of people settling in the state decreasing from 47 030 in 2008-09 to 42 267 last financial year.

Chinese and Indian were the top two nationalities migrating to NSW in 2009-10, with 7062 Chinese and 4441 Indian migrants settling in the state.

On the national front, there were 140 610 settler arrivals in Australia in 2009-10, a decrease of 11 per cent from the previous year. “The numbers of settler arrivals are now near the level they were in 2006-07,” a departmental spokesman said.

The figures show New Zealand and China are now the top two source countries by birth, with India, the United Kingdom and South Africa making up the remaining countries in the top five.

A departmental spokesman said the Australian Government was committed to a migration program which was targeted to help grow Australia’s economy and meet critical labour needs.

“The Australian Government has undertaken a series of strategic reforms of the skilled migration program, to make it more responsive to Australia’s labour market demands,” the spokesman said. “These reforms are about selecting the best and brightest people from a large pool of potential migrants.”

The government announced in the 2010-11 Budget a total of 168 700 places for migration, comprising a total skill stream of 113 850 places, a total family stream of 54 550 places and 300 special eligibility places.

“This will increase the proportion of skilled migrants to 67.5 per cent of the migration program to further address Australia’s needs as the economic climate improves while still ensuring places for family migration and reunion,” the spokesman said.

Settler Arrivals 2009-10 is the latest in the annual series of statistical publications that provides information on people arriving in Australia to live permanently.

News From: Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship Newsroom

Any couple that decides to get married will be facing challenges. When you are involved in a cross cultural relationship, you face a variety of unique challenges. Both sides of the family may challenge your relationship. They may have concerns about religion or many other aspects of the differences in your cultures. They may simply be nervous about facing unfamiliar circumstances. What steps can you take to be prepared to begin, cultivate and maintain a cross cultural relationship through its many challenges?

Information
Be sure to set aside some time to delve into the background and traditions of your partner’s culture. Keep an open mind to learning about new ideas and thoughts as you explore your partner’s culture. Ask questions! This will let your partner know that you really are interested in his/her culture and background. Avoid making it seem as if your way of doing things is always best.

Communication
When building and maintaining a cross cultural relationship, communication is the key. In both what is said and what is perceived, there may be miscommunication and misunderstandings. Communicate in a patient and open manner. Your partner may not understand the common phrases used in your culture. Don’t take it for granted that s/he does. Be sure to clarify and explain whenever this is needed.

Family Involvement
Be sure to include both of your families in the arrangements for your wedding. Inform both sides of your family of your plans so that everyone will feel involved. Even if your family members respond in the negative, keep the door open and let them know they are welcome to be involved. This will begin dissolving any barriers they may have constructed against your relationship.

Compromise
Show respect to your partner’s family. This will help them to feel more comfortable. Be sure to compromise whenever it is appropriate. In any relationship, there will be some clashes between families. Learn to expect this with a cross cultural relationship. Compromise is important in any marriage, but it is especially so in a cross cultural marriage. Be aware of what is important and what is not. Let go of differences that are completely unimportant. Regardless of whether you are in a cross cultural relationship or a uni-cultural relationship, remember that your goal is a win-win outcome.

Patience
In any marriage, the first 4 years are usually the hardest. This may be doubly true when 2 different cultures are involved. Exercise a great deal of patience. In later years, the challenges you are facing now will fade into memory. Take some time to learn about one another’s cultures and to gain more understanding.

Assumptions
Don’t make assumptions. You cannot know what your partner likes or dislikes unless you take the time to listen carefully. If you ask your partner’s opinion, you will be demonstrating respect for his/her beliefs and culture. When you do this, you are taking a step toward having a successful cross cultural relationship.

When it comes to getting to know each other, the two of you will have lots to share. That is one of the exciting things about a cross-cultural relationship. You can get a leg-up on building a successful marriage if you are aware of the challenges your cross-cultural relationship might present and you make a plan to face them together.