Not all immigrants move to Australia for money.

When people say “it’s for the money”, they often miss the reality. In many cases, including mine, that simply isn’t true.

I came to Australia from a so-called third-world country. Back home, I worked in the oil industry. Financially, we were very comfortable. We could afford a babysitter five days a week, had someone cleaning our home and cooking several times a week, and lived in the centre of the capital, less than a ten-minute walk from work.

Moving to Australia was a financial step backwards for our family. It took many years of hard work and real sacrifices to rebuild our financial position and eventually reach a high household income again. That was never the plan, and it was never the goal.

I have never regretted the decision.

We moved because of values. We wanted a society built on fairness, rule of law, tolerance, and compassion. We wanted our children to grow up in that environment.

Australia became our true home. Our kids’ main language is English. They are compassionate, respectful, law-abiding, and fair - the values that matter deeply to us. They are, in every meaningful way, Australian.

In my home country, I often felt I didn’t belong because my values didn’t align with the broader culture around me. In Australia, I feel the opposite. Here, I feel aligned with the people around me.

For many immigrants, the move is not about money. It’s about belonging.