The Pros and Cons of Migration to Australia

The Australian Oxford mini dictionary (2006, p.318) states that, migration is the movement from one place; especially a country, to settle in another. As stated by Mulvany & Caroll (2003, p.28) during the past ten decades the Australian Government has tried various ways of enticing people to immigrate to Australia. Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. According to Mulvany & Caroll, “The number of countries represented by people coming to Australia is a lot greater today than it was at Federation, in 1906”(2003, p.28). Migration to Australia has increased over the years due to various reasons such as: the need for specialist training, better life, environmental changes and child migration schemes, etc. The effects caused by migration are debatable, and in some cases evident.

Arah, Ogbu & Okeke (2008) have indicated that, over the years there has been a decline in the number of nurses and physicians in both developed and developing countries. According to Arah, Ogbu & Okeke, “staffing shortages, lack of specialist training in poorer countries and the financial lure of the West; have resulted in the migration of physicians and nurses from the mostly developing source countries, to the more developed host or destination countries.” (2008) The number of immigrant physicians: in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia; who graduated from other countries are between 23% and 28%. Countries growing richer, which lack proper planning and have the usual barely sufficient facilities; are able to train, but not retain or support, better quality physicians; causing them to migrate and become residents of Australia and other affluent countries. According to recent study, (Arah, Ogbu& Okeke, 2008...

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