As part of the Australian Curriculum, 5/6 students learn about migration to Australia.

To assist with our learning, Grade 5/6 White-Daire ‘Teamed up’ with Mowbray Heights Primary School. We met seven students with migrant backgrounds. The students were from Nepal x 2 (Born in Nepal but have a Bhutanese background), Myanmar, India (x2), Nigeria, and Zimbabwe (but had moved to South Africa before coming to Australia).

The class had prepared questions, which we sent through to Mowbray.

5/6 White-Daire class members were able to ask their questions and listen to some very interesting responses. We learnt that three students had come to Australia due to push factors (their country wasn’t safe). The other students’ families had moved due to pull factors (better opportunities).  All students had arrived by plane and had the correct visas. Some of the students arrived in Australia speaking English, whilst others said they had to learn English and it was hard. For those who could remember, they felt very nervous when arriving in Australia for the first time.

When asked about the positives of living in Tasmania, replies included the opportunities you have, being able to drink water out of a tap, having new friendships and the weather. Some negatives included the cold weather, and two students really dislike Australian food. Vegemite was mentioned as too salty, while most students had discovered and really enjoyed fairy bread.

Popular sports were volleyball and soccer. The Mowbray students all had dreams and goals for the future which included careers; scientist, actress, beauty therapist, professional soccer player and lawyer.

The class teacher, Mrs King emailed to let us know that our class ‘was beautiful, organised, and respectful.’

One Mowbray student also gave some words of advice: ‘If you ever travel to another country just ‘be brave, enjoy it and you will do well.’