According to a 2016 study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), nearly one in five Singaporeans aged 19 to 30 wish to emigrate, with the same study showing nearly 60 per cent of respondents agreeing that an increase in emigration is inevitable as Singapore becomes more stressful and competitive[1]. A number of reasons have contributed to this trend, including Singaporeans being well- equipped by our education system which has enabled them to seek better opportunities overseas for professional or personal reasons. There is also a greater inclination towards working and living abroad among younger people, however, it may not necessarily be with the aim of migrating permanently[2].
The 2016 IPS study also unveiled Australia as the preferred emigration destination for Singaporeans. For Singaporean Malay Muslims in particular, emigrating to Australia is appealing as it meets their criteria to have a balanced Muslim life: social security; familial happiness and faith time[3]. The state agencies in Australia provide extensive social security to migrants upon their arrival and in the first few years of their stay. Australia is also known to have relatively better work-life balance, which allows more time to be spent on leisure with family and friends. Additionally, there are opportunities to spend more time seeking religious knowledge and being involved in mosque-related activities.
To Muhammad Fadhil, a Registered Nurse based in Melbourne, there is something intriguing about healthcare systems in other countries. Thus, when his wife was offered a scholarship to study in Australia this year, he saw the golden opportunity to move there and pursue his dream of exploring healthcare systems outside of Singapore. Fadhil shares his story of living in Australia with the Karyawan team.
Q: Can you tell us about yourself and your family?
Fadhil: I am a Registered Nurse, specialising in Cardiology and Emergency Department in a public hospital here in Melbourne. My wife is a full-time PhD student at Monash University. We have a 2-year-old son who has been with us since we moved here.
Q: Could you describe the responsibilities and tasks that your job involves?
Fadhil: My job involves handling medical emergencies on a daily basis, where I collaborate closely with doctors to work out the best treatment plans. I serve all ages, from children to the elderly.
Q: What inspired your decision to pursue a nursing career in Australia?
Fadhil: Prior to this, I have had offers to work in cities like Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. Though I have always wanted to explore different healthcare systems across the world, the timing was unfortunately unfavourable. Ultimately, my wife inspired and encouraged me to pursue my dreams when this opportunity came at the right time.
With his move to Australia, Fadhil (seated, in light blue scrubs) is one step closer towards fulfilling his dream of exploring different healthcare systems around the world.
Q: Is there a big difference between a nursing career in Singapore and one in Australia?
Fadhil: There is a huge difference in terms of opportunities at work. Back when I was working in Singapore, I had difficulty moving laterally across different departments as it was all subject to the approval or recommendation from my Head of Department. Unfortunately, my Head of Department then was reluctant to let me go because she wanted me to continue serving in our department. Here in Australia, I am given more opportunities at work.
Q: What was one thing that surprised you about working in Australia?
Fadhil: People in my industry are very diverse. We have people from Africa to the Middle East working here. That surprised me because I had always thought that Singapore was already quite diverse, but I never imagined seeing this much diversity in Australia.
Q: What factors should other professionals take into account when considering work overseas?
Fadhil: Moving into a new country is a huge event in one’s life. A new start requires a significant amount of funds to be invested and sometimes it is uncertain whether the investment will bring you returns. And if you have children, you should always consider what is best for them.
Q: What are some challenges you have faced?
Fadhil: I get homesick from time to time. The level of efficiency here is not as great as it is back home and I miss that. Safety is another issue. I have a colleague who had her house robbed in broad daylight while she was at home with her kids. Hence, I am always cautious.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about your nursing career in Australia?
Fadhil: The healthcare workers’ union here is very active in advocating for nurses’ rights in terms of working conditions and working hours. As a person who loves his job, I realised that there has been a lack of support and structure that prevented me from doing my job well. Hence, I am appreciative of such efforts by the union.
Fadhil and his family
Q: Can you share the cultural and lifestyle differences between Australia and Singapore from your perspective?
Fadhil: In Australia, work-life balance is not a given per se, but it is a choice. For every job, you are required to indicate your level of commitment in terms of the number of days that you intend to work in a fortnight. Most people choose to work two to three days a week. Given that salaries are paid by the hour, people here accept that earning money is not a priority. That is the main difference.
Q: Is there a large Muslim community in Melbourne?
Fadhil: We have a huge Muslim community here. We also have Malay community bodies like Kampung Utara Melbourne (KUM), Khairat Melayu Islam Victoria (KMIV) and Australian Malay Foundation (AMF), all of which include Malays from Malaysia and Singapore. There is a significant Indonesian community here as well.
Q: We have heard stories in the media of Islamophobia in Australia. Did you have any particular challenges with that?
Fadhil: I believe that people tend to fear things that they have little knowledge of. However, I feel that we must be courageous like our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and educate people about Islam. We should also behave in accordance with the teachings of our religion.
I do not have any issues with Islamophobia at work. Everyone respects and understands each other. I have a significant number of colleagues who have worked in the Middle East so they know about Islam too.
Q: What are your aspirations and goals for your personal and professional life?
Fadhil: I really miss mentoring in the Youth Enrichment Programme (YEP) in AMP, which I was a part of between 2005 and 2021. I hope to come back to Singapore after my wife has completed her studies and continue to contribute to the Malay community in the near future.
Career-wise, I am currently working on a platform called Nursesoncallsg, which is an initiative that provides support to fellow nurses in Singapore. I hope to continue to expand it and help more nurses by advocating for positive well-being.
Q: What would your advice be to youths who are considering carving a career overseas?
Fadhil: Do your research. Have a proper plan. Move only if you have something better that awaits overseas. But if you do not mind exploring, just go for it! ⬛
1 Hussain, A. (2018, September 28). Nearly 1 in 5 young Singaporeans want to emigrate: survey. Yahoo! News. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/nearly-1-5-young-singaporeans-want-emigrate-survey-090830259.html 2 Leong, CH. (2017, September 2). More Singaporeans going abroad, but are no less Singaporean for it. Channel NewsAsia.
2 Leong, CH. (2017, September 2). More Singaporeans going abroad, but are no less Singaporean for it. Channel NewsAsia. https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/docs/default-source/ips/cna_more-singaporeans-going-abroad-but-are-no-less-singaporean-for-it_020917-pdf
3 Aljunied, K., and Khan, A. Psycho-Pious Motivations and Muslim Migration to the West: The Case of Singaporean Malay-Muslims in Melbourne, Australia. Akademika (Kuala Lumpur), 2022, 92(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.17576/akad-2022-9201-16
Nur Fiqriya Muhammad Esa is an undergraduate at the Singapore Management University, where she majors in Marketing and Sociology. She enjoys volunteering in her free time and advocates for mental health among other social causes.
