Student Spotlight: Dominique Gooden in Australia
What does family life look like in your host country? Have you noticed any traditions, or lifestyle dynamics within families?
“The best way I can describe family life in my host country is casual and intentional. Many couples have kids and are intentional with protecting their time to be present with their families outside of work and during holidays. Many employers also recognize that employees are deeply involved in family life and may be juggling work and raising children. So there is not much pressure for employees to engage in work when they are not 'on the clock'. There are some professions and jobs that have poor work/life balances, and this can put pressure on employees who may have families and want to be present in their family routines. However, I don't think this issue is unique to Australia.
Australian family structure/dynamics have historically been portrayed as 'traditional' (mom + dad and kids), but there has been more awareness of blended families. There is also an emphasis on dual-sharing of responsibilities within a household (cooking, chores, childcare, etc.) so one parent is not overwhelmed.
Traditions and lifestyle dynamics look different from family to family, and they may be especially distinct from traditions of Aboriginal Australian families who have a deep connection to their land. But some commonly shared traditions among most families are barbecues throughout the year. Many families gather at parks and host barbecues on a sunny weekend. As a result, many Aussie kids grow up with fond memories of barbecues and being outside in general, surrounded by community.”
How important is financial literacy in your host culture? Are there many social programs? How is wealth distributed within your host country?
“Financial literacy in Australia is considerably important. Many students pursue higher education (university) and have to take out loans to finance their degrees. For many Aussie students, they may move to a new city and incur daily life + social expenses (Australians love to party young). This requires them to understand financial literacy early on. As a result, many schools incorporate financial literacy into their programming to educate students how to budget wisely and work towards their financial goals.
There are many social programs here in Australia. Although not perfect, these programs are intended to assist Australians in many aspects of their lives, especially if they are experiencing hard times and are struggling to afford costs of living. For example, many Australians have Medicare insurance, and the Australian Government also has a Department of Social Services which offers similar services that one may receive in the United States.
Wealth is not distributed equally in Australia. This is attributed to rising living costs, where those who can afford living very comfortably in high cost of living areas are economically well off. But there are also people living in other cities and areas who may be living paycheck to paycheck or be homeless. In Brisbane, there is a large population of homeless individuals, despite there being many fancy hotels and luxury lofts that are often populated by individuals who can afford to stay there.
Additionally, in more rural areas of the continent, there are not as many jobs and hospitals. This disproportionately impacts individuals from rural backgrounds who may not have easily accessible means to resources in urban areas of Australia. It is important that wealth disparities are highlighted so that more support can reach individuals who are negatively impacted by it.”
What sustainability practices have you noticed in your host country? Are there any ways that your host country could improve or that you would like to implement back at home?
“One of the main sustainability practices that I've noticed are designated disposal bins depending on the type of waste. There is one for general waste, paper waste, food products, and more. These bins are color coded, and I've observed them on my campus and throughout the city of Brisbane. I've also noticed some takeout eateries hand me food or drinks in recyclable materials rather than plastic, because most states in Australia have banned the usage of single-use plastics.
Another sustainability practice I've noticed is in transportation systems. Many Aussies have cars, and they are needed to navigate the country, especially if you are leaving urban areas. But in Brisbane, there are many e-bikes and scooters for people to use when navigating the city. The public transportation system has also adapted to offer electric busses, and there are roads that are designated for busses only.
I think in the United States, we use plastic in more ways than we often think about. I've seen stores in the US shift to offering non-plastic alternatives. But I feel like in both the US and Australia, we can further encourage people to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Given the past normalization of plastics worldwide, it will take time to shift society to embrace non-plastic alternatives. Regardless, there should be more awareness and action towards sustainable practices due to the impending effects of climate change which would have devastating effects in Australia.”