Recently arrived Chinese migrant Yuzhen Chen is glowing in her praise of her new home and all that it offers for her young family.
"My children can have good future here. Australia has a clean environment and a good education system with opportunities,” she said.
“My favourite thing about Australia is the lovely blue sky every day. I love to do outside activities under the blue sky.”
She was one of more than 130 clients of settlement agency Australian Management Education Services Australia who took part in a survey gauging the migrant and refugee experience.
Chinese migrant Yuzhen Chen, who took part in a survey into the experiences of newly-arrived Australians Source: Supplied
Once they arrived, learning English was identified as the most important requirement.
But Mr Nowell said an overwhelming 64 per cent found this to be the biggest hurdle they faced.
"Everyone who comes to this country has a different back story and Australia has a very strong English language service for migrants and refugees," he said.
"But not everybody is able to take that up and also, if you are not literate in your own language, it's very difficult to learn English quickly."
Huge crowds fill Pitt Street Mall and the CBD shopping district in Sydney Source: AAP
As a result, many find it hard to get work and make ends meet, with what are usually higher living costs in Australia than in their home country.
They also miss the the families they've left behind in their home country.
One in five who have been in Australia for up to five years report feelings of isolation.
But overall, the results suggest, they're happy with their decision to migrate here.
