Chinese communities, large or small, exist in almost every country in the world. The huge Chinese diaspora has played a big role in the global economy. Those in Australia are no exception. The first significant Chinese immigration to Australia came in the 1850s during the gold rush era. Since then Chinese immigration to Australia has gone through up and down periods. However, only after the diplomatic relationship between Australia and China was established in 1972, did mainland Chinese begin to come to Australia directly from China. Since 1978 when China opened its door to the world and started its economic reform, more and more Chinese students have come to Australia. In particular, after the Tiananmen Square Incident in 1989, a significant number of Chinese became Australian permanent residents and contributed to the fast growth of the established Chinese community in Australia. This thesis analyses immigration and ageing issues relating to the Australian Chinese community, which is now not only one of the oldest in Australia, but also one of the biggest, and economically, one of the most dynamic communities. It draws a historical and contemporary picture of overseas Chinese in Australia, including the Chinese migrants who remained in this country after the Tiananmen Square Incident. This study developed a model to investigate a wide range of factors that drive population movement between Australia and China. The determining factors include a wide range of push and pull forces that change constantly with the overall political, economic and environmental developments. The research findings claim that the pull, push and enabling factors interact with each other to influence Chinese people’s decision to migrate from China to Australia. It becomes apparent that there are certain determinants which can help explain, understand and project this complex process in the future. This study further proves that Chinese migrants in Australia have made the smooth, but challenging transition between their native and adopted countries. Being involved into the Australian mainstream society, Chinese Australians have achieved economic adaptation and enjoy living in their new country. In addition, Chinese citizens who are studying as international students in Australia are potential skilled migrants and they are likely to apply for migration status after completing their studies. It is believed that Australia continues to be one of the most desired Western migration destinations for Chinese nationals and the magnitude of the Chinese ethnic community in Australia will continue to grow. In the future, the number of elderly Chinese in Australia is likely to increase as the majority of current economically active Chinese intend to retire in Australia and more older Chinese are expected to migrate to Australia for family reunion. As part of the general issues of Australian ageing population, this study attempts to raise the awareness of the challenging life-style of the Chinese elderly in Australia now and future. This study offers convincing evidence that Chinese immigrants play a vital bridging role in promoting business and trade between Australia and China. Due to China’s economic growth, their movement between these two countries will be more frequent. Overall, this study provides important considerations for policy makers and will benefit the broad communities, migrants and policy planners in understanding the model of Chinese immigration into Australia. The insights gained from this study should have important policy implications for a more sustainable way of living not only in Australia, but also in China and other countries with Chinese immigrants.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2005. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 279-295).

published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

Introduction While urinary incontinence is a condition that affects men and women of all ages, it is more prevalent amongst post-menopausal women. Chinese women have been under-represented at the uro-gynaecology clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women for reasons yet unknown. Objectives What are the reasons for this under-representation? Do the Chinese women in Sydney not know of the services available for urinary incontinence, or, do they not want to seek help? What are their beliefs on urinary incontinence, and how do these beliefs affect their health seeking behaviour, if at all? Methodology Informal interviews with continence specialists and other healthcare professionals determined the selection of Qualitative research methodology, using Grounded Theory and Ethnography. Focus group discussion and interviews were the data collection techniques used for this research. Chinese women that had been in Australia for less than 5 years, more than 5 years and those born in Australia were recruited to participate. Results & Conclusions The knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Chinese women in Sydney differ depending on whether or not they were born in Australia, and the length of time in Australia. With Australian born Chinese being more acculturated, having greater knowledge of the services available for urinary incontinence and more likely to seek help for urinary incontinence compared to overseas born Chinese women. While those women who had been in Australia for more than 5 years were more informed about the available services, they did not necessarily use the available services.

Introduction While urinary incontinence is a condition that affects men and women of all ages, it is more prevalent amongst post-menopausal women. Chinese women have been under-represented at the uro-gynaecology clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women for reasons yet unknown. Objectives What are the reasons for this under-representation? Do the Chinese women in Sydney not know of the services available for urinary incontinence, or, do they not want to seek help? What are their beliefs on urinary incontinence, and how do these beliefs affect their health seeking behaviour, if at all? Methodology Informal interviews with continence specialists and other healthcare professionals determined the selection of Qualitative research methodology, using Grounded Theory and Ethnography. Focus group discussion and interviews were the data collection techniques used for this research. Chinese women that had been in Australia for less than 5 years, more than 5 years and those born in Australia were recruited to participate. Results & Conclusions The knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Chinese women in Sydney differ depending on whether or not they were born in Australia, and the length of time in Australia. With Australian born Chinese being more acculturated, having greater knowledge of the services available for urinary incontinence and more likely to seek help for urinary incontinence compared to overseas born Chinese women. While those women who had been in Australia for more than 5 years were more informed about the available services, they did not necessarily use the available services.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / History / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Bibliography: leaves 311-328.

This thesis examines the construction of ?Chineseness? by Australian-born Chinese through their interactions with mainstream ?white? society and Chinese diasporic communities in Australia. It represents an interdisciplinary study based on qualitative research and critical analysis of forty-three in-depth interviews with Australian-born Chinese whose families have resided in Australia for three generations or more. Diasporic narratives, fraught with contentions over belonging and difference, often lead to ambiguous ramifications of identity formation. While the notion of hybridity problematises the unsettling boundaries of identities, there is still a continuing perception that ethnic identification decreases over successive generations, resulting in assimilation. However, contrary to this assumption, this study shows that subsequent generations also encounter complicated experiences involving both feelings of cultural ambivalence and enrichment. While the rewriting of identity takes place against the varying circumstances of resettlement, the experiences and transitions across the respondents? life course concurrently inscribes Chineseness onto their lives in diverse ways. Furthermore, Chineseness is continually (re)constructed through decentered connections with an imaginary homeland. Consequently, despite generational longevity, strong affinities with Australian society and longstanding national identities grounded in Australian culture, Chineseness is still a significant part of their identity, whether they willingly choose to associate with it or not. The focus on revaluating the concept of Chineseness and elucidating the sense of identity of sequential generations has important ramifications for the development of a more informed theoretical model for understanding the long-term effects of migration, especially on the process of identity formation and feelings of home and belonging.

This thesis examines the construction of ?Chineseness? by Australian-born Chinese through their interactions with mainstream ?white? society and Chinese diasporic communities in Australia. It represents an interdisciplinary study based on qualitative research and critical analysis of forty-three in-depth interviews with Australian-born Chinese whose families have resided in Australia for three generations or more. Diasporic narratives, fraught with contentions over belonging and difference, often lead to ambiguous ramifications of identity formation. While the notion of hybridity problematises the unsettling boundaries of identities, there is still a continuing perception that ethnic identification decreases over successive generations, resulting in assimilation. However, contrary to this assumption, this study shows that subsequent generations also encounter complicated experiences involving both feelings of cultural ambivalence and enrichment. While the rewriting of identity takes place against the varying circumstances of resettlement, the experiences and transitions across the respondents? life course concurrently inscribes Chineseness onto their lives in diverse ways. Furthermore, Chineseness is continually (re)constructed through decentered connections with an imaginary homeland. Consequently, despite generational longevity, strong affinities with Australian society and longstanding national identities grounded in Australian culture, Chineseness is still a significant part of their identity, whether they willingly choose to associate with it or not. The focus on revaluating the concept of Chineseness and elucidating the sense of identity of sequential generations has important ramifications for the development of a more informed theoretical model for understanding the long-term effects of migration, especially on the process of identity formation and feelings of home and belonging.

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