15.2.1 How do we define migration? When people move from one place to settle in another, this is known as migration . Types of migration can be categorised by time, location and degree of choice. The table below outlines some examples.
TABLE1 Types of migration Duration
Location
Degree of choice
• Permanent — migrants choose to move and remain in their new location indefinitely. • Temporary — migrants may choose to move again, or even return to their original location. • Seasonal — migrants move for a specific period of time for employment or due to climatic reasons.
• International — migrants choose to move from one country to another. • Internal — migrants choose to move from one place within a country to another.
• Forced — migrants have no option but to move, due to conflict, natural disasters, etc. • Voluntary — migrants freely choose to move for reasons that benefit them.
For every individual migrant, their personal migration story will link to each of the categories outlined. For example, comedian, actor, artist and author Anh Do fled Vietnam with his family as a refugee in 1980. They eventually settled in Australia, where Anh Do has lived, studied and worked since. Therefore his migration was:
• permanent (as he has remained in Australia ever since) • international (as he moved from one country to another) • forced (as he was a refugee). 15.2.2
What do we mean by push and pull factors? When deciding to move from one place to another, migrants are influenced by a range of push and pull factors.
TABLE2 An overview of push and pull factors Factor type
Description
Push factors
Characteristics, qualities or attributes of a place that are unfavourable or negative, and make people want to move away from it Characteristics, qualities or attributes of a place that are positive and attractive, and encourage people to move there
Pull factors
Push and pull factors are key concepts in migration studies. Push factors are conditions that drive people to leave their home country, such as economic hardship, political instability, war or lack of opportunities. Pull factors, on the other hand, are the attractions of a new location, like better job prospects, political stability, improved living conditions or family reunification. SkillBuilder discussion Communicating 1. Discuss with a partner which of the reasons provided in FIGURE2 you think would be the most important reason for migrants to come to Australia. List them all in order from most important to least important. 2. Justify your response for the most important and the least important reason migrants are ‘pulled’ to Australia.
TOPIC15 Changing nations – urbanisation and migration 423
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