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I cannot think of a time when so many BIG STEPS have paid off for Australia – thanks in large part to the great work of Austrade, DFAT and State Government business offices in India.

In the last six months there have been record numbers of ministerial visits both ways – and when government opens the doors, education and business can step through.

Of special note is the work in education of Monica Kennedy, Austrade Mumbai. As she reported – “From Deakin University‘s splendid announcement of setting-up a branch campus in #India, to University of Melbourne‘s partnership with three major Indian Universities – it warrants all the attention it is receiving.

“Team Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is proud and elated to have played a part in these historic announcements.”

Check out just a couple of all the overwhelming media mentions of the developments.

Read some of the stories here:
https://bit.ly/3yxBNYo
https://bit.ly/3FcD1fJ
https://bit.ly/3Jvwgbt

Keep up the good work!

There is a lot to love about Australia, and given the number of Indian migrants, students and tourism who do come to Australia, it is clear Indians love it too. But Indians are also in for a few surprises.

1 Australia has a winter

Yes, one surprise for Indian visitors that it is not always sunny in Australia. Apart from the tropical north, most Aussie cities have four seasons. And people go snow skiing during the winter (resorts in NSW and Victoria).

2 Aussies will wear shorts plus a scarf and beanie on cold days

Bit strange to see, but such is the Aussie male love of wearing shorts that many do it during winter too.

3 A beer is not a beer

Indians who build up a thirst and drop into a pub might just order “a beer please” only to be asked if they would like a schooner, middy, pony, pot or a pint.

4 Kangaroos are not in the main city streets

Shocking to know that the sight of a kangaroo in any Australian major city would be more astounding to Aussies than to you – take short drive our of the city and you will see this very strange and highly dignified animal.

5 A short drive is always long

Speaking of short drives, Aussies will take off for a weekend getaway and drive for 5 or 6 hours. Nothing is close and every trip is a long trip in Australia, so they are used to long drives.

6 Yes, there are spiders the size of your hand

Spiders scare most Aussies as much as you – and some of these spiders are big. A huntsman can pop up when you least expect it. I won’t tell you about redbacks…just don’t put your hand into strange pipes or under rocks or rubbish.

7 Everything is “game on”

Rivalry is big in Australia, so everything is a competition – city vs city, state vs state, not to mention actual sport which is like a religion for Aussies – it pays to show even a mild interest in any sport to gain the respect of locals. Not to mention India vs Australia in cricket.

8 Thongs go with anything

The footwear known in Australia as “thongs” can be worn on a surprising number of occasions, including those hosting a social function in their home. It’s part of the national dress code, which values informality.

9 Sorry, but your name will not be your name

Australians love to play with names and, while this might be disrespectful in most countries, in Australia it is a sign of affection and acceptance if they abbreviate or adapt your name. Adding “o” is common – so I am often known as “Steve-o”. Again, friendly. So, Vijeth could become “Vij-mate”, or Abhishek become “Ab”, Sucheta becomes “Suchi” and so on – nicknames are everywhere.

10 Joking at funerals

Australians use humour to reduce the negative emotion of tough situations – so jokes might be shared, and laughter occur around the boardroom table, in class, during interviews and even at funerals. It’s a way of making everyone comfortable.

11 Tall poppies get cut down

Australia has the “tall poppy syndrome” which means anyone who takes themselves too seriously, or is too proud, or too vocal about their success, will probably be taken down. Sometimes it is a test to see if “you can take it”, because being able to laugh at what appears to be a criticism is seen as a good thing. They do it too themselves too – it is not uncommon for business teams representing their company to say to a potential client “we’ll find a way to mess it up” – but done with a grin.

12 Red lights are mandatory

Australian drivers stop at red lights. I know this is shocking to many Indians, but the level of compliance with small rules such as red lights is incredibly high. Even if they want to turn right and there is no oncoming traffic in sight, they will still stop if the light is red.

13 Informality is a sign of friendship

People are informal. At my golf club, a 12 year old junior member will see me and say “G’day Steve, how you going?” If Prime Minister Anthony Albanese walks by (which sometimes happens in this laid back country) many Aussies would greet him as “Albo” – yes, that is his nickname.

Tata Sons Pvt Chairman, Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, recently stated that the pandemic has transformed the nature of how employees and organisations work and boosted the adoption of digital technologies.

It is also driving a hybrid model where work broadens beyond offices and employs more women.

This signals a future where workplaces offer staff greater flexibility, while leveraging technology.

Last year the groups IT consultancy, Tata Consultancy Services, announced the aim to have only a fourth of its employees working from office on any given day by 2025.

Mr. Chandrasekaran said, “Let us not limit ourselves to only home and office when it is the hybrid model that has work. There might be a ‘satellite office’, a concept of third place, that could emerge in future.”

Mr. Chandrasekaran stated, in India’s situation, it could also witness advanced workplace diversity (employment of women), another positive result of a hybrid model.

He added, “Only 23% of women who could be possibly working are employed due to challenges such as the lack of social infrastructure, commuting, etc. We should leverage this potential opportunity to grow and expand.”