Priya(28)

I was born in Amsterdam to Indian parents who emigrated to the Netherlands in the nineties. After my computer science degree at VU I worked at a fintech startup in the Zuidas. Good salary, but I wanted more international experience. Australia appealed to me — not just for the weather, but because the tech sector is booming.

With my skills in cybersecurity and cloud engineering I was on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List. I chose the Subclass 189 visa — no employer needed, purely points-based. With my age (under 30 = maximum points), master's degree, five years of work experience and a PTE Academic score of 79+, I had 95 points. The minimum threshold was 65.

Why Canberra? Everyone goes to Sydney or Melbourne, but Canberra is the center of Australian government and defense. Companies like Accenture, Deloitte and Thales have large cybersecurity divisions there. The Australian Signals Directorate is based there. Demand for IT professionals is enormous and salaries reflect that — I earn AUD 135,000 as a mid-level security engineer.

Canberra has a different vibe from the coastal cities. It's planned, orderly, and yes — some find it boring. But I love the space, the four seasons (it can even snow here in winter), and the fact that everything is within cycling distance. Rent is AUD 480 per week for a modern two-bedroom apartment in Braddon, the trendiest part of the city.

As a woman of color in the Australian tech sector, I notice diversity is taken seriously — more than in the Netherlands, honestly. My team is a mix of Australians, Indians, Chinese and Brits. There are active Women in Tech communities and my employer sponsors diversity programs. That feels welcoming.

I had my TFN within a week, Medicare enrollment was automatic as a PR holder, and my superannuation runs through Australian Super — the country's largest super fund. My tip for IT professionals: look at Canberra. The city is growing, the tech sector is thriving and you don't have to compete with thousands of others to find an apartment.