Citizenship

By Lia Bichel
AFTER moving from Fiji to Australia four and a half years ago, Cranbourne resident Kriti Prakash said she finally feels like she belongs to the community.
The 22-year-old received her citizenship along side her mother Vina and two sisters, 21-year-old Nitika and 19-year-old Pranika at a Cranbourne ceremony.
“It is such a good feeling to get citizenship. I’m really happy,” she said. “Now that I have it, I feel like I am part of a community.”
Ms Prakash said she remembered how excited she was when she moved from Fiji to Australia in July 2004.
“We had never been to Australia before, and when we got here it was so good,” she said.
”Everyone was really accepting me and my sisters at school, and everyone was so helpful.”
The Prakash family had to adapt to Australian culture as well as the Victorian winter weather, but Ms Prakash said dealing with the cold was worth all the opportunities Australia has to offer.
“One of the best things about this country is that there are so many opportunities,” she said.
“There is no TAFE at Fiji Island, and there is an abundance of courses available here, and financial help from the government as well.”
Ms Prakash said she attended TAFE after she completed school, and plans to continue working and living in Australia.
“I really love it here,” she said. “It’s my home now.”