My 14-year-old was already about to write this blog. In fact, he was already typing something when I passed him by sitting in front of his computer, which we had been sharing lately ever since my career has taken a different turn. Yes, it was just an inside joke between us and I would just normally flick off the thought and move on. However, as I needed to do my other chores, I would have to admit that it also came across my mind to delegate the task to him. Why not?

Well, this blogging journey should be all about going beyond the box and not having a box. Thus, it wouldn’t hurt if today will be his turn to write. But, of course, I have not gone too extraordinary yet to go ahead with the set-up that I and my son had joked about.

On a more serious note, my son is a good writer and started blogging around three years ago. He will surely do this blog a lot of justice. He already had 23 stories so far just for one fiction writing site alone. The proud mum that I am, I couldn’t help but feel tempted to post a link to his site, which he abandoned a year ago. Yet, he has always wanted his anonymity. A severe case of bullying he’s had from other writers on the site exacerbated his decision. There were other writers who seemed to be criticising his written works. I am unsure what the ages of those other writers were. Yet my son was only 11 when he started writing for the site. I could say that the quality of his work was already way beyond what I’d expect from someone his age at that time. Nonetheless, in as much as I would want to protect my son, I’d like him to give him a bit of space. He has already decided to stop writing as he is now focusing on doing his other passions – guitar, piano, composing songs, coding, karate lessons, basketball refereeing and having fun with his friends. My youngest son shares the same interests as his older brother. My dear husband is their coach-teacher-mentor. I am the honorary admin and support staff, among all else.

Before I and my three boys migrated and lived here in Adelaide, life had been different. Whereas my family loved the Philippines and Sydney made us also love Australia, as I wrote in one of my earliest blogs, Adelaide has made us live the great Aussie dream of having quality family time a reality. There are other positive things we are still working on and hoping for, but we are grateful for everything we were blessed with over the years so far here where we are. So what are these things that we are thankful for? The list could run so endless. Yet, for this blog, I’d start by writing on the top 10 reasons why my family and I love where we are right now here in the Adelaide Metropolitan area. (I’d write something about our very own Onkaparinga City (also part of Metro Adelaide) later in one of my future blog posts.) I’d also be trying to connect each of my reasons to the HR realm somehow along the way.

# 10 – Adelaide is a place for students.

Adelaide is considered as “Australia’s Education Hub” and officially being dubbed as a “Learning City.” Three of its universities belong to the top ones in the world – Adelaide University is in the top 150 and a member of Australia’s renowned “group of eight,” Flinders University is in the top 200, and University of South Australia is in the top 300. Torrens University Australia, University College London and Carnegie Mellon University Australia are three of Adelaide’s international universities. The city is also home to TAFE campuses, South Australia’s largest vocational and education and training (VET) provider, and other learning institutions.  All secondary schools are geared towards satisfying requirements under the  South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and Adelaide has the most number of schools with International Baccalaureate (IB) programs in Australia. The influx of overseas students increased in more recent years due to the city’s “size, weather and lifestyle.”

What this means for me and my family: My kids are loving what they do with their friends, classmates and teachers who nourish their love for learning and support them along the way. Far beyond their awards and other educational achievements, they also had time for quality, holistic learning in and out of their schools, with their dad as their at-home mentor. Plus, they don’t have to travel far and wide because the best educational institutions for their current and future post-secondary education are just within reach.

Connecting the tiny dots to the HR realm: Learning and development should be inherent in improving the way employees work, giving them the capacity to do their jobs well, as well as enabling the organisation and its stakeholder to reach organisational goals and objectives. The availability of quality training institutions nearby enables individuals and organisations to leverage learning opportunities to reap these advantages.

# 9 – Adelaide is a hub of excellence in health and medical care, education and research.

Adelaide is home to the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) which aims to explore solutions to the most pressing health issues today. SAHMRI is a showcase of innovation and collaboration between the state and federal governments, the city’s three universities, and leading charities with a stake on health matters. The new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) is a top government investment geared towards becoming “Australia’s Most Advanced Hospital.” Taking off from its reputation as a leading public training hospital since 1840, staff also engage in cutting-edge research and the hospital also provides medical care and rehabilitation even to nearby states and territories.

What this means for me and my family: My youngest son dreams of becoming a medical doctor someday. Now able to talk about the human body systems and other medical concepts, our “little doctor” in the family looks forward to learning more on how he could get rid of “pathogens” and help other people on their road to health and wellness.

Connecting the tiny dots to the HR realm: “Work health and safety is both an employer as well as employee responsibility.” Availability of quality medical facilities within the area may pave the way for better well-being for employed (as well as non-employed) individuals. Better employee well-being means less absenteeism or presenteeism. 

# 8 – Adelaide is home to festivals, the arts, parks and more.

South Australia is known to be Australia’s “Festival State” due to its numerous food, wine and cultural festivals and celebrations. The Fringe Festival, Royal Adelaide Show, WOMADelaide, Tasting Australia, FEAST, Festival of Ideas, Writer’s Week and so much more showcase a wide spectrum of arts and entertainment options in the city. The annual Christmas pageant is also said to be the world’s largest parade of its kind is held in Adelaide, as well as in other areas of the state. Entry into the South Australian Museum is free while the Art Gallery of South Australia and other architectural icons like the Adelaide Festival Centre, the Adelaide Convention Centre, and others are just nearby. The Adelaide Zoo is home to the only pandas in the southern hemisphere, Funi and Wangwang, while the Botanical Gardens is just nearby. The city’s four main terraces are dotted with parks and open spaces for those who would like a place to just breathe in and relax, have a picnic or perhaps for the kids to run around in.

What this means for me and my family: Coming from a country of vibrant culture, the Philippines, having all these festivals and other cultural events are a relief and a pleasant surprise. Even with its iconic country-town yet still first-world-feel, the city proves that it really has something for everyone, just like us. The open parks and spaces had been our family’s go-to places especially when we were just new here.

Connecting the tiny dots to the HR realm: Aside from their cultural value and effects, festivals may provide job sources and other business opportunities through the influx of tourists as well as the patronage of locals. The more jobs and opportunities there are, the better.

# 7 –  Sports enthusiasts will also love Adelaide.

The revitalised Adelaide Oval is home to home-grown Australian rules football and test cricket matches, and other major sports events. (Concerts are also held in the stadium with Rolling Stones and the AC/DC as the most recent huge crowd-drawing performances.) The world-renowned Santos Tour Down Under is a great major attraction and the Clipsal 500 has been drawing attention from fast car racing enthusiasts. Adelaide is also the ultimate destination point for the World Solar Car Challenge. Among other swimming centres, the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre is a go-to place for swimmers and has been hailed as having the “most advanced swimming and diving facilities in Australia.” Well-loved by Filipinos but not as traditionally popular as other sports here in Adelaide, basketball also has its niche here in the recently-improved Titanium Arena, among other various basketball stadiums.

What this means for me and my family: Physical well-being through sports is possible here in Adelaide. Part of my kids’ holistic development is their school-based physical education as well as out-of-school sports activities, readily accessible for them to take advantage of. My kids’ journey to greater physical wellness and better life skills in this city with long stretches of beaches, started with their swimming lessons with State Swim. Now, they’re also having Karate lessons also aimed at improving their discipline, keeping away from violent behaviour, agility, among others. Sharing the traditional Filipino passion of their dad, my two sons also have basketball in their lives. My youngest one plays with his school team, having his dad as a coach. My oldest son does basketball refereeing one or two days weekly, which has greatly improved his self-confidence and well-roundedness. For me and my husband who seemed to have abandoned the strenuous physical regimen we had as former naval officers, the walking trails somehow provided an option to better wellness and an opportunity to catch up with each other.

Connecting the tiny dots to the HR realm: Well-being is at the core here. Life is not just working but extends to one’s interests. Well-being affects productivity.

# 6 – Adelaide is also for the free.

The city has also been known as a “City of Churches.” The St Francis Catholic Cathedral and the St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral are two iconic buildings in the area, and among what was said to be around more than 500 Christian churches listed in the Yellow Pages directory. Although recent statistics and articles have shown that it only ranks 5th in terms of church building numbers and 1/4 of the country’s registered population said they had no religious affiliation, Adelaide’s foremost founders of free settlers have envisioned the city to be a centre for religious freedom.

What this means for me and my family: The Philippines, the country we came from, is the only and the largest Christian nation in Asia, and the 5th in the world where 93% of the population are Christians. Even as we respect other people’s faith or non-affiliation, we took comfort in the fact that we are lucky to be free to go for what we believe in, what we hold on to, what justifies our being, what our hearts say, and what our souls seek.

Connecting the tiny dots to the HR realm: Once more, this has significance to well-being and how it affects employee productivity. Well-being and happiness need not be all about the money as it could be a product of having intangibles such as one’s faith.

And the next and the topmost 5 reasons are pretty much self-explanatory. 

# 5 – The amazing hills are just nearby.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

# 4 – Splendid beaches are just near the city centre.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

# 3 – Adelaide was even dubbed as Australia’s safest city.

# 2 – The city has been hailed as the second cleanest in the whole wide world.

# 1 – It has been one of the most liveable cities in the world for several years now and was even called the “best place in the world to live.”

There really are heaps of reasons to love Australia’s best-kept secret of a city. There are brighter things ahead and even more places to see in this beautiful world of ours.

(Note: This article also appears in the author’s LinkedIn profile.)

*****