According to a recently released annual report on global safety, Croatia is considered to be the 19th safest country in the world.
The “2025 Global Peace Index”, produced by the Sydney based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), claims Croatia has dropped one spot since last year, replaced by Australia which was in 19th spot on the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI) list.
In this THIRD – and final – instalment of a three-part series, the Hrvatski vjesnik takes a look at three separate case studies of young Australian Croatian returnee families and their own perceptions of how safe Croatia is for young families, compared to Australia…
Not an overnight decision
When Neda and Ante Čelić made the decision in 2024 to leave Melbourne and return to their native Metković in southern Dalmatia – about two hours’ drive south of Split – with their two daughters, Maria and Karla, it didn’t just happen overnight.
After spending a decade living in Australia, the Čelić family decided to return to Croatia in search of safety, simplicity, and a stronger sense of community.
It was the realisation of a long-held plan to raise their children in the country they still considered home.
“We always planned to return to Croatia once the children started school,” says Neda. “And that plan simply came to life.”
A key factor behind the move – safety
For the Čelić family, one of the key factors behind their move was the issue of safety – particularly when it came to raising children.
Having spent 10 years living in the outer western suburbs of Melbourne, they felt the contrast in daily life was too great to ignore.
“Life here is so much easier and safer with kids,” Neda explains.
“In Metković, children play freely in the streets, ride their bikes to their grandmother’s, and walk around independently. In Melbourne, we are holding their hands – so to speak – until they turn 18. Because sadly, that’s just how it is.”
While Australia is known for its relatively high quality of life, Neda’s experience in a large urban centre painted a more complex picture – especially as a young mother.
“In Australia, I was afraid to walk alone in a park even during the day – let alone at night,” she recalls.
“The city centre at night could be quite unsettling. In Metković, I’m far more relaxed. Even if I lose sight of Maria or Karla for a moment in a shop, I don’t panic. Here, you know your neighbours. Everyone recognises a stranger. In Melbourne, I didn’t even know who lived in the house next door.”
Return home not without its challenges
The move back to Croatia has allowed their daughters to experience a freedom that would have been unimaginable in Australia.
“They go outside on their own to play, ride their bikes, visit their grandmother. They’re constantly surrounded by a healthy and familiar environment,” says Neda. “It’s a way of life we feel is more wholesome.”
Returning to Metković after ten years abroad wasn’t without its challenges. But for Neda and Ante, the close-knit town’s enduring spirit made the transition smoother.
“Metković has always been a town where childhood is something to remember,” Neda says. “The friends you make in the first grade at primary school end up being your friends for life.”
Croatia not without its flaws, but…
Both Ante and Neda acknowledge that Croatia is not without its flaws – mentioning political inefficiencies and corruption – but they believe the trade-off is worth it.
“Yes, those problems haven’t changed much. But that’s the price we pay for a more relaxed lifestyle,” she says. “Maybe we don’t have the same financial opportunities as in Australia, but as the old saying goes in Croatian, ‘nije u šoldima sve’ (money isn’t everything).”
Looking ahead, the Čelić family is open to wherever life might take them, but one thing remains certain – Maria and Karla will grow up in Croatia.
“Maybe one day, our girls will go back to Australia,” ponders Neda thoughtfully.
“But we do want them to grow up here, to be raised with our values, to know who they are and where they come from.”
