Voices Of Diversity FOREWORD It is with great pleasure that

Voices Of Diversity FOREWORD It is with great pleasure that we introduce Voices of Diversity. This publication, like many good things, was conceived by a number of people with a shared vision and the commitment to working together to achieve it. Together we have searched for a way to highlight the inspirational stories which overseas-born people working in the public sector have to tell about how they have succeeded in a new cultural environment. This booklet sets out to achieve this aim. Voices of Diversity profiles 13 overseas-born Western Australians who have brought to the public sector their language and cultural skills, overseas networks and international experience, as well as their professional and work expertise. We appreciate the way they all so generously shared their experiences and insights. Each person has a special story to tell - in his or her own words - and the tales weave the rich cultural fabric that is our community. Western Australia is home to people from all over the world, with almost a third of the State’s population born overseas. Strategies for the public sector aim to improve the representation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in the workforce. The potential benefits include incorporating diverse ways of thinking into the workforce, new insights into client networks and providing excellence in customer service to diverse customers. We urge managers to take advantage of the benefits of diversity and use this rich pool of skills and talents in our workforce. We also hope other public sector staff from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds will find these role models inspiring. Voices of Diversity was produced by the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Office of Citizenship and Multicultural Interests. Brenda Robbins EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OFFICE OF CITIZENSHIP MULTICULTURAL INTERESTS Maxine Murray DIRECTOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT INTRODUCTION The Western Australian public sector is by far the largest employer in this State. With over 113,000 employees, it offers a variety of employment opportunities to people with a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience. Generally, it offers potential employment options that are otherwise not available. For many, the public sector has become an employer of choice with career options that are seen as rewarding and fulfilling. This access to opportunities and diversity of employment options in the public sector attracts skilled and diverse people. This publication attempts to demonstrate the benefits of cultural diversity in the public sector. It highlights success stories, provides positive feedback about difficult experiences, offers suggestions for new arrivals and looks at the many different journeys taken by migrants. The stories that make up Voices of Diversity are drawn from around the globe, including Canada, China, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Venezuela and Vietnam. Each experience is unique and the cultural diversity of each person adds to the multicultural nature of Western Australia. Each person’s story - at times humorous, at times poignant - highlights the challenges and barriers that they have overcome. These include language, culture, recognition of qualifications and difficulties in adapting to a ‘New World’ environment. These stories unveil the wealth of talent and diversity available in our public sector. To the women and men who bring their diversity to the workplace, thank you. And to the thousands of diverse voices in the workplace, we say welcome and we hope to talk to you soon. ABOUT THE EDITOR André Goh was born in Malaysia to Chinese-Eurasian parents. He spent his childhood growing up in Malacca where he learned about padi planting seasons, eating curry devil and respecting the traditions of many cultures. As a teenager, he moved to Canada, where in a climate of multiculturalism, he learned about issues of racism, equality and gender parity. With many years of involvement in community development and championing on behalf of the less privileged, the neglected and the disempowered, André’s skills in identifying the subtlety of differential treatment were sharpened. For most of his employment career in Canada, André worked in the human rights field, including the Ontario Human Rights Commission. There, he pursued his interest in equity and shared his passion with others. He mentored people, challenged discrimination and harassment, mediated between adversarial multinationals, conciliated difficult complaints and set standards in many industries. After almost twenty years in Canada, André moved to Western Australia in 1995 to be with his family. In Perth, he continued his community development work and his career in the equity field. He worked briefly for the Equal Opportunity Commissioner, then with the WA Police Service in multiple roles, including that of Equity Officer, before taking on a senior consultancy in the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity. He is now based back at Police. But life has not always been an easy road for him. It has been clouded with many pitfalls and glass roadblocks. Some of the hurdles included coming to terms with the loss of a younger family member, challenging establishments, fighting racism at all levels and breaking cultural stereotypes. “When I first arrived in Perth, I thought that I would be able to adapt to life in Australia because in many ways, Australia and Canada share common bonds. However, I quickly realised that while things appeared the same on the surface, there were many differences beneath,” said André. André believes that where equity is concerned, Western Australia has made great strides, but still has many more roads to travel. “It’s a journey that moves from life to life and generation to generation. Every step we take is a step on the journey. Some are more positive and others are less. You know the saying, two steps forward, one step back. In many ways, equity is like that.” And what advice can André give? “I think that when we live in a culture that is different from our own, we assimilate partly with our host culture. And in many ways, Australians, old and new, are like that. If there is one thing I can say about living here, it is that the cultures and traditions we each bring with us are very much a part of us. “We are proud of who we are and where we come from. It is our identity and our history. We shouldn’t lose sight of who we are or change ourselves into something or someone we will never be.” 1 2 University and my first job I went on to study a Bachelor of Science in Community Development during which time I lived and worked with peasant families in a remote, rural coconut-growing town. We talked about marginalisation, exploitation, empowerment and self-determination. We learnt about village and global inter-relationships by tracing the life of a coconut from harvest, through processing to export, until it came back as an ingredient in soap or cooking oil. As a graduate, I continued my community work with a university project assisting fisherfolk document, assess and spread indigenous rural technologies. I later joined a national network of organisations working in partnership with peoples’ organisations in raising the capabilities, skills and knowledge of peasants to achieve sustainable agriculture and renewable energies. Coming to Australia Political factors led to our migration to Australia in 1992. During this time I became pregnant and gave birth to my fourth child. The first few months were difficult for me. I was dealing with changes within my body and a new country - different tastes, different smells, different accents and a different pace. A first generation migrant in the public sector At the Disability Services Commission, I’m one of only a few first generation migrants in a network covering the entire State. I assist people with disabilities and their families, to achieve a better quality of life for themselves and the communities in which they live. Through my interaction with people, I hear stories of access and discrimination, but also of participation, empowerment and self-determination - concepts familiar and vital to me, because like the people I work with, I belong to a minority group. I’m a member of a visible minority, because of my skin colour and accent. I aim to increase integration and contact among people from different backgrounds, to influence personal opinions, effect value changes and reduce prejudice. My first paid job in Australia, at the Northern Suburbs Migrant Resource Centre as a grant-in-aid worker, enabled me to help migrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds resettle in a new country. Getting this job was a real boost. My husband was already working as a part-time youth worker, but my new job meant that both of us were getting recognised and accepted as professionals with something to contribute to Australian society. I had great hopes that I could move closer to the mainstream and was driven by a Filipino proverb, “Anyone who does not look back at where she has come from, will never get to where she wants to go!” I have worked with institutions like Relationships Australia WA where white Anglo cultures dominate, to improve migrant access to counselling services, sometimes travelling to Canberra to meet with other Community Development Officers from across the country to give advice to government. I have been labelled the multicultural expert, the person who deals with everything and anything that sounds ethnic. Growing up My pre-school years were spent in Basco, a beautiful island town on the northern tip of the Philippines. My family was part of a group of professionals who had come from mainland Luzon to teach or work in government and we mixed freely with the people of the island. At an early age, I learnt about difference and integration. I remember lugging an armchair to school on my first day. I could only attend school if I had my own chair. My father handmade one for me, but it was different from all the others. I used a beautiful school bag sent by my Auntie from the mainland just once and discarded it in favour of a sugar plastic bag like those used by the other children. My school years were greatly influenced by strong women. My father died when I was seven years old and we went to live with our grandparents on mainland Luzon. My mother gained a scholarship towards a Masters Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language, but she had to return to teach in Basco for three years. Our grandmother took over her mothering role, taking a break only on weekends when our other mums and our Aunties, came to help out. I learnt about patience, perseverance, resilience, sacrifice, the value of extended families and the multiple roles of women. 3 It had been a mad rush leaving the Philippines, but when we arrived in Australia, there was nothing for me to do. I was bored and lonely and felt I was known only as a mother and wife. One morning, I suggested to my children that we pack up and go home. Their response was, “You go, we’ll stay!” They’d already made friends and were enjoying the open spaces and the opportunities. And my husband’s family was here. I joined my husband in volunteering at Community Aid Abroad, an organisation we had encountered in the Philippines. There I met a migrant woman from India whose life has strongly entwined with mine. We mentored each other, continuously discussing issues like race, gender, marginalisation, exploitation, ethnicity and difference. We contextualised our past work experiences in a Western setting. I joined various organisations like the Women’s Sub-committee of the Ethnic Communities Council, the Migrant Women’s Interest Committee and the Philippine Australian Cultural Interaction Network. I became an alternate member of Community Aid Abroad’s Southeast Asian Planning and Policy Committee and I danced with the Jewel of the West, a Filipino women’s group. I returned to university to complete a Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies. This led to developing personal contacts, broadening informal networks, learning to negotiate a new way of life, and reclaiming self-worth, confidence and identity. Overcoming obstacles On my way to the public service, I’ve experienced the joys and sorrows of working in various environments and juggling multiple roles. I take pride in my own roots and cultural background while acknowledging and ceaselessly working on my cultural baggage. I’ve counselled others and myself against underselling our capabilities in job interviews, an art acquired through experience. I’ve been the recipient of patronising acts and condescending remarks and it irks me not to be quick enough to retort at times. But, I have made lasting allies with Australians from all backgrounds. Finally my community development experience is highly valued, re-affirming my professional status and my whole person. I continue to work with marginalised sections of the population. I am an enduring part of the visible minority, tirelessly striving for inclusion while celebrating diversity. 4 Success through community involvement One aspect of my life that has brought me personal fulfillment and contributed to my success within the public sector is my involvement with numerous community-based organisations. Since migrating to Australia I have been involved with the Fremantle Jaycees, Celebrate WA, the Fremantle Migrant Resource Centre, the Ethnic Communities Council and the Lions Club of Bullcreek. I am still actively involved with these organisations, although much of my time is taken up carrying out my roles as a Councillor in the City of Melville and as the Suburb Manager of Neighborhood Watch. My involvement in these organisations has also helped to develop my career. Through participation in these organisations I have gained leadership skills. I have also improved my communication and listening skills, learnt to work as a team member and developed the skills to mediate between disputing parties. As a result of gaining these skills I was appointed as the Occupational Health and Safety Representative within my department, which allowed me to get involved in an area other than my own. A migrant born of migrants I was born and raised with my three sisters in Segamant, a town in Southern Malaysia to migrant parents from Sri Lanka. I am a Tamil and a practicing Hindu. I left home at the age of 17 to complete a Science degree at the Jammu and Kashmir University in India. I graduated in 1968 and armed with my degree, I decided to migrate to Perth. Seizing the opportunity in Australia, I embarked on a cadetship in Medical Radiography, which I completed in 1972. It was this career choice that first exposed me to the public sector in Western Australia. On completing my cadetship I was offered a job as a relief radiographer. This meant extensive travel, covering the area between Geraldton and Broome. As a new arrival I was apprehensive about going to small country towns, because I was unsure how people would react to me. Thirty years ago there were not many visible minorities, especially not in the country. However, my concerns were unfounded. My arrival at each new posting was greeted with warmth, affection and hospitality. Throughout my travels in country Western Australia I did not experience any sort of discrimination. I believe one of the reasons for this was because I actively got involved in the communities in which I worked. Sometimes this simply meant going down to the local pub for a beer. I also joined volunteering organisations such as the Red Cross Younger Sets. Forging a career I returned to Perth to work at Fremantle Hospital, where I have remained ever since. When I first started working at Fremantle Hospital, I was the only visible minority person in my department. Despite this I never felt any different to my colleagues and I was never treated otherwise. In fact I was accepted by my colleagues as just another person. In the early years I forged many strong friendships with colleagues that I still maintain today. One of the people whom I remember most from this time is a man named John Pugh. He was a gentle and softly spoken man who took me under his wing, providing me with invaluable advice for my developing career and accepting me as part of his family. This gave me a real sense of belonging. Throughout my career, which has spanned more than 30 years, I have hardly ever experienced any prejudice in my work environment. The only time I felt I was singled out from my colleagues was when I told them I was going back to Malaysia to marry a young woman that my parents had chosen for me. Many of them found this hard to understand, despite having accepted many other facets of my culture. I am happy to say that I am still married to my wife and I have two grown children both studying at university. Further study During my career I did take time out for further study, learning how to perform CAT scans. However, after this I haven’t had an opportunity to do any further study. One of the main reasons for this is that all the new technology currently being used was only introduced in the last ten years. My age has proved a barrier in my ability to study these new techniques and procedures. I regret not been able to study and explore these new technologies, because this has prevented me from branching out in my field. And there’s another positive spin-off from the skills that I have gained through my community involvement. Over the past five years I have been involved with teaching students and supervising their practical work from the Curtin School of Medical Imaging Technology. This has presented a wonderful opportunity to share my knowledge and experience and has provided me with a great deal of satisfaction. Being offered this opportunity has proven to be one of the highlights of my career. Advice on how to succeed I have come to the conclusion that in order to succeed you must attempt to be a part of the working environment. As a visible minority, I believe you should try to fit in and strive to become part of the team. You should make an effort to go to work functions and to socialise with those who work with you. I think it is always good to undertake further study and remain up-to-date in your chosen field. This opens the door to career opportunities and gives you the edge over other candidates. Find a mentor, someone who can show you the ropes and who has encountered obstacles that you may face in the future. They can provide invaluable advice and prevent you from making the same mistakes. But I stress most of all the importance of being a part of the working environment. Once you have achieved this, everything else becomes easier and will gradually fall into place. 5 6 University and travel Once I finished high school, I went to Cartagena University on the coast, where I studied Behavioural Psychology. Then I won a scholarship to do a further certificate in England. I was rocked by culture shock. Suddenly I found myself in a new and foreign culture, without the immediate support of my 13 siblings. My strength was my languages, particularly Italian and English and I understood French well. But in England many people couldn’t understand me. People said I spoke too fast, but I think mostly people were impatient. A few took the time to listen when I spoke and were able to understand. Later I married in England and was blessed with a wonderful son. I travelled the globe for almost eight years due to my husband’s work with the oil industry. In 1981 we moved to Perth, where my husband’s family was located. I’ve learnt to love and respect people from different cultures and backgrounds, so it wasn’t such a culture shock for me to come here. By this time, I was used to meeting people from diverse cultures. Finding my feet in Australia At first it was pretty difficult for me to find work in my field. I discovered that the overseas Australian immigration office had contradicted itself when it provided me with information. They had said that, with my qualifications and language skills, I’d find a job in no time. I soon realised that this was not the case. I remember scouring the Saturday paper for jobs. I was interested in working with children in the psychology/social work area or in outpatient care, but was told my qualifications needed to be assessed by the Overseas Qualifications Board. I soon found out that I would have to enrol at university for at least another three years to do a psychology course all over again. Further study In the meantime I did odd jobs. I was frustrated at not being able to use my qualifications and experience in psychology, but on the other hand, I understood that I had to give myself time to adjust and get to know the community a bit better. I was definitely interested in going back to school but not for such a long period of time. So I honed other skills and tried to make myself employable by ascertaining what was in demand according to the newspapers. I did secretarial work, computer courses and even a tourism course. I decided to enrol in a Community and Welfare Diploma Course at Central TAFE, based on the advice of the vocational officer at UWA. TAFE recognised most of my qualifications and I was able to finish my diploma very quickly. This led to a six-month contract with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs as a case worker. I also secured a short contract with the Multicultural Psychiatric Clinic. By this time my Behavioural Psychology Degree was fully recognised and I was able to apply my experience and skills. I felt much happier and fulfilled. Advice for new migrants I feel that there are lots of good things in this country and that each of us has the power to make a difference. Some people are doctors in their home country and when they get here, they can only find work mopping and cleaning. I believe this is honest work and it gives you an opportunity to learn about this country and culture. I think that migrants need to let go of those grandiose ideas we have about how things were back home. We need to accept and embrace life here. The sooner we do that, the sooner we find contentment. I also think that if it is possible, we should take time to learn about our new country. We shouldn’t rush out and find work at the expense of learning about the society and the culture. It is through this understanding that we learn more about who we are and how we fit into this society. I’ve had a good start and have had opportunities to learn about this place and make friends, with the genuine support and encouragement of my loved ones. I have been blessed with four countries I call home and I am still growing. Fond memories of a rich childhood I was born in Colombia into a nurturing and fun-loving family. I have 10 brothers and three sisters. I am number 13. As kids, we were able make up a soccer team on our own. We were a very happy family. Some of my most vivid and fond memories about growing up in Colombia were how much my father admired my mother and how he treated her with much respect. Sometimes at dinner, he would make all the children wait for dinner until my mother was seated at the head of the table. He had so much love for her. Another good memory was that as girls we were not treated any differently from the boys. I remember how my father worked really hard to make sure that all his children, including the girls, attended school, college and university. He was a simple man. He didn’t have much education. I think he had the equivalent of about Grade 7. He was a farmer with coffee plantations, cattle, horses and orchards. He also built houses. And for a man with no formal education, he was amazing. The government would come to him and ask how they should go about building a school or an extension to the local hospital. He could look at a barren piece of land and tell them how much concrete, steel, bricks and tiling was required for the job. He was really gifted. My mother was very kind and always made sure everybody was welcome in our home, even though she was busy looking after 14 children. She had her hands full and yet she still found time to do volunteer work at the hospital. Unfortunately my mother passed away when I was 12, so I didn’t always have a mother to look out for me while I was growing up. It was really difficult and it is still difficult for me to think about that time. This was one of the reasons my father sent us to boarding school. 7 8 Born in the USA I was born in a city where the Seahawks play gridiron, the Supersonics play basketball and the Mariners play baseball. The city where Bruce Lee worked in a small store and Jimi Hendrix went to school with my aunt. A place where 747 aircraft roll from Boeing’s factory and which Microsoft and Bill Gates call home. I was born in the beautiful city of Seattle, in the state of Washington, in the northwest corner of the United State of America. I don’t remember much about Seattle, except my relatives, especially my grandparents and cousins. A family on the move I come from a military family. My father spent 31 years in the US Navy. From the time I was four years old, until I was about 14, our family moved every two to three years. From the west coast to the east coast and back west again. I lived in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Hawaii, Maryland and Washington DC and then back to San Diego. I met fantastic people and had wonderful experiences living in all these places, but it seemed that just as we got comfortable with our friends, schools and surroundings, it was time to pack-up and move again. Choices and opportunities Growing up in all these different places filled part of my life with great highlights. But I will never forget the poverty, crime, racism and drugs. I couldn’t keep count of the people I’ve known that have fallen through the cracks. I remember seeing my first gun in someone’s locker at school in Year 11. I recall hearing my first gunshot outside a party. I remember being told about one of my best friends getting killed after he moved to a better place with more opportunity. I think about another friend I’d known since about Year 3. He grew up, joined a gang and as a result of the “three strikes” law, is in prison for the rest of his natural life. I have also seen the riches of a great country and knew if I had a choice, what direction I needed to go. I did well at school. My friends thought I was a bit of a bright spark, although I didn’t really think so. I remember when I did something wrong, sometimes other people got hurt, so I made the choice to try to do the “right thing”. To do enough for my mother to be able to keep her head held high, to make her proud of me and the choices I’d made. I learned to work hard at an early age. It kept me from the fate of so many of my friends. A man named Roberto Amouroux said he would make me a chef, but I had to start at the bottom washing dishes. I washed dishes for about three weeks before I started to learn to cook. I was only in Year 10. It was school in the morning, restaurant work at night. I admired Roberto and he taught me about life. He came from Mexico, worked hard, owned a great little restaurant and had a good home and family. Then he went to jail, I was stunned. I worked in a few more restaurants, but ultimately decided to join the Navy. The Navy taught me how to fix multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art fighter jets. The Navy also taught me about project management and how to work with a wide range of people in a team. And I learnt a little about computers. An introduction to Australia One day I met a lady with the strangest accent. She was from a strange country. What I liked about her was her kind nature. She was clever and focused - we were married four months later. Three years later we moved to Australia. That was a few ticks of the clock ago and a couple of children ago. I guess I’m known as an African-American-Australian - that makes me a Triple A. I like that much better than a Triple K. I love Perth and Western Australia - truly one of the world’s treasures. I thought America was the land of opportunity, until I moved here. My first job was packing boxes at the Supply West warehouse. Since then, I’ve worked in a number of public sector agencies, including State Services, Health, Premier and Cabinet, Commerce and Trade and now at Central TAFE. Today, I’m the inaugural Director of the Centre for Online Services and Communications. A few sacrifices I’ve had to make a few sacrifices over the years. Most importantly is the sacrifice of family, especially my parents who still live in San Diego. I had to work hard, first to get my family established, then long hours to learn as much as I could about my job, the department, government and people. It meant extra study and working over weekends. It meant forming networks and becoming an expert in my field. But it also meant knowing I lived in a country of opportunity - opportunity there to be seized. A bump in the road The hardest part of my public sector career was colliding with a couple of people that tried to hide behind “the system” to disrupt my life. I don’t think they were interested in the job I was doing, or my performance. They were concerned that they had been in the public sector longer than I and felt they should be rewarded for it. I don’t think they took the time to think that maybe I worked harder, had more desire, commitment and the know-how to achieve the required outcomes. I knew I was not “one-of-the-boys”. The sad part is I think they enjoyed playing the game with my life and the life of my family. I stayed calm and focused, and worked hard and I am glad I did. Inspirational people Some people don’t realise the impact they’ve had on my career. I was inspired in part because they believed in me when others were not sure. These people include Peter Wimsett (one of the first champions of e-commerce in Western Australia), Alan Piper, Dr Paul Schapper and the ever optimistic Lance Bailey. I’ve worked for a number of managers who have been great mentors, in particular Dr Paula Swatman, Roger Guinery, John Carruthers, John Williams, Paul Hansen, Judith Kirkman, Colin Gillbert and Stephen Collins. But what drives me forward and motivates me most is my wife Andrea and my children Jarred and Jordan. 9 10 I call Perth home It’s been almost 15 years since I arrived in Australia. What amazed me most was that the place was so big and so empty. Since then Perth has become home for me and I would not have it any other way. When we migrated, my husband already held Australian Citizenship, so I didn’t have to go through the struggles of immigration. In my case, the transition was relatively smooth. I was lucky, because language was not a barrier. After talking to other migrants and listening to their stories, I thought to myself, “maybe I can help them”. Often I found myself in a situation where I was helping others to communicate. I also got involved in the Latin American community’s activities. As a member of the Association I wrote for El Hispanoamericano, a community newsletter and I broadcast The Voice of Hispanoamerica on Radio 6NR. Helping others communicate In 1993 I completed an interpreting course at TAFE. There I was inspired by Dagmar Dixon, a teacher with a tremendous passion for the interpreting profession. Through her lectures she gave me the knowledge and training that enabled me to get where I am today. After graduating, I immediately started working freelance. My freelance work seemed to follow a trend, which has continued into my permanent employment. Somehow all my jobs were health related - King Edward Memorial Hospital, Princess Margaret Children’s Hospital, rehabilitation centres and insurance companies. At present I’m the Language Services Coordinator for Fremantle Hospital. Over the past three years I have had the opportunity, not only to coordinate the provision of interpreters and translators for the hospital, but also to raise awareness of the importance of the use of accredited interpreters through orientation sessions. During this time, the use of interpreters in all languages has increased substantially. I am committed continually to improving the standards and the quality of service to culturally and linguistically diverse people. I reinforce this commitment through membership of organisations and peak bodies in my field. I am a member of the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters and the WA Institute for Translators and Interpreters. My commitment extends to serving on the NAATI Regional Advisory Committee, the TAFE Advisory Committee for the Diploma of Interpreting Course and being the Multicultural Contact Officer for Fremantle Hospital. Facing the challenges There are many minority groups in Western Australia and it takes a great deal of effort for them to become visible. The main objective for minorities should be to remain visible and for such a challenge we must be able to adapt to any situation with confidence, enthusiasm and the willingness to offer the best to the community. I’ve been an ethnic all my life I was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Although I grew up in South America, I can’t really say that that’s my origin. Both my parents were West Indian - my mother from Barbados and my father from Trinidad. They migrated to Venezuela in the early 50s but always maintained their culture. Being so close to the Caribbean it was always easy to go “back home” as they used to say, for a short holiday. I come from a very small family. Both my parents are only children and I am an only child, so my extended family are my friends. For my son, who was born in Australia and has dual citizenship, his godmother is like his second mum or aunt. Since we have none of our own extended family, we try to be a part of our community and participate in any of our cultural celebrations. We have a number of friends from different backgrounds and we enjoy whatever their culture has to offer as well. I completed my schooling in Venezuela, where I was amongst a small group of children from a non-Spanish speaking background and a different race. This meant that we were branded ‘foreigners’. However, I never ran into any prejudice as a result of the label. I was simply the daughter of a couple from another country. We may have had different food, different music and even a different religion but my interests were basically the same as any of the other Hispanic Venezuelan children. This was one of the experiences that has made me come to believe that a country becomes great with the influence of other cultures. After a couple of years of law studies at the Catholic University Andres Bello in Caracas, I left college and migrated with my husband, who is originally from Spain, to Argentina. Once again I was exposed to many new and different cultures and I realised that ‘ethnic’ is a complex term. 11 12 Work experience in the public sector: While studying, I did a work placement at Maddington Community Based Services (CBS). I was subsequently employed there as a part-time Community Corrections Officer for three months and was employed as a Community Corrections Officer at Mirrabooka CBS after I graduated. There are some Vietnamese offenders in the Mirrabooka area and most do not speak English and I was offered the opportunity to supervise them. I also supervise offenders from other ethnic backgrounds, which accounts for two thirds of my workload. The work is very challenging because the offenders may have a range of problems, including mental health, drug abuse, dysfunctional social and family relationships and domestic violence. Tracing my roots in war-torn Vietnam I was born in Vietnam in 1945, just two months before the end of World War II. While people around the world were enjoying peace and rebuilding their countries, the Vietnamese people were thrown headlong into another war against the French colonialists attempting to re-conquer Vietnam and re-establish the Indo-China colony. In 1953 the French invaders surrendered and withdrew. The country was split in two - the Communist North and the Nationalist South. The two Vietnams quickly plunged into yet another war, becoming a hot spot in the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union and turning Vietnam into a testing ground for their weapons. I grew up in that environment. This is my story - I studied, I worked, I was detained as a prisoner of war and in 1986 I escaped from Vietnam and came to Australia. I was born in the South Vietnamese countryside, on the Mekong River Delta - the “rice bowl” of Vietnam. I don’t have enough words to describe my parents’ love for our native village where our ancestors had been buried for generations. When the guerrilla war intensified, my parents were forced to move to the provincial town for security. Living in town, I had an opportunity to attend school and I quickly adjusted to the environment. I graduated from teacher’s college in 1966 and worked as a teacher in a primary school for several months, before returning to study Administration and Humanities at university. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Saigon University in 1969 and a Bachelor of Arts in Administration in 1970. I also attended the Thu Duc Military Training Course for army officers. I was seconded to the Ministry of the Interior as an Administrator and worked in Tayninh and Sadec Province until the Communists won the war and took over South Vietnam on 30 April 1975. My life was turned up side down by this event. I was interned in a provincial concentration camp and started life as a prisoner of war. I was released from jail in 1979 and placed under local security surveillance, which is similar to parole supervision. In January 1986, I ‘drove’ a small boat carrying my sister, my wife, my son, my sister-in-law and my wife’s nephew to Malaysia. Everybody was granted refugee status and we settled in Australia in July 1986. Rebuilding a new life in Australia In Australia, I started studying English and was ready to do any job to rebuild my life. I worked as a carpenter for six months, a cleaner for more than a year and a gardener until I started at Curtin University. All my qualifications had been assessed by the Education Department and the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition as equivalent to the Australian standard, but my non-English speaking background prevented me from obtaining any relevant jobs in the private or public sectors. While doing manual work to earn a living and support my son at school, I tried to improve my English and attended and passed an interpreting course in 1989. I worked as a contract interpreter for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs while still gardening. I recognised that without an Australian degree, I would not have a ‘ticket’ to enter the mainstream. I attended a Social Work course at Curtin University in 1995 and completed a Social Work degree in 1998. Going back to university after 25 years was difficult. My brain was as rusty as an old motor left unattended at the bottom of the garden. The level of English at university is more difficult than that required for interpreting services and daily conversation, so I worked hard to overcome the language barrier with the help of two retired teachers, Barbara Lister and Betty Butterworth of Como. In my third year, I was flattered when the School of Social Work offered me a place on the Honours degree course. Although I declined this offer, it boosted my confidence in my study regardless of my age. My academic knowledge from Vietnam and Australia are a solid foundation for me to deal with the complicated issues of offender management. However, as a migrant who arrived in Australia late in life, I have a limited knowledge of Australian culture and English idiom and slang. The support of my manager, Ian Ozanne, my supervisor Anne Marsden and my colleagues Bobbie Cox and Teresa Kirk has been a decisive factor in the progress of my work. Community involvement I spend much of my leisure time involved in community and professional organisations. I have joined associations such as the Vietnamese Veterans Association, Returned and Services League (RSL), Vietnamese Administrators Association, Australian Association of Social Workers, Vietnamese Professionals Society and the Vovi Friendships Association. I also like reading, gardening and I meditate every night. I am currently attending a mediation training course and plan to offer mediation services to Vietnamese people once I qualify as a mediator. My recipe for success I have tried very hard to adapt to Australian society. I’m diligent and honest and believe that I’ve succeeded because I’m not afraid of being discriminated against by others. I’m also anxious to learn English, understand others and I’ve accepted all kinds of jobs and opportunities. I’ve relied on the support and guidance of Australian friends and worked closely with colleagues and my supervisor in the public sector to improve my capacity and knowledge. 13 14 My lucky break Although I enjoyed being around the kids, nothing was stimulating. I wanted to go back to the workforce. I worked part time with a private organisation. Eventually I sat the public sector entrance exam and passed. I was offered a position at the Women’s Policy Development Office (WPDO). Although it was only an administrative position, I was willing to start from scratch. I was fortunate to have the management I did, especially the Manager, Corporate Services. I told her I had a degree and experience in accounting. Once she realised that I was interested in trying new tasks, she began to assign me work in finance. Soon I was doing higher duties and more complicated work. Since 1997, and with the introduction of accrual accounting, I was getting more involved and was working with budget preparation and monitoring, financial management reports, whole of government reporting and fringe benefit tax. In the last two years I prepared the financial statement for the WPDO. During this time I started external studies through the University of Southern Queensland. Currently I am an associate member of the CPA. In many ways I was lucky to get the breaks and support I did with that manager. I gained a great deal of experience and developed more skills to enhance myself. Earlier this year I applied for a position at Treasury and now I am an Accounting Analyst within the Fiscal Strategy Division. I feel like my life is slowly beginning where I left off in Abu Dhabi. But I guess there’s more to come as I’m planning to commence the CPA program next year. The will to succeed Early opportunities I was born in Egypt. My father was a banker and my mother was a Finance Manager. I grew up in Cairo where I attended a co-ed primary school and then all girls’ high school. After finishing high school, I attended Ainshams University in Cairo where I studied Commerce, majoring in accounting. My parents have been a major influence in my life, especially my mother. She is a strong woman, ambitious and was fully employed at a time when Egyptian women usually stayed at home. My mother broke barriers and set a standard for me to follow. She always encouraged me to be open with her and talk about anything and not to follow what others believe in without questioning. Most of all she taught me how to be independent. 1 I married a wonderful man who always supported my study and personal development. He was offered a great job opportunity in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We spent eight years there, during which time I worked for a large multinational oil company as an executive officer to the Contracts and Procurement Division and the Secretary to the Contracts and Purchasing Committee. Budget preparation and monitoring, projects costing and contracts management were part of my duties. It was a real challenge and an opportunity I really enjoyed. I would have liked to continue my work in accounting, but in this area of the world women are restricted to certain professions and accounting was not one of them. Despite few career opportunities, I enjoyed our time in Abu Dhabi. The people, environment and lifestyle were great. I have such good memories of our time there and the great mix of people - a real opportunity to learn about other cultures. Making a decision to migrate After a few years in Abu Dhabi, it was time for us to plan where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do. We, my husband and I, came for a holiday to Perth to visit my uncle who migrated to Australia almost 30 years ago. We fell in love with the place and that is when it all started. My husband’s contract came to an end and we moved to Australia. We came here full of hope and aspirations, but it was not all that easy when we first arrived. My husband managed to secure a job and I was at home running the household and looking after my beautiful six-month old daughter. The first year was terrible. Apart from adapting to a new environment and lifestyle, our accent meant people looked at us strangely. Although I spoke English fluently, I was subjected to differential treatment. In many ways, I lost my self-esteem and confidence. After numerous unsuccessful applications for employment, I decided to take some courses. At university I studied English for Academics and Professionals. I also tackled some computer software and business communication courses. I felt I needed to upgrade my skills and learn something about my new country. I believe that if there is a will, there is a way. The motivation to do something or to achieve what you want has to come from within. You must be willing to do further studies along the way and if necessary to start from scratch. Do not be afraid to try different avenues. Ask for advice but be selective of whom you ask. People with a positive attitude and who are open-minded can point you in the right direction. It always helped me to break big tasks into small ones and take one step at a time. I believe migrants should attend courses that improve self-esteem as well as offer opportunities to learn about this culture. You will find that in that study environment, others will recognise your potential and offer you support or advice about where to go or what to do. Of course, you will not learn everything you need to know from taking courses, but it will help along the way. My public sector work experience has been good. I’ve been able to move from administrative work to doing what I want to do - accounting and finance. I feel I have been lucky. The turning point for me was when my manager and colleagues trusted my skills and ability and offered me higher duties. I think that it would be good for the Government to develop traineeship programs for new migrants with overseas qualifications and skills. That way, you can find out exactly what people can or cannot do. 1 15 16 Strengthening multiculturalism in the community One of the highlights for me since becoming an Australian Citizen was being appointed as a Justice of the Peace for the State of Western Australia in March 1999. I currently live in Secret Harbour, where we have built our own home. Susana, who is nearly eighteen, is completing her Year 12 and plans to study Law. She loves surfing and enjoys the freedom and open spaces. Eduardo Jr is in Year 10 and wants to become a carpenter/cabinet maker when he completes his schooling. He is into soccer and is a great fan of Perth Glory. Jes is working at Fremantle Hospital, where she first started in 1989 as a cleaner for the General Services Department. She currently works as a sterilisation technician in the theatres. Our family is actively involved in our local community through our residents’ association, the Naval Reserve Cadet scheme and the local community centre. I have set up my own private counselling service in the suburb where we live. As a member of the Portuguese community in Perth I became aware of the history of many of my country folk since they started arriving in Western Australia back in the early fifties. There is no doubt that things have changed a lot since then. I feel that there are many ways in which people from culturally and linguisticly diverse backgrounds can contribute to the strengthening of our multicultural society. At the local level they can do it by becoming involved in mainstream community groups and associations. In their own ethnic communities they can promote multiculturalism by assisting newly arrived migrants to keep their culture and traditions alive and pass them on to the younger generation. In their workplace people can contribute by making their fellow workers aware of their culture and beliefs and by being proud of it. At local, State and Federal levels, an increase in the diversity of Government workforces would most definitely contribute to an improvement in services to ethnic minorities. Together we can make a difference as the strength of a multicultural society lies in its rich diversity. The trip of a lifetime I was born in Monte Estoril, a small town on Portugal’s sunshine coast, on 17 May 1957. I married in 1979 and lived in Portugal with my wife Jes and two children, Eduardo Jr and Susana, until August 1988, when we decided to embark on the ‘trip of a lifetime’. I started my working life at the age of 17 as a ‘bell boy’ at one of Lisbon’s hotels. I progressed through the hospitality industry and worked as a barman, silver service waiter and front office receptionist until 1982. From 1982, until I left for Australia, I worked for a multinational car rental company as a rental sales agent. Migrating to Australia was a decision taken jointly and we have never looked back. Multilingualism pays off My first job in Western Australia was at Fremantle Hospital where I worked as a casualty clerk between 1988 and 1994. Interestingly enough I had been applying for a number of jobs since arriving in Australia and decided to apply for employment at Fremantle Hospital when I was there to see a doctor. At that time Fremantle Hospital recruited their own staff and for me this was a case where being sick was a real bonus! I believe my ability to speak four other languages fluently besides English came as an advantage over the ‘competition’. When I arrived in Australia, my Portuguese educational qualifications were assessed as being equivalent to Year 12. My decision to undertake further studies was made shortly after I started working. After a break of 12 years from studies I enrolled at TAFE, sat the TEE exams at John Curtin High School in 1989 and was accepted into the Bachelor of Social Work Course at Curtin University. I completed my Bachelor of Social Work degree with Upper Second Class Honours at the end of 1993 whilst working full-time. I am currently completing my Master of Social Work degree. Needless to say, I would not have been able to achieve this without Jes’ assistance and encouragement. I started working for Family and Children’s Services in their Fremantle District Office in May 1994 soon after graduating from the School of Social Work at Curtin University. 17 18 Proud of my mixed heritage I was born in Kuala Lumpur and spent my childhood growing up in a fishing village in Malaysia’s historical town, Malacca. Both my parents are of European and Asian descent. Our Portuguese, Irish, Malay and Chinese heritage, of which I am very proud, dates back to the 1500s. In Malaysia, people of my ethnicity were known as Eurasians and are a minority. Because my parents worked away in Kuala Lumpur, significant people in my childhood were my grandparents who looked after me in Malacca. Living with them, I learnt to speak and understand 16th century Portuguese. While English was my first language, I also learnt how to speak and write Malay at school. My grandparents migrated to Western Australia in 1978 to accompany my uncle who was studying Engineering at the then Institute of Technology, now Curtin University. At that time, my only brother was born. Unfortunately two months later, my father, a nationally known singer and musician, tragically passed away after a car accident. Even though my childhood was not an easy one, I believe I survived because of my determination to succeed and because of the support of neighbours, relatives and the Irish missionary nuns at the Catholic convent school I attended. When I was fifteen, my mother, brother and I migrated to Western Australia to be with our family. I vividly remember my first day at a co-ed Western Australian State school, which was very different from the all-girls convent that I was used to. I was happy not to have to wear a uniform or answer to prefects. I made friends easily and found my teachers to be very supportive. I was the top dance student in Year 11 and Year 12 and took part in many school concerts. Leaving school, university and getting my first office job After high school I went on to complete a Bachelor of Business degree, double majoring in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. While I was studying, I also performed in a dance troupe and worked part time as a shop assistant and waitress. My first office job was in the Western Australian public sector. I sat the Public Service Entrance Test and was appointed on a contract basis as a computer operator at the Bureau of Services. I worked on a rostered shift basis and met many interesting people. After that, I worked at the Government Employees Superannuation Board. I made many friends at GESB. The social interaction between staff was great and I attended many out of work staff functions. I also had a very supportive manager. However, as I was looking for an avenue to use my qualifications in Human Resources, I went on to work for the Director, Equal Opportunity in Public Employment. Again, I had a very supportive manager and met several supportive people of whom some became my mentors. I gained a permanent appointment to the public sector in 1996 and worked as a Research and Project Officer at the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Standards. Wanting to gain Human Resources experience in a line agency, I accepted a secondment opportunity to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia. At FESA, I’ve been able to broaden and add depth to my expertise in the Human Resources area. I’ve also been able to contribute positively towards equity initiatives by providing Equal Opportunity/Diversity Awareness Training, developing policies and Equal Opportunity/Diversity Management Plans. Once again, I have found my managers to be very supportive. For every problem there is a solution While writing my story, I realised that my success to date didn’t happen overnight. I still have many dreams and ambitions I would like to fulfill. However, I feel that I’m getting closer each day to realising them. I have learnt that to be successful in whatever chosen field, one must first visualise one’s dreams, then have staying power, self belief regardless of the obstacles and most importantly seek out positive role models and work with people of goodwill who are supportive. Treat being new to any circumstance such as a new country, new culture, new organisation or new profession as a positive challenge. View any obstacles with the confidence to overcome them. For every problem there is a solution. Have courage and never lose belief in yourself. 19 20 A fair go In my working environment I have generally found that people are fair. The WA Fire and Emergency Services is like one big family. Once you join, you’re part of that family. I believe also that the selection process for employees is reasonably fair. However, if you don’t have a reasonable command of English, you might experience difficulty performing many of your day to day duties. If I had to offer advice to other migrants about careers, it would say, “Know your job and do your job well. Work smart and hard and just be yourself because there’s not much point doing otherwise. Generally, people will respect you for who and what you are.” Family and community I migrated to Australia with my wife Stella and we have a son and a daughter, both of whom were born in Australia. However, keeping my language alive is important to me and, like my wife and I, my children are also multilingual and can speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin. My son is at university studying to be a physiotherapist, while my daughter is completing her TEE this year and hopes to become an optometrist. When my children were at primary school, I was a member of the Parents and Friends Association. I saw this as a way of getting involved in the community and doing my share. In my professional capacity I am a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers, which helps me keep abreast of new trends in my field. Leaving ‘home’ for new horizons I was born in Canton in southern China. The aftermath of the Japanese occupation of China and World War II drove my parents to seek a better life in Hong Kong and we moved from mainland China when I was just six weeks old. I was brought up and completed my schooling in Hong Kong. More than 24 years ago when I was 28 years old, I came to Australia. When I left school at 16 in Hong Kong, I worked with the Hong Kong Government in a clerical position. While I was working I studied part-time and earned a degree in Business Management. But, I’d always wanted to be a firefighter and when the opportunity arose, I joined the Hong Kong Fire Service. That was in 1968 when I was 19 and I’ve never looked back I believe that firefighting is one of the more fortunate professions. It’s not the glamorous job of which young boys dream, but it is exciting, crammed with new experiences almost daily. The hard work is balanced by the reward that comes from helping people. Starting over in Australia In 1976 I migrated to Western Australia and my experience in the Hong Kong Fire Service stood me in good stead. Internationally, the Hong Kong Fire Service has a reputation for excellence and my qualification and past experience was readily accepted by Western Australia’s Fire and Emergency Services. An important step for me after settling in Perth was to get recognition for my prior learning. Armed with this and a desire to improve my education and take on new challenges, I enrolled at UWA to study Physics and Mathematics. Studying again was very hard because there were too many things to which to adapt. It wasn’t the culture that I struggled with because the culture in Hong Kong is very westernised. I think I found it hard to study because I was older, but also at the same time I was trying to adapt to a new country, a new environment, a new job and a new lifestyle and above all possibly had left school for far too long. After 10 years as a firefighter in Western Australia I was appointed as a Station Officer. I don’t call my progress from Firefighter to Station Officer as success. To me, it’s like a natural progression. I didn’t find becoming a supervisor as any big challenge. Basically, there’s a job to do and I do it. I believe my strengths are that I am honest and able to treat people fairly. Someone to look up to When I moved to Perth, I knew that the ex Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Fire Service, Ronald Cox was living here. I made a point of meeting with him and we have become friends. He is someone I looked up to, a guide and an inspiration. I admire the insight he has into firefighting and know that he is held in high regard throughout the world. 21 22 Memories of a unique Indian childhood I am the sum of multiple roles, multiple positions - I’m a mother, a migrant woman, a wife and a worker in the human services industry. I was born in Bombay, a sprawling metropolis on the west coast of India, in 1961. My father was a master mariner in the merchant navy, so I was brought up by a mother, whose attitude was “girls can do anything” and “my girls can do no wrong”. Family stories were often about women. One I remember well was about my grandmother’s sister who lost her husband at fourteen and in the tradition of the time shaved her hair and wore white. My grandmother brought her to Bombay and sent her to school much to the disgust of the community and my grandfather - an act of defiance in a culture that viewed widows as harbingers of bad luck. Social justice issues were part of family life. I vividly remember the “poor slum” near my grandmother’s house. Every evening she would give away our left over food. She was also their unofficial money-lender, fight-breaker and advisor. The starving millions were not something on television but something I confronted daily. My middle-class upbringing ‘dictated’ that a university degree was a must, so I attended university. Armed with a degree, I worked for two years as a volunteer with a child sponsorship program, while completing a Masters in Sociology. With my Masters came a paid position with the same organisation. I was later involved in founding an organisation that works with slum and pavement dwellers. Today this organisation works in fifteen cities in India. These were heady times. Lured by Australia’s wide open spaces I migrated to Australia in 1992. My reasons, like those of every other migrant, were myriad. My partner’s employment as a marine engineer allowed us to visit many places - Australia was one. I was captivated by the open spaces and decided if ever I left ‘home’ it would be for Australia. Connecting with women in Australia proved to be relatively easy after my work in Bombay. I was skilled in meeting and negotiating with Government agencies and officials and used to calling on people I did not know to solicit information. Empowering the women I worked with to seek information heightened my ability to ferret out relevant information. It was during one of many meetings with women’s organisations that I encountered the acronym NESB. While members of the Ethnic Communities Council’s Women’s sub-committee were discussing NESB women I sat wondering, until the kind person next to me offered an explanation, “non English speaking background women”. That was my baptism to ‘the word’ which has dictated my multiple roles over the past seven years. Being a NESB woman has strongly influenced where I work and the way in which I value the kind of work I do. I have worked as a resource worker with housing collectives and as a community settlement scheme worker. I’ve worked on Migrant Access projects with Relationships Australia and Family Planning, as a coordinator for a Mental Health project and as regional coordinator with the Perth Western Suburbs Domestic Violence Regional Committee. I currently work for Family and Children’s Services as one of two Community Development Coordinators in the North East Zone. Other than work I have a life! I have two great kids and a great husband. And, I’m writing a thesis for a Masters in Social Science that is taking up a lot of my time. Not surprisingly, the topic covers NESB women in the Human Services and their multiple positionings. I also find time to be a Committee Member of the Catholic Migrant Centre. 23 Breaking the ethnic mould In hindsight, the regional coordinator position was my first big break, working with all sectors of the community. For me this was a logical extension of my capabilities. Work prior to that had been dictated by my ethnicity, as they were projects to increase access to services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Being stuck in the position of being the ‘ethnic expert’ was an easy option for me and for the organisation. My ethnicity - my accent, skin colour and looks - all contributed towards authenticating the ‘expert’ tag. Escaping this box was the hardest barrier to overcome, especially internally. It was a challenge to be able to say to myself, “ I can do it” and give myself permission to talk on behalf of the larger Australian community not just the ‘ethnics’, especially when my mind had been colonised to believe “ I am a migrant”. There are external barriers too. These I find subtle and harder to pin point. I know they are there, but I can’t touch them or name them and that makes them harder to overcome. Questions like “Are you the one who works with the multicultural people?” give me the feeling that I’m guilty until proven innocent. It also means that I push harder and place high expectations on myself. Coming into a culture as an outsider often means I have to work twice as hard to decode and gain benefits, personally and professionally. I can’t take anything for granted and that means constantly seeking information, learning networks and the politics that go with it. The need to know is an important survival tool for me. People born and brought up in Australia often take ‘the system’ for granted, whereas for ‘an outsider’ survival depends on knowledge. In my current position, I liaise with a number of agencies both Government and non-government and represent the zone on a number of forums and networks. I often feel like I wear two hats one for the Department and the other for culturally and linguistically diverse women. But I never lose sight of what is most important to me - keeping my integrity and being ethical and transparent in all I do. I’ve also found that in my ‘difference’ I am able to connect with the various ethno-specific agencies and community groups and increase their access to services and knowledge of the system. My greatest strength Believing in myself has been my greatest strength. I also have a strong network of friends whom I can rely on when my own strength is low. Above all I believe that one has to do what one considers right. Uphold your integrity and everything falls into place. 24 Branching out in a new direction The experience I gained defined my career direction in Human Resources, resulting some nine years later in my being approached by the proprietors of Perth’s newest luxury hotel to consider joining their international company as Human Resource and Training Manager. The job gave me a unique opportunity to implement aspects of my own thinking in terms of the organisation’s cultural and ethnic mix in employment. The corporation was committed to fostering diversity in its staffing mix to cater to its international clientele. It was one of the first hotels in Perth to show a multicultural face at its reception, in its food and beverage operations and its housekeeping services. At one count its employees represented 40 different countries. People from different ethnic backgrounds were employed at all levels; their teamwork ignored cultural and racial differences and established collaborative partnerships contributing to the success of the hotel. The hotel won a host of national and international awards including a Gold Plate Award for a restaurant managed by an Egyptian maître d; Waiter of the Year won by an Indian and Wine Waiter of the Year won by an Italian. It was also the first five star hotel in Perth to become involved in the State Government employment and training initiatives. My work in this area prompted me to take an interest in employment in the public sector and I joined the then Department of Employment and Training in 1987. Public sector opportunity The public sector provides a much wider scope for influencing thinking and implementing change. Broader client focus, greater transparency and community accountability provide opportunities for implementing strategies and reforms that address the needs of all groups. I noted that whilst a greater acceptance and understanding existed in the public sector for cultural difference, there was a need for migrant employees to talk about their history and culture. I was eager and felt privileged to talk about my Anglo-Indian culture. I found among colleagues an eagerness to learn more about my community, its values and culture and that my willingness to share information increased levels of inclusion and understanding. My work at the Department of Employment and Training provided an opportunity to work with young people. As the project coordinator of the Work Skill Australia competitions and the Apprentice and Trainee of the Year programs, I gained insight into how young Australians of all cultures and persuasions are accepting and understanding of other cultures. Currently, as an employee of the Education Department of Western Australia, I work in Human Resource Policy and Planning. I have participated in a number of culturally-based initiatives, including the development of the Department’s Anti-Racism Policy and its Culturally Sensitive Grievance Procedures. I also work with the team progressing the Department’s Aboriginal Employment and Career Action Plan, which makes a commitment to increasing employment opportunities for Aboriginal people and advancing the career opportunities of the Department’s Aboriginal employees. Proud to be Australian, but ... As an Australian travelling overseas, even to India, I’m proud to talk about Australian multiculturalism. I take great pleasure in dwelling on the formula that has made Australia the most successful multicultural society in the world. However, I am conscious that there are still people in our community who experience racial stereotyping and prejudice arising from fear and ignorance, because they look or talk differently. Our challenge is to educate those who don’t know how to appreciate and respect difference in all its cultural and social forms. We readily indulge in the culinary delights that migrants have brought to this country, how about us going one step further and learning about the people themselves and appreciating them as we do their food. 26 Eight dollars still goes a long way Eight dollars was all the money I was allowed to take out of India when I emigrated. As a young person full of hope and adventure and on the threshold of making a new life in Australia, that minor detail didn’t bother me. I didn’t blame the Indian government. They had to manage a very poor nation and foreign exchange leaving the country would cause further hardship. I had faith in my own ability to secure employment as soon as I landed in Australia. On 5 October 1975 with the princely sum of $8 in my pocket, I arrived in Australia. There were no hostels then for migrants from India and immigration visas were subject to arranging your own accommodation with relatives and friends. No accommodation - no visa! But, what about employment? As a commerce graduate of a leading university in India, I thought that my education and experience with the British-Indian Chamber of Commerce would easily secure me administrative work. No such luck! Employers overlooked my degree, skills and experience because I did not have Australian experience! “What was this foreign, highly important and very specific, work-related qualification?” I asked myself. Completing accounts here would require the same double entry bookkeeping system I’d used in India. Drafting a business letter, the same format I’d used at the Chamber of Commerce. I could not grasp this concept of ‘Australian experience’ that was so critical that it overshadowed all my other skills and competencies. After four weeks of pounding pavements and forming calluses on my telephone-dialling finger, I got a job as an administrator in a very old, very traditional Australian organisation. The first Indian migrant employed by the firm. I later discovered the Managing Committee had reservations about my appointment because they felt that I’d run home to India as soon as things got tough! The work, although similar to my previous job, contained some new elements and responsibilities. As a test, on the third day, I was asked by a Committee member to calculate the weekly wages of his employees and have it ready for him the next morning. No guessing how I spent that evening and most of the night! I poured over the Award in the minutest detail, came to grips with its complexity and then calculated the time and wage sheets. Thankfully the calculations were correct, plus the task secured me a greater reward. It won me the respect and friendship of the Committee member and secured my tenure in my first job in Australia. 25 A truly multicultural childhood I was born in Bangkok, Thailand to a culturally diverse family. My maternal grandfather, an Arab Sheikh, was a diplomat in Thailand where he met and married my maternal grandmother, a Thai/Chinese Muslim. My mother was born in Burma. My grandfather died very young and my grandmother returned to Thailand with her children. My father was Indian, from the Kshatriya caste and a Hindu. My parents met in Thailand and eventually married, much to the dismay of both families. The Muslim/Hindu issue remained a point of conflict between the two families. My father was an accountant while my mother was a university lecturer. She specialised in languages, especially French and English. After many years of teaching, she became a school inspector, training teachers and monitoring their compliance with set curricula. My mother was an excellent teacher and a big influence in my life. She was born in 1920, when women generally did not go to university, let alone work. As a woman with Arabic roots, there was even more pressure on her not to challenge the understood, often unspoken values and expectations of women. But challenge them she did. She ventured where others would never have thought of going - even living with my father for six years before they married. My father was also a strong influence. He was an outspoken person, with a strong sense of social justice. He was very involved in the Indian community in Bangkok, speaking out against racism and fighting for rights of Indians living in Thailand. When I was eight years old, my sister and I were sent to boarding school in India. Situated in the spectacularly beautiful Himalayas, the school was Scottish, a remnant of the old British Raj. The teachers were mainly Scottish and many were missionaries. My memories of schooling there are all wonderful. There were many Indian students from Thailand and this created a common bond a real sense of sisterhood. It also helped to be away from the racism we’d experienced in Thailand. Coming to Australia was a shock In 1969 my father died and in 1970, my sister and I were sent to school in New South Wales. The move was an attempt by my mother to avoid the inevitable family conflict. Moving to Australia was very traumatic. I struggled with the recent loss of my father and the need to adapt to a new country. The “White Australian Policy” was still in place and I recall having to sit a stringent language test at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. Most of the Thais did not pass and were therefore not eligible for a student visa. I remember being nervous but feeling I had something to prove. The first thing I remember about Australia was seeing so many white faces. We were amongst the first Asians to board at the school. As we were approaching the school, we could see the student boarders hanging out of the windows, staring at us. I felt like we were on show. Our first meal in Australia was cheese and salad. My sister and I looked at each other and simultaneously burst into tears - I still despise cheese and salad. Establishing friendships was difficult. Jokes seemed to have a subtle racist twist and there appeared to be a level of nastiness that was accepted and tolerated. I remember that terms like ‘wogs’ and ‘slant eyes’ were common and accepted. The teachers were not very encouraging and seemed to support the sub-culture of differential treatment. But I didn’t take it lying down. I was very assertive and that got me into trouble. I was branded a stirrer, a ringleader and blamed for most things. However, I remember one teacher, Ms Lewis, a New Zealander, who was very supportive and encouraging. I believe she kept me going. 27 “Growing up” in Western Australia Soon after finishing school I got married and my ex-husband and I moved to Melbourne. In 1978 we were transferred to Perth. I like being in Perth - it made me feel less isolated as it is closer to Thailand. In many ways, I grew up in Perth. I attended University here, gaining degrees in Social Science and Social Work. I also completed a four year-course in Gestalt Therapy training. I wanted to be a social worker because I feel that I have something to offer. I wanted to work with children or the elderly, because I feel that the very old and very young in society get unfairly treated. I started my career in the public sector in 1984 working for Family and Children Services. I love doing what I do, however, working for an organisation like Family and Children Services always has its down side - it’s disheartening to see the same cases coming back. Important influences There are a number of people who’ve impacted on my working life. Joe Georke was my first supervisor. He was a compassionate man. From him I learned about being patient and being focused on what it was we were doing in our work. I remember him saying, “If you’re working just for the money, then it’s not enough.” He stressed the need to keep re-affirming your commitment to the job. Another important influence was Peter Stevens. He was my supervisor when I worked in the Murchison and later in the Perth office. He was very child-focused and extremely organised and efficient. Another important career influence was being part of the Ethnic Team, formed to promote an interagency service response to the needs and interest of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The team worked to raise cross-cultural awareness with departmental field staff. There were twelve or thirteen languages spoken between the team members, which was wonderful. After hours Apart from my part-time work commitment to Family and Children Services, I also teach silk ribbon embroidery and the Thai language and conduct Thai cooking classes. I love entertaining and I’m always having friends over for dinner. I’m also currently studying gemmology - the study of gemstones and rare minerals. It’s interesting and very different from social work. I care for my very old mother and young son. My son and I spend time in our garden - he waters and I prune. I think that people need to be self-motivated, because work is hard and not always rewarding. People need to have an ideal that they can strive for and not just keep working even when they are ‘burnt out’. 28 ...where equity is concerned, Western Australia has made great strides, but still has many more roads to travel. “It’s a journey that moves from life to life and generation to generation. Every step we take is a step in the journey. Some are more positive and others are less. You know the saying, two steps forward, one step backward. In many ways, equity is like that.” CONCLUSION Western Australia’s multi-cultural society has a high participation rate of migrants in the workforce. Yet research shows that it has one of the most segregated workforces amongst Organisations for Economic Cooperation Development countries. Research conducted by the Boston Consulting Group for the Karpin Report highlighted the need for managers to develop organisations that manage and value diversity. If the Western Australian public sector is to keep abreast of current workplace reforms, it needs to ensure that it attracts, develops and retains the best and brightest people available. Diversity is about good management and workplace change. An organisation that values diversity is one which has a high tolerance of difference, one which demonstrates that it values different management styles and ways of working and is committed to management practices which are inclusive and empowering for all its staff. The stories of the employees in this publication highlight successes in cultural diversity and adaptation. Every time someone from another cultural or racial background enters the public sector, they bring with them a wealth of skills, experience and qualifications. The potential is enormous. And we say to all of you, “Your contribution makes a difference!” Your assistance, whether it is in the position of an administrative assistant or as a CEO, impacts on those around you. Your stories are significant not only for those who work with you, but also for those who have their own stories and experiences to share. Too much similarity in a workplace is detrimental to the organisation’s ability to adapt to change or to respond to the changing expectations of the workforce and customer base. The Western Australian public sector is beginning to recognise the value of differences in staff profiles as well as similarities and is seeking to adopt a more strategic and inclusive approach to the management of its people resource. 2nd Floor 81 St Georges Terrace, Perth Western Australia 6000 Telephone 08 9426 8690 Facsimile 08 9426 8691 Email: harmony@ocmi.wa.gov.au www.ocmi.wa.gov.au 26th Floor AMP Building 140 St Georges Terrace Perth Western Australia 6000 Telephone: 08 9214 6600 Facsimile: 08 9214 6611 Email: deope@opssc.wa.gov.au www.oeeo.wa.gov.au ISBN 0-7307-1290-7