Blog: My Life as a New Migrant
Adapting to a new culture and learning a new language is a struggle that almost all migrants experience, including myself.
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Adapting to a new culture and learning a new language is a struggle that almost all migrants experience, including myself. Like a newborn, you must start from the beginning and learn how to speak, walk, act, and fit in. At the same time, you are also expected to keep your culture and traditions alive and meet your parents’ expectations. It takes time, effort, and an open mindset to achieve that. It also requires support from people around you to learn the basics, such as how to use buses and trains, withdraw money, apply for school and apply for Centrelink services.
Moving from Syria to Australia five years ago was a massive change for me and my small family. This movement required us to adapt to a new lifestyle quickly. While we were very excited to live in a safe country full of opportunities, fear of the unknown was always present. We settled in Fairfield, an area dominated mainly by migrants from the Middle East who spoke our language and have a similar cultural identity to ours. This made it a bit easier for my parents to feel welcome. However, being unfamiliar with the Australian lifestyle and not speaking the language made it very difficult for us to access essential services and information, find a job, establish new connections, join new communities, reconnect with families and networks, and apply for primary documents. We realised that we needed to learn to survive in this country and build a future, but we were unsure who to ask and where to get this type of support from.
During my first school break, a neighbour approached me and said in Arabic, “CORE has many free activities for young people like you; you should join,” and handed me a flyer. I brought out my phone, went to Google, typed “translate,” and scanned the photo to understand what the flyer was advertising. It listed several activities such as a drawing workshop, swimming lessons, and a visit to the Australian Museum in the city, among others. I got so excited, and through some help from Fairfield residents, I learned how to get to the CORE office in Fairfield.
Everyone at CORE was so welcoming and understanding, and some were migrants themselves. Speaking my language and having similar experiences to mine made me feel safe and comfortable. I felt comfortable enough to ask what other services CORE provides. I was shown a comprehensive list, including youth services, aged care services, NDIS, preschool programs, and community hubs. My family accessed NDIS and youth services, which were particularly beneficial. Youth services allowed me to get to know new people and form new friendships and connections – during one of the most important stages of my life, my teenage years!
CORE became my sanctuary, where I could speak my mind, seek advice and find the support I needed.
Currently, I am a volunteer at CORE in the Marketing and Communication Department. I am excited about contributing to an organisation that has helped me at one of my most challenging times.
Media Contact:
Lotus Lopez
media@corecs.org.au
Adapting to a new culture and learning a new language is a struggle that almost all migrants experience, including myself.
On 20 May, CORE Community Services hosted the first Roundtable discussion with Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda and several other