While I was researching occupational health among migrants workers in Australia, I heard so many narratives of skilled newcomers who faced injuries due to the lack of skills to work in physically demanding jobs, earning meagre #wagesandsalaries; the sad thing is that they never reported their incidents as they were fearful of end up losing their jobs or being discriminated and harassed in the workplace.
Something else that I saw during my #research time was the situation of many migrant workers who came to Australia by themselves, leaving their families behind while they came to Australia to make enough money to bring their families along. The family separation due to #migration also contributed to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
And some of the other reasons #migrantworkers felt lonely were a lack of self-confidence, a supportive network, and language barriers which could limit their ability to connect with others and understand what was happening around them.
While listening to migrant workers' narratives, I often saw myself through their stories. I related to their feelings of isolation, misunderstanding and disconnection during my journey as a newcomer. It took me a while to become aware of the missing parts of the puzzle. I faced many dark moments, some very, very scary moments, and many times I even thought there was no reason to continue to pursue my life career dream in a new land…
That is why I have the #mission to support #newcomers to find themselves in their new land. I have been there, lived there, and left that space behind, consciously knowing what I can do to help others.
If you are in a new country, feeling isolated and facing high stress and anxiety levels, be sure you are not alone. Many great people can help you, and #support you in moving forward.
Wherever you are, contact community organisations and services, like migrant advocacy groups, settlement agencies, community health care or even your ethnic community group. Someone is always keen to help; however, you must ask for help without shame but with true resilience.
An excellent resource for you: https://www.myservices.org.au
"Bringing Dreams to Reality - Holding Your Hand while You Find Your Feet " Cema Santos 👣
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