I came to Australia from Malaysia six years ago, right after becoming a widow, with my six-year-old boy. I was studying business, my son was going to school. We managed it, but it wasn’t a smooth ride.
Soon after, I remarried, thinking I had a second chance at having love again – and a family. But it didn’t turn out like that. I still remember that fateful day, on 7 February last year, when I hit rock bottom. I didn’t have anything. I didn’t know anyone. I only had a few dollars. I used the money to buy my son a Happy Meal at Macca’s. I thought about ending it. But because of my son, I kept going.
I got help from the police, from organisations, and in November last year I started with the Women’s Workforce. When I first came for the interview, I was a bit scared, because I’d been out of work for nine years. I’d been raising my son, and I did my business diploma, and then COVID happened. I tried and tried, but I couldn’t get a job. I used to be a secretary in Malaysia, but I found it so difficult to get a job in Australia – no-one would hire me because I had no Australian work experience. But The Big Issue hired me and my life changed forever.
The first day, I was so nervous, everybody was so quiet, but within an hour everybody was chatting – the ladies were talking and it didn’t feel strange. I could relate, because most of us have similar experiences, and when we spoke about it, I didn’t feel like I was the only one going through these things.
It has empowered me; it’s given me hope. Now that my son is a teenager, he’s a bit more independent. Now that I’ve got the extra time, and working here, and being with these wonderful people and having a lovely boss, it’s allowed me to interact, to understand the Australian culture. I’ve studied, I’ve got my experience, and it’s given me a chance to actually use my experience. It may seem like a small task, but the Women’s Workforce has made such a huge impact for me. The financial freedom! Another dollar in my account, and it will only multiply: things will get better from here. That freedom I have, like I can breathe again, like it’s going to be okay.
It is my stepping stone, because I got two jobs from working here – I’ve just got a job in admin, and I asked my new boss if I could go part-time so that I can keep my job at The Big Issue, too. It’s more than a stepping stone, it’s an escalator! And when I told the other women, they were so excited. We lift each other up.
One day, I want to expand on my energy healing business. I’ve studied Pranic healing, and have started my own side hustle, which I’ve been doing from home. I want to keep building it. This time last year I was crying my eyeballs out, feeling scared and hopeless but having faith in God and not giving up. Now look at me! Stronger than ever. Things just keep moving from here on.
Gen works at The Big Issue’s Women’s Workforce in Perth.
Interview by Mel Fulton
Photo by Daniel Carson
Published in ed#731