With quality education in mind, Juan’s family encouraged him to explore Perth as an option, as his aunt had already called the city home for a decade and Indonesia has a close connection to Western Australia.
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Juan secured a spot at the University of Western Australia (UWA), a high-quality university in Perth, and packed his bags. He joined more than 1,200 Indonesian students currently studying in Western Australia, drawn to the state because of its proximity to home and one-hour time difference.
Sinking his teeth into a Bachelor of Computer Science in 2022, Juan decided early on that to get the most out of his time in Perth, he needed to do more than live with his aunt.
“In my first six months I realised I needed to try and immerse myself here,” he reflects. “I’m not really into going into Indonesian communities because, I was thinking, why would you come here if you just want to stay in your comfort zone?”
With that decision, Juan moved in with students in the heart of Perth and together they tackled the culture shock that comes from moving countries. “This is a strange thing, culture shock,” he observes. However, one of the only difficult things Juan found he had to adjust to was Perth’s business hours. “In Indonesia, they usually open until 10pm or 11pm, so you can hang out in the shopping mall.”
Juan easily transitioned into the Australian way of life thanks to familiar weather – the hot, sunny Perth climate is comparable to the tropical climate and warm waters of Indonesia – and many local stores where he could find his favourite snacks that reminded him of home. “To be honest, most things can be found here, especially Asian groceries,” he says. He also believes that connecting early with the volunteering community in Perth was pivotal in immersing himself and connecting with new friends and organisations.
“One of the first things I did when I came here was volunteer, thanks to the Guild volunteering program at UWA. It provided so many opportunities for me,” Juan says.
After three to four months, he had enough experience through volunteering to list this on his resumé, helping to secure his first job at a fast-food restaurant and then at a grocery store, before moving on towards office-based roles. He currently works as a medical records officer for the Child and Adolescent Health Service at Perth Children’s Hospital, as he completes his studies.