Listen to this articleThis issue discusses mental health and may bring up topics that can cause mental distress. If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please call Lifeline on 131114, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or 000 for immediate help.
I am African American. Born in Andalusia, Alabama, raised in California, and spent a decade in Philadelphia before migrating to Sydney in 2008. I came with my now ex-husband who was transferred from his Philadelphia-based company to the Sydney headquarters.
In Philadelphia, I held the position of Vice President of Development for a medium sized company. I was also a politician, serving as Commissioner of African American Affairs for the state of Pennsylvania. I gave it all up for love and a new adventure in Australia.
I never had Australia on my radar of potential places to live overseas, it just kind of happened. I gave up everything for what felt like a world wind romance at the time, the stuff fairy tales are made of. What I didn’t know then was that my life would never be the same both personally and professionally.
ARRIVAL AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Currently, I work in the higher education sector and have done so for over a decade in Australia.
When I arrived in 2008, my initial impression of Australia wasn’t the best. It was on Melbourne Cup Day. There were drunk people everywhere. Later I found out it was ‘the race that stops the nation,’ lol.
My husband and I at the time found Australians to be a fun bunch and the environment was fairly quiet. I didn’t hear near constant police sirens like I was used to in Philadelphia.
Workplace differences, including ‘tall poppy syndrome’
Soon after we arrived, I landed a part-time job working in a non-profit. The work environment in Australia is VERY different from in the U.S.
My staff were serious about work life balance; at 4:49 pm it was a ghost town in the office. I also struggled to adjust to the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ idea which is the exact opposite of how we approach the workplace in the U.S.
Cutting down the ‘tall poppy’ is what Aussies do to people they think are too ambitious. For Americans, it is all about standing out; but for Australians, it’s all about blending in.
But there have been some unfortunate similarities in my treatment between both countries. As a Black woman in a senior executive role – which is not the norm in America and even less so in Australia — I have had to deal with several challenges in the workforce.
Back home, I was vice president of a company in Bethesda, Maryland that had never had a black, female executive. My white colleagues would make frequent ‘jokes’ about how I got my position and would frequently call me a ‘bitch’ (in jest, of course).
So, racism at work is not something I’m a stranger to, but I’ve still been surprised at some of my encounters in the Aussie workplace. While working at The University of Technology, Sydney, I was participating in a meeting about respecting the traditional (Aboriginal) owners of the land, something that is very important here in Australia.
During the meeting, one of the other members of the meeting – a white, Australian man – said, “this is really challenging; like dealing with niggers in a woodpile.” The comment made national news.
Culture shock around ‘black’ identity
I worked in the Indigenous space for over nine years, and it was there that I confronted a pretty significant culture shock. Technically a person of African descent isn’t ‘Black’ in Australia; that term relates to Indigenous Australians.
I found this a particular challenge because I have only ever identified as Black. However, I used this new understanding to become an ally to First Nations communities and to build trust with my colleagues. As a result, I was able to co-create a fundraising campaign to develop Australia’s first Indigenous Residential college, designed to ‘remove the barriers that prevent Indigenous participation in higher education and the broader economy,’ which is due to open in 2027.
I found this a particular challenge because I have only ever identified as Black. However, I used this new understanding to become an ally to First Nations communities and to build trust with my colleagues. As a result, I was able to co-create a fundraising campaign to develop Australia’s first Indigenous Residential college, designed to ‘remove the barriers that prevent Indigenous participation in higher education and the broader economy,’ which is due to open in 2027.
I think the opportunity to excel in Australia is far greater than in the U.S. The number of roles available based on my qualifications is greater; the pay is higher; benefits are better; and you have much more time off which is great, especially because I love to travel internationally.
Dating and other Challenges
The Aussie workplace may be a bright spot for me, but the Aussie dating pool is a different animal entirely. I am now divorced and find the dating scene in Australia to be terrible. The calibre of men, especially men of colour, is limited. I might have to import a husband.
For women of colour looking to migrate, I would advise them to make sure they’ve set realistic expectations both personally and professionally. Get connected into an existing community if one is available. If one isn’t, don’t be afraid to create one. I did; I am the founder of the Melbourne chapter of the Sisters in Australia and New Zealand. I created the group in October 2022 with 4 other black women and now the group is over 300 women strong.
We network, provide support, advise each other, and gather socially which is important. There are very few of us and it is important to feel seen, heard, and have a sense of belonging. I think it’s important that we connect with each other and support each other. Living and working in Australia as a migrant, woman of colour is not for the faint hearted but if you lean into it, it’s a great place with a lot of potential.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Brigette Sancho
Brigette Sancho is the Senior Director of Alumni and Donor Relations at the University of Melbourne where she is responsible for both strategy development and overseeing operations to engage a growing alumni community of over 470,000 and countless donors globally. Brigette has over 20 years of experience both in the US and Australia in strategic planning, economic development, public-private partnerships, alumni engagement and community relations. She is also a specialist in fundraising for Indigenous education and research.
