Intercultural Ambassador Program

My name is Risa Arimoto. I came to Australia in November 2017 from Japan. I’ve been living in Bendigo with my husband since I landed in Australia.

When I first came to Australia my biggest fear was that I would not be able to find a community because of the language barrier. Communication was difficult, and at first I felt very isolated. Studying English at TAFE helped me a lot. Last year I started studying business. I am now able to take classes with local students and this fact boosted my confidence. During my leisure time I learn the Chinese language and play table tennis.

Having gone through a difficult time of moving to a new country I would like to use my experience and help others in the community who are going through the same difficulties that I went through.

I am Arianne Ballantyne, born and raised in the Philippines. I moved to Australia to further study my profession as an overseas trained pharmacist. Since then, I have been volunteering my spare time in Filipino community activities whenever I can.

I have always been passionate about sharing my culture with others, which led me to opening a Filipino cafe in Bendigo.

I joined the Intercultural Ambassadors Program to share my struggles and experiences from when I was an isolated international student. I want to assist not just international students, but every new migrant to feel more welcome and at home in the Greater Bendigo.

My name is Jaismine Kaur Bhangu. I am a pilot student and an intercultural ambassador from Sri Muktsar Sahib, a small but culturally and historically rich town in Punjab, India. Currently, I am working towards earning my pilot’s license, driven by my passion for aviation and the boundless opportunities it presents.

Beyond my training, I am deeply committed to fostering cross-cultural understanding and bridging gaps between diverse communities. I believe that aviation, much like cultural exchange, has the unique power to connect people from all walks of life. As I continue my journey, I aspire to not only soar through the skies as a future pilot but also to serve as a global ambassador - proudly representing my heritage while building meaningful connections across cultures.

I am Hetty Chidziva, a wife and mother of 3. I am also an early childhood educator and advocacy consultant. I am passionate about empowering people, championing them and enabling them to reach their individual goals in life.

I am a firm believer in the next generation of humans - our children! I believe they don’t deserve to carry the burdens of animosity and division from generations past. They deserve a harmonious world which requires work to be done today to foster that harmony. This can be achieved through exposure to, acceptance and celebration of the cultures we encounter in our everyday lives - but, this work needs to be done today, in our time!

I am willing, able and ready to work with everyone who shares these beliefs. Let’s do this!

My name is Annie Christopher and I was born in Kerala which is called ‘Gods own country’ in southern India. Bendigo has been my home since 2010. I now work as a nurse unit manager of a psycho-geriatric nursing home.

My two daughters were raised and studied in Bendigo and I am very proud that they are now doctors. My husband, a chef, believes that the magic of food is the art of generating and creating happiness to win peoples mind and heart.

I always wanted to be a cultural hero blending values, passion and team work, creating an environment that is not just functional but inspiring for the whole community.

I love dancing as I believe that dancing automatically conveys, history, customs, values and culture, without the need for a common language.

Being an Intercultural ambassador gives me an opportunity to collaborate on projects and be innovative and promote awareness and acceptance of Multiculturalism in Bendigo.

My name is Valentine Joe. I am a Christian man who grew up in Zimbabwe. I arrived in Australia with my family when I was sixteen years old. There were many surprises when we arrived, the two that remain in my mind are how filling the food here is - especially the bread. I would never feel full after a single sandwich back then. I was also shocked at the weather - the humidity of Queensland was nothing like the dry heat I had known before.

After school, I spent some time travelling around Australia, including to Bendigo. When I realised that I didn’t want to live in a big City, I came back to Bendigo and have made my home here. I really like the sense of community here.

I am passionate about inclusion of people from different communities including the culturally diverse communities. I am committed to helping the disadvantaged and my work is motivated by diversity and inclusion in all its forms.

My name is May Soe Phyu, and my journey to Australia began in 2012 as a backpacker. After two incredible years on a working holiday, I fell in love with this country. In 2018, I took a significant step and moved here permanently with my then-partner and my beloved daughter.

The transition to New South Wales on the first year was not easy for me and my little girl. As new migrants, we faced lots of challenges and often felt isolated, yearning for support and a sense of belonging. I desperately sought a community where we could connect and feel understood.

In 2020, I was given the opportunity to choose a new place to start afresh in Australia, and by chance, I selected Bendigo. That decision turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life! From the moment we arrived in Bendigo to where we are today, I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support of the incredible people and organizations around us. No words can truly express my gratitude for the warmth we’ve received.

Now, as a participant in the Intercultural Ambassador program, I am eager to give back to this beautiful community. I hope to help others, like myself, find their place in Bendigo and make it a home filled with belonging and connection.

I am Surya Pratiwi, a young women from Indonesia. I came to Australia as a backpacker in 2019. Now I am living here and studying community services. I work in three jobs, I work with migrant women around Bendigo, I am also a support worker for people with disability, and on weekends, I am a kids entertainer, doing games with giant bubbles.

My motto in life is “Memayu Hayuning Bawana” a traditional Japanese philosophy to do good for ourselves, human beings, living things, and all nature.

I am Maria, a dedicated community worker, a proud mum of a 2 year old, and I am originally from Brazil. Having lived in Australia for almost 10 years, I have developed a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of intercultural living.

I am a passionate Disability Support Coordinator, working closely with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, advocating for equitable access to services and supporting people with disabilities in navigating their daily lives. I have a strong interest in mental health and promoting awareness and reducing stigma within the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community.

As an Intercultural Ambassador, I look forward to creating spaces where people from all backgrounds can share experiences, foster mutual understanding, and support one another. I am dedicated to promoting empathy, respect, and collaboration, contributing to a more inclusive and resilient community.

Outside of my professional role, I enjoy traveling both within Australia and abroad, embracing new cultures and experiences. I also love spending time with family and friends.

My name is Garima Solanki, and I hail from India. I have been happily married for several years and am the proud mother of two wonderful kids. I moved to Bendigo 16 years ago due to an arranged marriage, and this beautiful community has become my home.

I am passionate about becoming an ambassador for interfaith and multicultural programs as I believe in the power of connection and understanding among diverse communities.

My goal is to share my culture and experiences while also learning from others, fostering positive relationships that promote harmony and enrich our lives. I truly aspire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those around me and contribute to a vibrant, inclusive community.

My name is Thuy and I was born in Vietnam. I moved to New South Wales in 2006 and in 2020 I came to Bendigo. I am now settling into my life here.

I like to help people and I have high empathy and compassion for people. I am willing to contribute to helping people when I can make time. I like to work and join the community for events and activities such as cooking or bazaar day. I used to join Sister-work organisation for training courses and help at events.

I love to learn more about diversity and culture. I am glad to be an Intercultural Ambassador in which I can share Vietnamese culture, helping new Vietnamese comers who find English to be a barrier for settling into life in Bendigo or new comers from different cultures. I would like to share my experiences to settling my life in Australia, arrange and help other people to connect in community, build development and leadership skills through my work as an Ambassador.

I would like to contribute any of my skills in community. If I can, I would like to focus on organising culture events, training sessions, cooking classes or food stall exhibitions. Through community works I can meet up and socialise with people and learn from others.