Yu-Ju's story

About Yu-Ju

Starting fresh in a new country

Yu-Ju makes a bold decision to move from Taiwan.

Adjusting to a new culture

Yu-Ju improves her communication skills through AMEP at Swinburne.

Supporting trade students

Yu-Ju helps other migrants navigate the Australian job market.

From self-employed to starting over

Yu-Ju ran her own consultancy business in Taiwan, delivering training packages to organisations in the corporate and higher education sectors. Migrating to Australia in 2023 with her young family, Yu-Ju initially enrolled in Swinburne’s Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) as her pathway to local employment.

She engaged with a volunteer program as part of AMEP, increasing her communication skills and her understanding of the education system in Australia. It was here she recognised that a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment would enable her to utilise her existing skills and experience in an Australia.

Finding a way through

Swinburne gave Yu-Ju the support she needed and recognised her value from her skills and capability – not based on her English knowledge. Yu-Ju says, ‘They really understand the learner. The Swinburne teachers provided me with great support during the course.’

The support didn’t stop there, with staff assisting Yu-Ju post-study with onboarding issues, to helping close the gap between her overseas experience and qualifications here. Yu-Ju said it was difficult initially to reach out for help as she comes from a culture of not asking questions. However, when she did, the teachers were more than willing to assist.

Initially Yu-Ju found the employment market overwhelming, with job advertisements described in a different way to Taiwan, and the office culture unlike her home country. Once she adapted to the terminology, she found it easier to see where she could add value and communicate that effectively. Additionally, Yu-Ju’s first placement with the Department of Education opened her eyes to the opportunities available to her.

"The Swinburne teachers provided me with great support during the course."

As a Literacy and Numeracy Digital Support Officer at Swinburne, Yu-Ju now helps trade students navigate the job market.

A pathway full of opportunities

Yu-Ju is now working at Swinburne as a Literacy and Numeracy Digital Support Officer to trade students. She loves this role, using her experience and industry knowledge as a migrant to help others navigate the job market.

Her education journey also continues, with Yu-Ju currently completing her Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) qualification to open further career opportunities assisting other migrants.

Yu-Ju encourages migrants to consider completing a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. ‘Yes, there is a lot of compliance, but this gives you a way to share your skills with other people and engage with what you are already doing. It’s the perfect course for volunteering and getting access to a lot of opportunities.’