Culture, Connection, and New Belonging

In this profound episode of Shared Seasons, host Louise Hall explores the complex experiences of change, loss and adaptation faced by people rebuilding their lives in a new country. We are joined by Melek, a Direct Services Counsellor and Project Officer at STARTTS, who shares her extensive experience supporting refugees and asylum seekers in New South Wales. Melek discusses the deep, often 'bleeding' grief within these communities and how the Seasons for Growth program utilises nature’s cycles to foster awareness and healing. Additionally, we hear from Simangaliso, MacKillop’s Multicultural Practice Lead, who provides a moving personal account of her 21-year journey as a Zimbabwean immigrant in Australia. Together, they delve into the necessity of cultural humility, the power of active listening, and the vital importance of creating a genuine sense of belonging for those navigating new lives in unfamiliar lands.

(00:00:58) Global displacement statistics and refugee experiences

(00:02:35) Types of cultural and societal grieving

(00:04:44) Moving beyond passive listening to active acknowledgement

(00:07:27) Using the natural environment as a teacher for healing

(00:13:04) Scaffolding support through culturally-led facilitator training

(00:25:22) Personal lived experience of navigating cross-cultural change

(00:45:37) Defining meaningful inclusivity as a starting point

For more information on Mackillop Seasons, visit www.mackillopseasons.org.au 

For more information n STARTTS, visit www.startts.org.au 

Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.