Yesterday when I visited my local gender centre I briefly met a young trans woman from Malaysia, in Australia on a protection visa. She sure was friendly, just came up and introduced herself and started talking to me while I was waiting to see the counsellor. She was there to ask about emergency accommodation they might be able to provide her.

Things sound very tough for her, she has been in Australia about nine months now (I think?), presumably her life was very much at risk in Malaysia. It is good that she has a protection visa, it allows her to work in Australia although she is finding it difficult to get work - I suspect not specifically because she is trans but more due to lack of job hunting skills and work experience (although she has some) and language skills (pretty good English but I couldn't vouch for her written skills).

She told me about how she had been going about finding a job - basically leaving a copy of her resume at every shop in the local shopping mall. She seemed confused as to why no one had contacted her back so I filled her in on some local know how - that generally most businesses don't hire unless they have a position, and almost never based on a random resume. I told her she should look at the local online job vacancy site (Seek) and that she may need to polish up her resume and add a covering letter stating why she was the right person for the job. She seemed to take that on. I suggested she ask someone from the migrant crisis NGO she is getting assistance from to look over her resume and letter (I must admit I'm surprised they don't already offer that as a service), otherwise sadly she's likely to never get a job.

Gave me a lot of perspective on my trans situation, I've got it super easy compared to her, made me feel extremely grateful about my privilege, won't ever take that for granted...

Fingers crossed she does well. I wished her all the best as I was called in to my appointment.

Thinking further on this, Australia has some dire migration policies especially when it comes to asylum seekers. Rightfully there's a lot of focus on the people left languishing at detention centres through vicious political policy bastardry, but there's scant interest from the media it would seem in those who come here via the "approved" channels and the success or otherwise of their settlement process. The story of this woman I met the other day means Australia must have some kind of heart, to give her protection and to give her asylum. Maybe could be done for Herut at least she is, presumably, safer here than where she fled from and for that I am glad.

There for the grace of god go I (no pun intended)

I arrived, lonely, abused, lost. Australia accepted me. They are (were) strange people!

How do we reach out and help our immigrant brothers and sisters?

If you have a chance invite her to meet up groups. Tell her she can join here.

Tell her some of us may be able to help with resumes etc.

We are a support site and sometimes those who need support have never heard of us. But they are the ones who need us.

(Maybe call your therapist and let him know that she can seek support here, if it is who I think it is he will jump at it)

Oh he certainly knows about Susan's, I don't know if they refer people here or not. Unfortunately I didn't get to talk with her for more than five minutes so no chance to do more than hear her story and offer some quick advice. I might email them and get them to pass her some info. Given her current housing situation she may not have a lot of computer access but it's worth a try.