It's hard to believe I have completed my 3rd week in Sydney working with the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS)! Arriving here was definitely a whirlwind - I wrapped up my Year Abroad in France and was in the UK for two days before jetting off for Australia. It's fair to say I was more than a little nervous - having been in France for the year definitely prepared me somewhat, but knowing I was 24 hours away from home was quite difficult to stomach! Also, adjusting to a new routine, culture and lifestyle, and making friends all over again was something I initially felt overwhelmed by. What helped throughout was reminding myself that this was all part of building resilience, and would be worth it once I was settled in.
The jet-lag was what I found the most difficult to cope with in my first few days there. Feeling stressed out made it much more difficult to fall asleep, as well as the fact I was waiting for my friends and family in the UK to wake up so I could speak to them (when I should have been falling asleep instead!). However, I got myself to Bondi Beach on my second day there, and a warm swim (even though it's autumn in Australia) really helped calm those nerves.
Starting work on the Monday, I was stressed out for my first day. It was quite overwhelming anticipating a new job that would put me out of my comfort zone, but I was ready for the routine to give me some structure. Arriving at RACS immediately put me at ease - the team were so friendly, chatty and welcoming, and I honestly could not have asked for more from them in terms of making me feel at home. My first week there was truly inspiring - I got my first taste of the cases lawyers are involved in, and the difficult stories coming from the clients they assist. Taking my first client call was definitely nerve wracking, but I knew the more times I did it, the easier it would become, and this has definitely rang true closing in on the halfway mark! I have felt my communication skills develop tenfold, alongside my Leadership skills in leading calls between myself, clients, and most often, interpreters. Equally, my knowledge on Australian Immigration Law is now something I can tangibly apply in helping my clients, making me feel at more at ease in assisting them.
Attending the in-person outreach team at Auburn was also truly amazing - my first day there, I shadowed my head lawyer, while my second time there involved me taking client queries myself! While this was very nerve wracking, I knew I was capable as I had done this over the phone, and being in person just required more physical communication. Attending to 70 clients in a team of 4 over 6 hours was definitely a challenge, but I felt so proud of myself to have been able to assist alone (of course seeking advice from my head lawyer when needed).
The RACS team have truly become like my family these past three weeks, and I have also been to after work dinner and drinks with some of the colleagues, really making work feel so welcoming. I have loved integrating with them and interacting with various lawyers, and know I will miss them so much when I go. Hopefully, I will be back in the future to volunteer again at some point!
In regards to the Sydney life, I have loved it so far. Weekends have been spent exploring the city, the coasts and going on hikes to see whales (although unsuccessful, still definitely worth it for the view!). Also, meeting new friends from mutual contacts and my Australian housemate has been so stimulating, pushing me to talk to different people but really making me feel more at home. I have been going on regular runs to explore the city by night, and seeing the Sydney Opera House lit up is really something else (although below was a picture taken at sunrise)!
I know the next weeks will fly by, and I'm looking forward to developing upon everything I have learnt so far!