Sergio Vicuña
“All these things I’ve accomplished as a migrant surpass all the hardships of living away from the place I once thought was my only home in this world”
Sergio Vicuña
Country of origin: Chile
Occupation: Dentist
State of Residency: Victoria
Favourite place in Australia: Melbourne
Upon arrival: Shocked by the 40+ degrees in summer
Photo in his current neighbourhood Brunswick East.
Edited by Lucy Coulson & socials by Monica Espinosa
Sergio is a 33-year-old immigrant born in Valparaiso, Chile. Ever since he was a child, he had a strong interest in healthcare and working with the human body. He studied dentistry in Chile and then decided to move to Melbourne in 2018. The main reason he wanted to move to Australia was to pass the Australian Dental Council’s exams and to gain professional experience overseas. Sergio never expected that something he planned to do for only a few years would turn into a long-term life plan that would completely change his life’s course and the way he sees and moves around the world.
TELL US YOUR STORY
Before finishing Uni in Chile back in 2016 I knew I wanted to live overseas so I could work as a dentist in a foreign country. After the privatisation of higher education in Chile that came with the dictatorship, the dental system has been progressively collapsing, making it very hard for new grads to find a good, stable job. I had the privilege of saving enough money for a couple of years so that I could take a gap semester and travel to a few countries. That led me to visit Melbourne for 3 weeks in 2017. After a few days of being here as a tourist, I knew this was where I wanted to be. Moving around the city felt very natural to me, plus I already had old friends and close relatives living here... it was an easy decision to make. I came back to Chile, applied for a Work and Holiday Visa and finally moved to Melbourne in October 2018.
Sergio at work on his first day as a practising Dentist in Australia
Just like most people, I had to start working wherever I could: restaurants, cleaning jobs, etc. But of course, I knew I had to find a job in the dental field so that I could understand how the system works before sitting my exams. I personally delivered my resume in a few dental practices around my neighbourhood and got a call from one of them two months later. They said they needed a dental assistant and thought of me because of the good chat the receptionists and I had when we met. Things slowly started falling in place for me. I was now able to understand how dentists work in Australia and I could slowly start preparing for my exams. When I was 100% sure I wanted to keep living here and was ready to start the process, COVID-19 hit.
Thankfully, I never lost my job as a healthcare worker during the pandemic so I was incredibly lucky I didn’t have to leave the life I was building in Melbourne. At the same time, I started gathering all the necessary documentation to apply for the Australian Dental Council’s exams which, for obvious reasons, took much longer than expected. When the pandemic finally started to get under control, I was able to set my exams and finally passed everything in November 2022. I then began working as a part-time dentist in mid 2023.
Not only did things start working out for me in my professional life as years went by, but also in all other aspects of my day-to-day life. I’ve been incredibly lucky with the connections I’ve made during my time in Melbourne, which constantly reinforce the idea that this is where I’m meant to be right now. I have a partner[ who has supported me unconditionally through thick and thin and such a strong, loving community around me that takes care of me just as much as I take care of them. Looking back, there is no doubt that all these things I’ve accomplished as a migrant surpass all the hardships of living away from the place I once thought was my only home in this world.
I’m aware that I’m part of a community that has opened their doors to me and that giving back is the least I can do. Being able to work in the Australian healthcare system means that I’m constantly contributing to my community’s wellbeing. In the past, I’ve volunteered at the Australian Syrian Charity organisation by chatting to refugees that studied Dentistry in Syria and wanted to get accustomed to the Australian dental jargon. I also try to take an active role with my own Latin community by helping out others who see my story as relatable. I’ve guided a few other colleagues from overseas that have just arrived in Australia and are interested in beginning their own registration as dentists. I’m also always happy to be a source of information and/or advice to others (friends or family of friends, new acquaintances or even strangers) that are just starting their journey in this country.
CHALLENGES
The local language - My very first challenge was the Australian English. Even though I’ve always been very skilled with languages (especially English) and that I’ve had side jobs that were bilingual in Chile, coming here and having to adapt to the way Aussies speak was a challenge that took quite a few months to get used to. I think what helped me the most was when I moved into an English-speaking-only share house. That’s when I started understanding all the Aussie nuances that initially threw me off and confused me.
Landing a job - Another big challenge as a foreigner that had never worked in Australia was getting my first job. I arrived during the high season, so it took me about 3-4 weeks of intense job hunting to get my first offer. I was literally rejected from jobs “because I’ve never worked in Australia before, so I should call back after getting some experience first”. When I had my first offer, it was at a restaurant in the city that underpaid me, but I guess I had to get into the mindset of “I’ll take whatever job I can as long as I can use it for my resume as a starter”. Lucky for me, that only lasted for 3 days. I then got better offers in hospitality and housekeeping for a couple of months. Finally, in early 2019 I had my first offer in the dental field – an industry that I am still in today.
Connecting with locals - One last challenge that I always talk about with other foreigners is creating strong connections with Australians at a pace that we Latin Americans are used to. Luckily, my social/friendship groups are very diverse with people from different countries and backgrounds, but the one thing I’ve noticed from the Australians within those groups is that it took years to feel like they fully opened up to me. I think Australians are very charming people and they seem very welcoming at first, but they definitely have barriers that stop them from creating those close one-on-one friendships faster, which is something I think Chileans and other Latin people can make much easier with their friends. But once you’re in, you’re in.
Sergio and Grey (previous housemate) during his first day as a Dentist in Australia
CONTRASTS AND SIMILARITIES
Conflict resolution - Touching back on the social and cultural differences between Australians and Latin Americans, I can say that we (or at least Chileans) are much more direct and open when it comes to talking about feelings. I think we have an easier time with conflict resolution when it happens with people we love and care for. This is something that I feel like Australians struggle with quite frequently as they tend to avoid these ‘uncomfortable conversations’.
Good times - Despite this cultural difference mentioned above, there are quite some similarities in the way Aussies and Chileans interact with their friends. The way we joke, our humour, how loud we can be and how much we want to party and have a good time with our friends through events is something that made it easier for me to interact with others around here.
Work/life balance - Another cultural difference that has been very beneficial for my mental health is the working culture in Australia versus the one we have in Chile. We can all agree that Latin America is a place where people work heaps to survive and to make ends meet, but Australia is a country with a much higher minimum wage and better-established working rights. Initially, I found it amazing that people could call in sick and not risk losing their jobs. Also, there is so much more flexibility when starting a new position – this is definitely something you would not see often in Chile. Back there, the working mentality of ‘if you don’t do it, then I’ll find someone else to do it’ is still what rules those kinds of relationships.
PIECE OF ADVICE
Consider if it’s right for you - I would probably recommend anyone thinking of moving to Australia to study and consider their options very well. I believe the strongest appeal that Australia has for immigrants are wages and quality of life, but it’s still a place that’s very isolated from the rest of the world and that doesn’t give you many other options if your initial plan doesn’t work out. I also think the different pathways for immigration can be tricky for many, so planning ahead to avoid surprises is important and will make your time here much more stress-free. Also, trying to engage with the community even before taking your flight may be of great help. Reach out to associations, Facebook groups and chat with people you identify yourself with. They can give you so many important tips and can be a start to making new connections if you don’t already know anyone living here.
Keep hustling - Migrating is never easy and never fully comfortable, but this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. I think if you come to Australia with the right mindset, if you’re persistent, if you’re okay with knowing that you’ll probably have to hustle for a while and that there will be many uncomfortable moments, if you plan things ahead and if you can and want to adapt to a different culture, you can and will make it here. There will always be people around you that will help you achieve your goals and there are so many different ways to start a new and stable life here. I like to believe that Australia has something for everyone to excel and succeed in.
You’re never alone - Struggling and having a crisis when migrating is completely normal. What’s important is to know that you’re never alone. I know most countries in Latin America would not have so many places, organisations, etc. to connect with, but that’s not the case here. There are hundreds of people that can help you overcome these hard times. Latin Stories is one of them and they can already guide you in the right direction if you’re struggling with your mental health, job hunting, safety and legal issues or whatever it may be. It’s sometimes hard to see the great amount of help you can get (even for free) when you’re new here, but believe me when I say that no matter what the problem is, there will always be a solution for you out there.
Sergio in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, about to cross to Bolivia and his first trip back home after the pandemic
IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS…
Considering that most aspects of his life have slowly been becoming more stable, Sergio hopes that in the next few years he can really grow professionally to the highest of his abilities. He hopes to gain all the experience this country can offer him, which, to a certain extent, is something that he may not find in Chile. Sergio’s aspiration is to work with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote areas of Australia, aiming to contribute to improving their access to healthcare, which is often limited.
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With love and gratitude - Latin Stories Australia team