My First Year in Australia

Ugandan-born comedian and performer Anisa Nandaula was told by her mother that she was headed to the most diverse part of Australia. This turned out to be the middle of Rockhampton. Anisa steps Suraj through the story of immigrating and adapting to a strange new world, understanding racial differences and the joy of discovering Billabong ice creams.

Indira Naidoo is a revered media personality and journalist, and an inspiration to many in Australia. Naidoo's parents were fifth generation Indian South Africans living under apartheid. They left the country when Indira was a baby to seek a better life, smuggling her out covered in blankets. The family arrived in Zambia before migrating to England, and then to a small town in Tasmania. She charts the hair-raising journey to Australia, her first impressions of her new home, and how she forged her career in the media.

Tala Amhaz witnessed and experienced some horrifying things growing up in Lebanon during the Civil War. She then went on to great professional success in Dubai, but was still feeling unfulfilled. She has eventually found peace, freedom and equality in regional Australia.

Helen Malarekere is from Papua New Guinea. She was raised by her close-knit extended family. When she moved to Australia with just her mother and sister, she had to find new ways of relating to family, and to a whole new culture.

Jewish comedian Peter Meisel arrived in Australia in the 1970's on a two year teaching contract. He never expected to still be here decades later.