Meet Julie

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My name is Julie. I immigrated to South Australia in 2017 to work as a teacher and cultural coordinator for a non-profit organisation promoting French language and culture.

Five years after arriving, I began pursuing a University PhD to research ‘Teaching French as a foreign language through pictorial art, to promote intercultural engagement’. Unfortunately, my visa situation changed and COVID-19 prevented me from going ahead with the research project.

I went on to work at the Adelaide Festival Centre in the Exhibitions and Collections team and am now a Development Executive at the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), where I work for Events South Australia.

Acting with cultural intelligence has always been important to me. I grew up in a multicultural environment and have pursued a career that allows me to be surrounded by diversity. I have taught French to students from all around the world and now meet visitors from numerous parts of the globe – using tourism and events as a platform for cultural exchange. I have lived in different countries and love to travel the world when I have the opportunity. I have friends who speak, eat, and work differently to me, and I cherish the lively and colourful community we create together.

In my current role at the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), I led the creation of the Intercultural Awareness Group, which has seen representatives join from across the agency, and aims to advance multiculturalism and interculturalism in the workplace. We work together to support and nurture employees from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, provide advice on cross-cultural matters, and help inform SATC staff about what to consider when hosting visitors from different countries, as part of various projects.

MCCSA has been an amazing source of inspiration and support for this initiative. The team constantly gives us the tools and advice we need to turn our ideas into realities. They have helped us expand our network and meet important stakeholders in the state.

My first interaction with MCCSA was when I participated in their culturalQ intercultural training and development program. This amazing training highlighted the relevance of cultural competence in my field but also its significance more broadly.  The interactive modules and real-life scenarios used in the training were particularly effective in illustrating key concepts and I appreciated the knowledgeable and engaging trainers who facilitated insightful discussions and encouraged active participation. Overall, I think the training significantly improved participants’ awareness and sensitivity towards cultural diversity. Plus, the homemade Somalian lunch was DELICIOUS! 

MCCSA’s regular events genuinely offer a chance for people from different backgrounds to connect, as we did with the South Australian Commissioner for Equal Opportunity and many others during the Harmony Day celebration at one of MCCSA’s Leadership and Networking Nights.

Personally, MCCSA helps me to feel part of a rich community. They create a family for those who are far from their own and make every individual feel valued. They embody my values, and I believe they are an essential organisation for a state with such a vibrant mix of cultures, religions and backgrounds.