Meet Sisaleo

---

My name is Sisaleo. I was born to Laotian refugee parents who fled their homeland during the Vietnam War. From the start, I faced challenges – I was born with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which affects movement on one side of my body. But my parents’ strength in tough times taught me to be determined and make my path.

Growing up, I found joy in technology, photography and volunteering. These interests opened up new worlds for me. TV shows like Knight Rider and Perry Mason made me dream of helping others, even with my physical limitations. With lots of support from my teachers and through photography, I found ways to express myself and challenge how people view disability. Becoming a voice for others helped me believe I could overcome obstacles and shape my future.

My hobbies – photography, table tennis, and para-standing tennis – became more than just fun activities. They were my way to express myself and connect deeply with others when I often felt isolated. Growing up with a disability, I didn’t have any friends who understood my experiences. That changed when my young cousin came into my life, giving me someone who could relate. Additionally, my hobbies helped me build confidence and overcome self-doubt. Rejection from employment and friendships was an everyday occurrence, and I had to fight using my voice through quick wit rather than my fists. As my journey through adulthood began, my goals and pursuit of the next challenge were at the forefront. Vocational Education and TAFE seemed like my only pathway to employment through a never-ending journey of endless education.

I hadn’t planned on going to university, as I was told in high school that it would be too difficult and out of my reach. Still, I ended up studying Disability and Developmental Education at Flinders University from 2016 to 2021. This degree prepared me to support others facing challenges like mine. But even then, I felt something was missing – a real sense of belonging and purpose.

That all changed when I discovered MCCSA during my university’s final year work placement. It was a lucky moment that changed the course of my life. As a person with a disability, I’ve always wanted to find ways to contribute meaningfully and be recognised for what I can do, not what I can’t. MCCSA gave me that chance. As soon as I walked through their doors, I knew I’d found a place where I belonged – somewhere that celebrated all kinds of diversity and helped people embrace who they were.

Through projects like ‘Cultural Connections in Disability’, ‘Speak my Language’ and ‘Community Connections’, I got to work with a team that genuinely embraced diversity. They gave me a platform to use my experiences and what I’d learned as a Developmental Educator to help the community. I remember explaining the challenges of the NDIS process to some of our staff – they were shocked by what I had to go through. I also pointed out accessibility issues with content and communication.

Working with MCCSA opened up so many possibilities for me. As part of ‘Cultural Connections in Disability’, I was able to use my own experiences to create initiatives that improved others’ lives. Sharing my unique perspective as a person with a disability helped me contribute to community development in ways I didn’t expect. Through workshops with Multicultural Men’s Group (now known as ‘MCCSA Men’s Council’), disability training sessions with businesses and CALD communities, and my photography and videography, I found myself sharing knowledge, fostering understanding and breaking down barriers with each interaction. I’m also constantly learning and developing new skills through our CulturalQ training and by collaborating with colleagues. Additionally, the chance to guide our students during their placement has been gratifying and humbling. Watching them grow and commit to community involvement confirms how vital our work is. Our impact spreads through the whole community – helping everyone who comes into contact with us feel like they belong.

My time with MCCSA hasn’t been just about helping the community; it is also a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. The support and acceptance I have found here has given me a new confidence that I’d never had before. Suddenly, I found myself actively contributing to the sector as a project officer and chair of the Department of Human Services’ Ministerial Advisory Council.

Perhaps the clearest sign of how MCCSA has changed my life was when I was able to buy a car for my mum. It was a real symbol of the stability and self-worth that this unique organisation has helped me build within myself. In that moment, I realised how far I’d come and how powerful it is to keep going, even when things are tough.

As I continue on this journey, I carry with me the valuable lessons and sense of purpose that MCCSA has given me. Their belief in what I can do has not only empowered me to amplify the voices of multicultural communities but also ignited a passion for giving back, inspiring others to be themselves and chase their dreams, no matter what obstacles they face.

MCCSA is more than just an organisation; it will always be the spark that helped me reach my true potential, allowing me to go beyond the limitations society put on me and pave the way for others to feel empowered, too.