Losing everything and finding Australia

Forced to flee his homeland, Om Dhungel lost his possessions, his career, his country, and his home. In remaking his life in Australia, he discovered renewed purpose and a profound sense of belonging. A new book by Om and journalist / author James Button, From Bhutan to Blacktown, charts Om’s journey from the rice fields of South Asia to the friendly street of Frasers Property Australia’s Fairwater community in Sydney.

In the heart of Sydney’s Blacktown, overlooking a serene lake, sits a small café. It’s here that Om Dhungel, a man who has helped thousands of fellow Bhutanese refugees build successful new lives in Australia, shares his remarkable journey. A journey that began in the remote village of Lamidara, nestled in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Om’s childhood was far from luxurious, growing up as the sixth of 14 siblings in a place devoid of modern amenities, where children worked on their parents’ farms.

Yet, against all odds, Om’s life took an unexpected turn when a primary school was built in Lamidara.

Education became his beacon of hope, and he worked his way through school, earning a scholarship to study engineering in Bangladesh. Soon, he found himself in a high-level job within the Bhutanese civil service. He dreamed of a future where he would wear the ceremonial red scarf of a senior civil servant, but fate had a different plan.

Finding Australia

As the first president of the Association of Bhutanese in Australia (ABA), Om applied a strategy of participation based on volunteering. He saw that every migrant possessed unique skills, which enabled them to help each other while gaining valuable work experience.

"Integrating into a new country takes time," says Om. "You must be patient, but also persistent. Study the language and customs, volunteer in your communities, and be useful. If you do the work, it will come together in the end."

Under Om’s leadership, the ABA initiated annual Bhutanese sports and celebration days, established a Saturday language school to help people learn English, and created a sense of shared achievement within the community. The results were remarkable; a 2019 survey showed that nearly everyone eligible to work or learn in the Sydney Bhutanese community was doing so, with many securing employment and homeownership.

Building strong communities

Om Dhungel’s journey is not just a remarkable personal story but a testament to the power of community networks. In a diverse place like Blacktown, where more than 40 percent of the population was born overseas, Om’s work has been instrumental in fostering connections among people from more than 180 different nationalities.

Om’s dedication extends to his role as Fairwater’s Community Engagement Consultant, where he has the unique opportunity to shape and engage with the neighbourhood. His passion for bringing people together has helped transform Fairwater into a wonderfully connected place, celebrating diversity as its greatest strength.

"For me, the most rewarding part of working and living in Fairwater is to get to do what I am most passionate about, which is bringing people together to create a community," says Om.

"What makes this place so special is that, rather than focusing on our differences, we come together as a group to celebrate everything. We start with what’s common – we are Fairwater residents first; our differences and diversity add to the richness of who we are as a society. We have different cultures, different foods, and different languages. And from that, many different initiatives have been born, from street libraries and sustainability initiatives to festivals and even our own cookbook. People here are committed to the idea of community building."

A mosaic of multicultural stories

Om Dhungel’s story is one among millions, representing the face of modern Australia. In the past 25 years, nearly one in six of the population has migrated to this vast and diverse land. They come seeking opportunities, safety, and the chance to build a better life for themselves and their families. In return, they contribute to the nation’s prosperity as well as its rich cultural tapestry.

Om’s journey from the remote fields of Bhutan to the multicultural community of Blacktown is a testament to the resilience, determination, and spirit of Australia’s migrants. His work with the Bhutanese community and his commitment to fostering connections within Fairwater demonstrate the importance of community support networks in building strong, vibrant, and inclusive societies.

As Om continues to advocate for better settlement services and the empowerment of migrant communities, his story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. It reminds us that, in a country built on migration, the best of the old and new worlds can come together to create a brighter future for Australia.