Leaving behind her five children to work overseas was one of the hardest decisions for 48-year-old Lenette Bishop, but today the experience has helped her build a better future for her family.
Bishop who resides in Veisari, shares her journey as a worker under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, where she spent three years working at an aged care centre in Australia.
She says adjusting to a new country, different food, cold weather and unfamiliar transport systems was challenging.
Bishop also says there were times when they had to walk home late at night after finishing their shifts in freezing conditions, and they also faced racism and being undermined at work.
Despite the challenges, Bishop remained focused on her goal of supporting her family back home.
Insert: Lenette on her goal 15th March
She also says one of the most difficult parts of working overseas was missing important moments in her children’s lives, including school events and family gatherings, but she stayed connected with them through video calls.
Now back in Fiji, Bishop says the experience has helped her build confidence and achieve her dream of starting her own small business.
She has now established Lenettes Enterprise, which includes buying fish from Naboutini and selling it locally, along with a small food catering business.
Bishop says despite the sacrifices she made, the opportunity to work overseas has helped her create new opportunities and a better life for her family.
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