Wednesday, 20 March 2019
At Newcastle Permanent, we’re proud of our culturally diverse workforce. Our staff come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures and we are excited to celebrate the diversity of our team throughout Harmony Week.
Data Architect, Chirag joined the team in 2018 after spending the previous 14 years abroad in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Originally from India, Chirag was relocated to Australia so his wife and children could be closer to family.
Having grown up in a small (but somewhat more crowded!) city, Newcastle made an attractive destination for Chirag to raise his family, pursue his career while spending more time with his family and enjoying the lifestyle that Newcastle offers with its beautiful beaches.
"Both my kids are beach fanatics. I love that they can easily get to the beach, really develop their swimming and surf skills. It’s become a part of our lifestyle here which is wonderful," he said.
Chirag arrived in Australia to start work at Newcastle Permanent after researching the location and workplace culture.
"My managers Ned and Penny helped make my relocation smooth, and welcomed me to the organisation," he said.
While his managers provided support to ease Chirag into Newcastle life, there was definitely a learning curve understanding the cultural nuances. But that was something that Chirag said he had enjoyed.
"The people here in Newcastle are wonderful, and always ready to provide advice. I am never short on suggestions for the best coffee or beer in town!" he said.
"I really enjoy my role here at the Newcastle Permanent, it’s a great place to work and I am loving living in Newcastle. One of the things I miss the most are the baby photos of my kids we left behind, and also having only ever lived in the Northern Hemisphere, being on a beach in December was definitely a new concept!”
Our workforce consists of a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We recognise that through cultural diversity we also gain diversity of thought, which is critical in shaping outcomes that improve our customer’s experiences.
"Chirag has been a great addition to the team, he brings with him a wealth of experience which is useful as he often raises solutions we haven’t considered which create better outcomes," said Ned, Chirag’s Manager.
Nearly half (40%) of Australians are born overseas or have at least one parent who was born outside of Australia, making Australia one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Harmony week is the 17-23 March and celebrates multiculturalism, inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. Find out more at www.harmony.gov.au