Cade Lucas
It’s Adult Learners Week (1-8 September) and the theme for this year is: It’s Never Too Late.
Sixty nine year old Werribee restauranter and Indian immigrant, Sunil Abbott, is a great example of that. Sunil, 69, migrated to Australia from India in 2011 with the equivalent of a Year 12 education. He struggled to adapt and had little or no knowledge of computers and technology or how systems and services worked. He had never encountered an EFTPOS machine and had to go about learning basic skills that others take for granted.
Sunil now runs two busy restaurants, yet, despite his demanding work, he makes time for learning and has undertaken many courses at his local community education centre. Now a prominent leader in his community, he helped establish a local platform that promotes learning and social connections for older people. His commitment to lifelong learning has earned him numerous awards and positions on various councils and representative bodies. He says that he has learned more in the past 12 years here in Australia than in his entire time in India and he feels happy to be in an environment that encourages learning at any age as he tells Cade Lucas.
How did you end up in Australia?
I came to Australia in 2011. Both my son and daughter were living here. As I came on business visa I was supposed to start a business and as my son, daughter and son-in-law are all chefs. We mande our first restaurant in Richmond by the name of Jaiho.
When did you start learning in Australia?
I started learning how to operate front of house in the restaurant. Understanding the accent was a bit difficult but our customers are very kind to speak slowly. I started listening to radio news while driving to work and this helped me in understand the accent .
Was it difficult beginning to study again at an older age in a foreign country?
As I had good knowledge of English, it was not difficult. With the help of Wyndham Community and Education Centre, I first learned the basics of computers. I then joined a Wyndham Citizens Academy course where we interacted with the judiciary, legislature, journalists, police and legal departments and learnt how they worked. After this I enrolled in the Walk Through Health course which helped me to pass on information to my fellow migrant seniors during COVID-19.
What is your advice to other older people?
My advice to all seniors is it is never too late to learn and there is no use by date to learning.
