SameSame Different Western Sydney MRC

Firstly welcome back to SameSame Different, this is Western Sydney Podcast.

For the launch of Series 2, we are very honoured to be highlighting a recent study undertaken by the LGBTIQ Domestic and Family Violence Interagency, Western Sydney University and ACON.

Home Is Where Our Story Begins explores family, community, and belonging for sexuality and gender diverse people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. It looks at the lived experiences of sexuality and gender diverse people in Greater Western Sydney.

We are joined today by ACON representative Eloise Layard - Community Health Promotion Officer specialising in Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence and Community Intern Erdem Yigiter both of whom were involved in the research.

Our host, the ever-faithful Harshi, joins us again after for another series... welcome back Harshi! We know there are many complexities within communities relating to being from a CALD background and being sexuality and gender diverse. We want to shine a light on the beautiful diversity that exists, helping to create safe and welcoming spaces and services for everyone in Western Sydney.

We celebrate and support all diversity, and we hope that this episode will educate listeners and start conversations and promote conversations that allow education and learning within our CALD community.

For more information on today’s episode, contact Marketing at Western Sydney MRC.

Background reading and links:


Say it out Loud Report Home is Where our Story Begins report


Marriage Equality in Australia


ACON is a fiercely proud community organisation, striving to be a global leader in community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders

IDAHOBIT 2020 event - watch the launch of Home is Where our Story Begins report


Liverpool Sexual Health Clinic


Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre, a proud Welcome Here member


Inclusive Communities Network.


We would like to say a huge thank you to Martin Peralta from Output Media for creating our theme music.

Amanda joins Host Harshi and Western Sydney MRC on our new venture of the discovery of Western Sydney and its rich diversity through storytelling and the amazing world of podcasts.

Amanda is Strategic connector, confidence builder, Founder Business Woman Media, Founding Director Western Sydney Women and keynote speaker (on conflict, confidence and connecting). Busy Much... yep absolutely!!

Amanda shares her experiences in life, how she builds her confidence and how she strives to now help the women of Western Sydney stand up and take the reins.

She supports any woman in creating their future and businesses, how they can build a following, inspire others in doing so and then pass on the experience & connections enabling other women from Western Sydney to do the same. She highlights that sexism and general inequality still plays a massive part in our society.

We walked away from this interview feeling motivated, inspired, empowered and ready to just get out and do something... let's hope you feel the same way.

SameSame Different. This is Western Sydney Podcast by Western Sydney MRC.
This Podcast was funded by the NSW Government and sponsored by audiotechnica.

MaryJane is Co-Director of Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts, a Pacific Cultural Centre based in Liverpool.

She is a Mother of 3, and wife to Fred. She shares with us her experience of representing Samoa as Miss Samoa and Miss South Pacific in the late ’90s, an actress, radio producer and broadcaster, and a passionate advocate for Pacifica people and climate change.

Her presence in the room is one that you can find yourself being naturally drawn to, and as her journey unfolds we hear about the Pacific culture and region, their beliefs and values.

We listen to her experiences of colonisation and climate change and its effects on culture, people, environment. She has faced racism in both her island community and outside.

Throughout it all, she has remained grounded to her cultural values. The beauty of Western Sydney is represented by this strong women, and once again we come away feeling empathy, connected by stories and experiences that resonate - regardless of race, culture, religion or belief.

SameSame Different. This is Western Sydney Podcast by Western Sydney MRC.
This Podcast was funded by the NSW Government and sponsored by audiotechnica.

Najla joins Host Sara and Western Sydney MRC on our new venture of the discovery of Western Sydney and its rich diversity through storytelling and the amazing world of podcasts. As an Australian-born Middle Eastern Muslim, Najla struggled to accept her bi-cultural identity yet today Najla Turk is a person of influence. Listen to Najla speak with passion and fervour about cultural differences and biases.

Her message is the importance of understanding Western Sydney and the melting pot it is. She strongly believes that we cannot work on shared values alone because each and every one of us is different. Our lived experiences, heritage and journeys are diverse alongside our values and appearances.

She does, however, advocate for seeing and appreciating the commonalities to thrive as a society, and her journey of self-discovery, moving through isolation and ethnic barriers and standing up to not only celebrate uniqueness but individuality and pride in all that we undertake.

SameSame Different. This is Western Sydney Podcast by Western Sydney MRC.
This Podcast was funded by the NSW Government and sponsored by audiotechnica.

Meet Tanya Nellestein. Tanya joins Western Sydney MRC on our new venture of the discovery of Western Sydney and its rich diversity through storytelling and the amazing world of podcasts.

Tanya’s story and connection to Western Sydney are broad and rich - like most of our guest speakers, and has many talents, visions and passions. Tanya is a self-claimed aspiring novelist…. Her appetite for writing, romance and love evolve daily.

Tanya’s propensity for reading allows her to make beautiful connections with writers and authors all over the world, and skills are nurtured daily through both writing and reading. Tanya uses her creative flair and artistic talents to her other role as refugee Youth peer mentor Program Officer and hopes that one day she could tell the love stories of the communities she is so dedicated to.

Her storytelling evokes a sense of empathy and excitement in its readers and the opportunities to show and feel love are at the forefront. We think Tanya has a zest for love, life and everything in between. We all want to know and feel love, but we all find it in different people and places.

SameSame Different.

This is Western Sydney Podcast by Western Sydney MRC.
This Podcast was funded by the NSW Government and sponsored by audiotechnica.

John joins Western Sydney MRC on our new venture of the discovery of Western Sydney and its rich diversity through storytelling and the amazing world of podcasts. As soon as John begins to speak there is a sense of calm that washes over us.

Today he shares his personal history of growing up in a Vietnamese family, amidst his school challenges and being labelled as a slow learner. Fast-forward a few years, we hear about John’s experience as a Mental Health Nurse, and how he uses life's lessons to influence his profession. His loves in life include honest friendship and the importance of a family meal. When asked about where he sees himself in 5 years... he certainly made it clear that he lives in the here and now, and that finding peace and happiness in the small things is just as important as those big moments we all seem to strive for. We hope you enjoy his uniqueness and perhaps find moments that make you feel seen. SameSame Different. This is Western Sydney.

SameSame Different. This is Western Sydney Podcast by Western Sydney MRC.
This Podcast was funded by the NSW Government and sponsored by audiotechnica.

Other links:
https://anchor.fm/john-tran5
https://youtu.be/PRW34OHEpu4