177 Nations of Tasmania

Mark Thomson
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Monthly

There are 177 different nationalities represented in Tasmania's population and in this podcast we try to talk with one person from each one, and find out about why they came to Tasmania, what they brought with them ( experiences, culture, traditions, skills, ideas etc), and their experiences of settling on a small and fairly isolated island state not known for being very multicultural. These are authentic stories from people from all corners of the globe who have made Tasmania their home and cover the full gamut of the migrant experience.

  1. Taye from Jersey : Life on a small island community, then travelling the world

    Apr 14

    Taye from Jersey : Life on a small island community, then travelling the world

    Jersey is one of several self-governing islands that make up part of the United Kingdom. Although it it a possession of the UK, it actually lies closer to France, and French culture is evident on Jersey, including in its local, but now little-spoken language, Jersiais. Like other British islands, its an offshore tax haven, meaning that the majority of islanders work in the finance industry or related areas. This wasn't the path that Taye chose though. She was born on Jersey, but her family moved to Australia when she was 3, and then returned when she was 13 on what was originally a short-term stay but ended up lasting 15 years. Rather than following a career in finance, Taye became a beauty and massage therapist, a career which brought her to Tasmania for a 6-month stint working at Cradle Mountain. She later returned to work at the newly-opened Saffire Resort at Coles Bay, met her husband there, and has remained in Tasmania ever since. In this episode we discuss some similarities and differences between the two island communities of Jersey and Tasmania, and how the memories of the German occupation in WW2 impacted both the Jersey community and her family's story. The song that you hear excerpts from in this episode is called "I'ile de Jerri" from Jersey , sung in the Jersiais dialect

    33 min
  2. Willoh from Belize : A shipwreck and an unconventional upbringing by the Caribbean

    Apr 8

    Willoh from Belize : A shipwreck and an unconventional upbringing by the Caribbean

    Belize is a small and unique country in Central America - it's the only English-speaking nation, has the 2nd largest coral reef, and possesses an unusual and unique racial mix in its population. Willoh was born in a small village by the Caribbean coast of Belize, and was something of a novelty as the only white child in the village at the time. Her hippy parents had ended up in Belize in very unusual circumstances, essentially as a consequence of an adventurous sailing trip across the Gulf of Mexico gone wrong. Needless to say then, Willoh didn't have the most conventional upbringing in Belize, where she lived until 13, when she moved with her mum to South Australia. However, she would return to Belize fairly regularly over the years, and in fact, at the time of our interview had just returned from there. In adulthood, Willoh has forged a career as an artist, and has previously worked at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art ( MONA). Despite having lived many years in Australia now, she's still maintains many connections with her country of birth.

    41 min
  3. Julio from Guatemala : How a broken American dream lead to Tasmania

    Mar 29

    Julio from Guatemala : How a broken American dream lead to Tasmania

    Guatemala is the largest country in Central America by both population and area. Like many other countries in the region, it has experienced its fair share of conflict and instability over the year and it's a society marked by income inequality and the problems that brings. As a result of this, many Guatemalans look for a better life abroad, and most seek the so-called "American Dream". Very few though end up in Australia. Julio certainly didn't come from poorer side if Guatemalan society, but he also bought into the American dream after going to study economic at college in Utah and spending some time in California. In the meantime he struck up an online friendship with an Australian girl, Paige. At a certain point the relationship got serious and they had the dilemma as to where to settle more permanently. The first choice was a middle ground in the Bay Area in California, but an ugly twist of fate on the Mexico-California border broke this dream. Although they tried living in Guatemala for a while, it wasn't a sustainable option and finally they made the move to Sydney, which Julio immediately fell in love with and thought he would be there for life. But, like many others, Sydney's housing prices proved an insurmountable barrier, and while looking outside Sydney, the idea of moving to Tasmania came up. A visit to the state convinced them and they bought a house and moved to Blackman's Bay in 2025. Guatemala is also a country of great natural beauty, famous for its many volcanoes and Julio recalls fondly family hikes - something that has made Tasmania feel more like home. In this episode, he contrasts the differences between Guatemala and Australia, but also the very different feeling he has had as an outsider in the USA compared with Australia.

    1h 2m
  4. Renella from Zambia : Appreciating the outdoor life

    Mar 22

    Renella from Zambia : Appreciating the outdoor life

    Zambia is a largeish country in central southern African, perhaps best known for sharing the iconic landmark of Victoria Falls with it's southern neighbour, Zimbabwe. Although it's not a country that comes up on our radar much in Tasmania, according to the 2021 Census, there were over one hundred Zambians living in Tasmania. Not many perhaps, but also not insignificant. Renella has lived in Tasmania since 2003, and around the same time, much of her close family also moved here, but all have now left for other parts of the country or world. She grew up in small town in the south of Zambia amongst family from her mum's Zambian family, and her Dad's Malaysian Chinese family and inherited traditions from both, including both cuisines. Renella has fond memories of her childhood and the range outdoor activities available, and part of what made her love Tasmania was this similar outdoor lifestyle that she had known in Zambia. Renella moved to Sydney when she was 18 to study Accounting, as she could live with an aunt there. After graduating, at the recommendation of her sister, she moved to Hobart, and later other members of the family came to join her. She had not planned to stay long term, but a chance meeting at a party lead to an important relationship. Although her main job is as an accountant, since being in Tasmania, Renella has also rediscovered her love of food in operating a couple of small food businesses. The song featured in this episode is called "Mao", By Amayenge, a popular music group from Choma in the 1970s. The music style is called calindula, a style distinctive to Zambia

    36 min
  5. Natalia from Costa Rica : A story of faith, resilience and community

    Feb 19

    Natalia from Costa Rica : A story of faith, resilience and community

    Costa Rica is one of the smaller countries of Central America, both in population and in size. It's also historically been much more stable and secure than many of its neighbours and its efforts to preserve and protect its natural environment has made it a biodiversity hot spot. As a result, Costa Ricans haven't emigrated at the same rate as some other peoples in Latin America. Hence, it is a bit of a surprise to find a Costa Rican living in Burnie, in northwest Tasmania. Natalia grew up near the capital of San Jose, and had always imagined that she would travel. However, the way it happened was totally unexpected. When she was 19, she started learning English from a young Australian man. A connection developed quickly and it was not long before she was on her first ever plane journey to start a new life in Hobart. Her first 18 months in Tasmania were incredibly challenging. An unexpected pregnancy, little English and no driver's license, it was not surprising that she felt isolated and homesick. Discovering a supportive community of Latin Americans in northwest Tasmania, she convinced her husband they should move there, but it was then tragedy struck, with the sudden loss of her husband. At 21 and pregnant with her second child, Natalia had considered returning to Costa Rica, but the support of the community she had found and her personal faith helped her to stay resilient. Almost 20 years later she has managed to build a good life in Burnie, having remarried, raised 4 kids and recently getting what she considers her dream job providing support for children in out of home care.

    40 min
  6. Olive from New Zealand : A new spiritual home away from home

    09/24/2025

    Olive from New Zealand : A new spiritual home away from home

    As of late 2025, the number of New Zealanders living in Australia was estimated to be around 700,000 - a huge number for such a small country, reflecting the close relationship between our two countries. In Tasmania, it's estimated there are about 5000 New Zealanders living here, making them one of the top 5 migrant groups. It's assumed often that New Zealanders are very similar to us and don't have many challenges to settle in here, but the true picture is more complex. One thing that distinguishes New Zealand from Australia is the influence of Maori culture, something which until fairly recently was repressed. Olive grew up in a small farming community near Gisborne, a small city on the east side of the North Island. Her mother and grandmother were strong influences during her younger years and gave her a connection with Maori culture and her grandmother, in particular, practised traditional Maori healing. Losing her mother and grandmother at the age of 16 was a deeply traumatic event for Olive and for a while she fell into some unhealthy coping mechanisms. Most of her family also migrated to Melbourne and, pregnant with her first child, she joined them to be near family support. It was around ten years ago that Olive met a Tasmanian man, who she later married, and was part of the reason that brought her to Tasmania. The other was a slightly more spiritual reason, which you will her about in the podcast. You will also hear how during the COVID pandemic and the lockdown in Melbourne lead to Olive reconnecting with the Maori language and culture through online communities, something she now also shares within her local community in Tasmania.

    37 min
  7. Roque from El Salvador : Getting help from "angels"

    09/18/2025

    Roque from El Salvador : Getting help from "angels"

    El Salvador is a small Central American nation that has suffered from a multitude of hardships over many decades, include civil wars, a brutal military dictatorship, crippling poverty and violent crime. This has led to a large exodus of the population escaping, through both legal and illegal channels, to countries like the USA, Canada, Mexico and Australia. In fact Australia is home to the third-largest population of Salvadoreans outside the country itself. Roque came with his family to settle in northern Tasmania in the early 90s as a result of the civil war that lasted from 1981 to 1992. Australia accepted some 10,000 Salvadoreans during this time as a part of its Humanitarian Resettlement program, and Tasmania received several hundred of those. Roque chose Australia over USA or other countries because he wanted to be as far away from El Salvador and its problems as he could, but with no English when he came, settling in near the small city of Devonport was quite a challenge at the beginning. However, as Roque says, he met some angels in Tasmania, almost by chance, who helped him with work and even build a house, and ultimately let him put down roots in Latrobe.

    43 min
  8. Alfredo from Cuba : Dentist, writer, kick-boxer

    09/08/2025

    Alfredo from Cuba : Dentist, writer, kick-boxer

    Cuba is a country that really stands out amongst Latin American nations because of the revolution in 1959. Since then they have lived under the rule of a Communist dictatorship and for most of that time also under severe sanctions from the United States, both of which have create severe hardship for the people of Cuba, both in material terms and also in terms of the lack of civic freedoms. This has resulted in large numbers of Cubans leaving the country over the years to seek a better life in countries such as the USA, Canada, Spain or other parts of Latin America. Not a lot come to Australia, because it is very difficult both practically and financially. Alfredo is perhaps then a bit of a pioneer, who arrived in Hobart in July 2025 from Ecuador, where he spent 12 years previously. His first goal was to improve his English, but his main goal is to find a safe place for his family to settle. Like many migrating from South America, safety and security were major considerations. But despite the hardships that drove him away from Cuba, Alfredo remembers his childhood fondly, as he grew up in a place that was safe and security and where there was a strong sense of community around and people helped each other out. It was only later in life that he started to question the ideology that he had drummed into him religiously from a young age, as the reality that he experienced no longer seemed to match the government line. Alfredo is also a writer, having self-published books on dentistry, he's also written books for children and is working on a fantasy novel as well. On top of this, he has started teaching kickboxing in Hobart as well, and that reflects a theme that kept coming up in our interview that Alfredo values service to others.

    44 min
See All (135)

About

There are 177 different nationalities represented in Tasmania's population and in this podcast we try to talk with one person from each one, and find out about why they came to Tasmania, what they brought with them ( experiences, culture, traditions, skills, ideas etc), and their experiences of settling on a small and fairly isolated island state not known for being very multicultural. These are authentic stories from people from all corners of the globe who have made Tasmania their home and cover the full gamut of the migrant experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Thomson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mark Thomson
  • Show Website
    177 Nations of Tasmania

You Might Also Like