The appeal of Australia as a destination for expatriation is unquestionable, but facing a new life in a new country can prove to be very challenging.
Melbourne’s Co.As.It. and Patronato INAS-CISL, aware of the difficulties that many Italians encounter on their path to settling in Australia, launched the ‘WitCare Hub’ project, a support platform created in collaboration with other organisations involved in promoting and supporting the Italian community in Australia.
The launch, which took place in the atmospheric ‘Little Italy’ of Carlton last Tuesday, July 25, was attended by institutional representatives and prominent members of the Italian-Australian community.
In attendance was Daniela De Martino, state MP for Monbulk; Colin Brooks, representing the Minister of Multicultural Affairs; Hanna Pappalardo, the consul general of Italy for Victoria and Tasmania; Vivienne Nguyen, chair of the Multicultural Commission of Victoria; Mauro Sandrin, president of Co. As.It.; and Gianluca Lodetti, head of Foreign Coordination of the INAS-CIS Patronage and deputy secretary general of CGIE.
The evening began with a speech by Marco Fedi, CEO of Co.As.It. who, after greeting and thanking those present, elaborated upon the importance of the WitCare project within an ever-expanding and changing community.
“The world never stops moving,” he began.
“Every day, a large number of people from Italy come to Australia for adventures or new job opportunities. However, we know that settling into a new country can prove difficult, especially for newcomers.
“WitCare was created to respond to this need, offering new Italian migrants comprehensive support at every stage of their journey.”
Marco Fedi then wanted to mention the value of the support provided by the institutions present, such as the Italian Consulate, Patronato and Com.It.Es, which have constantly supported the implementation of the project at every stage.
“Special thanks to Ciro Fiorini, INAS-CISL Australia coordinator, as well as to Barbara Zoroddu, Elaine Bocchini and Lorenzo Nuti for their work and dedication to the development of this project. Thanks also to Francesco Pascalis, Paula Marcolin and Paul Lostia.”
After the CEO’s formal greetings, some of the guests of honour took to the stage and praised the initiative promoted by Co.As.It., expressing their pleasure in participating in the launch of such a significant project.
Gianluca Lodetti, liaising from Italy, highlighted the importance of accompanying new migratory flows consciously and with an adequate network of support services.
“The General Council, for several years, has been addressing the issue of how to manage these new Italian migrations and provide support to the people involved,” he said.
WitCare Hub aims to elevate itself as a reference point for new Italian migrants, providing detailed, realistic and reliable information about life in Australia, from finding work and housing to managing health - from one’s social life to personal well-being.
Far from being a simple information portal, WitCare Hub also aims to be a place where people can meet virtually and physically. In fact, the platform also hosts a social section where users can share their experiences, get to know each other, and keep an eye on the social calendar.
Barbara Zoroddu commented, “Many young Italians have unrealistic expectations about life in Australia, and once here, they may find themselves facing a number of problems without knowing how to navigate within the Australian system.”
WitCare aims to mitigate these problems by providing comprehensive and accurate information to better prepare newcomers for their new experience.
The project is aimed primarily at young Italians about to depart, or those who have just arrived in Australia, especially on temporary visas such as the Working Holiday Visa or Student Visa, but it is open to everyone who needs it.
Elaine Bocchini, part of the development team, emphasised the importance of providing realistic and reliable information, pointing out that “as many as 40 per cent of Italian migrants leave the country with incomplete or inaccurate information,” - a worrying statistic.
At the conclusion of the presentation, guests enjoyed a buffet and discussed other ideas and experiences regarding the WitCare project.
