Every month on WOMENCANFLY.CO’s blog series, The Way, we introduce inspirational women who live around the world.
This time we introduce Kazumi, who lives in Sydney and works for a medical equipment manufacturer.
After working as a nurse in Japan for eight years, Kazumi came to Australia on her own in 2010 on a working holiday visa. She then returned to Japan and made a career change to a medical equipment manufacturer. She is currently working at the company's Sydney office, promoting new medical equipment and treatments, while also working as a permanent resident.
Kazumi's experience as a workaholic led to a career change, but how did this experience lead to her becoming a permanent resident? Find out more about the process of obtaining a visa, how she changed her career from a nurse to a company employee, and what Kazumi always keeps in mind!
From nurse to Australia on a working holiday visa
While working as a nurse in Japan, Kazumi experienced her father's hospice care (care to help terminally ill cancer patients live peacefully). At that time, Kazumi felt that hospice care in Japan was not yet sufficiently developed. It was around that time that she heard a colleague talking about going on a working holiday, and this was the first time she had heard of such a system.
“Life is long, maybe I should go out into the world and challenge myself for a year or so.”
I wasn't sure whether I should master my career as a nurse or explore other avenues, but my desire to experience life and the healthcare system abroad grew stronger.
“My skills as a nurse were a big part of what made me up for the challenge.”
She was able to embark on a year-long overseas challenge because she felt secure that she would be able to find a job immediately after returning home.
“It wasn't so much that I wanted to go to Australia to do something, but more that I wanted to experience Australian life, the medical situation and so on, and hopefully become a nurse in Australia.”
Kazumi used her nursing experience in Japan to work in Aged Care (aged care) in Australia. At first she struggled with the language barrier, but steadily built up her confidence through practical conversations and cross-cultural exchanges in the field.
However, at the time she had no choice but to return to Japan, as her English skills were not at all up to the level required for a nurse. However, this experience was a good opportunity for her to learn about the medical situation overseas.
Future options widened by working holiday
Working in Aged Care in Australia improved Kazumi's English language skills and gave her first-hand experience in overseas healthcare situations.
“My year and a half in Australia has had a 120% impact on my career.”
Since returning to Japan, Kazumi's perspective has broadened from Japan to the ‘world’ through her Australian experience. Having learned to speak English, she made many international friends in Japan and began to realise the potential for a global career in the medical field. The idea then came to me to leave the hospital setting and enter the global medical field.
“I had always wanted to stay involved in the healthcare industry and had no intention of changing to a completely different field.”
Then a foreign friend of mine was a recruiter for a foreign medical equipment manufacturer and told me that people with nursing experience and who could speak English were very attractive, and that foreign medical equipment manufacturers were looking for such people.
“Nursing work was rewarding, but the irregular night shifts and the physical strain made me wonder if I would be able to continue for long. That was one of the reasons I decided to work for a company. Working in a company where I could utilise my knowledge as a nurse while contributing to the healthcare industry from a broader perspective was the ideal career change for me.”
These words made me think that if she could use my experience and skills to work for a global medical equipment manufacturer, she would be able to contribute to more people, and she decided to take on this challenge. That is the company she works for now.
Second time in Australia, aiming to obtain permanent residency
While working for the company she was employed by in Japan, she was given the opportunity to re-locate to Australia. However, there were several pressures.
Kazumi wanted to live in Australia as permanently as possible, and before coming to Australia, she strongly expressed to the company that she was aiming for permanent residency and that she would not go if they did not support her. After arriving in Australia, she continued to discuss this with her manager and the company understood her intentions. At the same time, there was pressure on her to achieve permanent residency, as it depended on her own performance.
There were also other responsibilities unique to his job title.
As a professional, there is always the pressure to communicate half-heartedly, which could lead to miscommunication that could possibly lead to the death of a patient.’
When she started working in Australia, she was engaged in the same work as she was doing in Japan, educating doctors and patients about new medical equipment and treatments, only she had moved to a different country. However, there was a language barrier and he struggled with how accurately he could convey information to clients.
“When I couldn't get a word across, I analysed what was wrong and wrote down difficult-to-pronounce medical English on my phone so I could train my colleagues how to pronounce it so I wouldn't have to do it again.”
Thanks to these efforts, after three years in Australia, the company agreed to support her to obtain permanent residency, and she was able to do so successfully.
The differences in work environments between Australia and Japan
The difference between Japan and Australia can be seen in the way evaluations are made.
“In Japan, people sometimes appreciate the attitude of ‘I did all this’, even if there are no results. But in Australia, results are more important than process, and there is a more serious side.”
There are also differences in communication styles.
“In Japan, there is a strong culture of being in tune with the people around you. There is an atmosphere where if everyone says ‘yes’, you say ‘yes’ as well. I don't think this is a bad thing, but it makes it difficult to get things done and sometimes individuality is lost. In Australia, individuality is valued and it's good to be willing to speak your mind.”
When I first came to Australia, I wasn't used to voicing my opinion, but gradually I changed my mindset to the idea that I don't have to worry if my opinion is dismissed.
I realised through my life and work in Australia that it is very important to express my opinion because it does not mean that I am rejected.
This is how she adapted to the Australian environment.
Enjoyment she found in Sydney
Kazumi has now lived in Sydney for five years. She has become quite accustomed to life there.
Kazumi thinks that the best thing about Sydney is that, although it is a city, there is a lot of nature.
“There's a lot of bushwalking just a 10-minute drive away, so I use the AllTrails app to find out where I can go bushwalking wherever I am.”
She also likes to move, so she spends her time climbing, doing pilates and going on excursions once a month.
“Everyone is free in Australia. I feel like people don't hold back. I want to say what I want to say and do what I want to do. Everyone is like that and nobody says anything about it.”
In Australia, there's not much to give, not much to give, so it's stress-free and comfortable for both parties.
Made in Japan to the world!
Kazumi's next vision is to obtain an MBA.
“I want to continue to be involved in the healthcare industry. I want to contribute to society through healthcare. And even now, living in Australia, I am still proud to be Japanese and want to support Japan.”
After completing her MBA, she would like to pursue a position managing an entire business or working to promote medical devices and new treatments developed by Japanese companies to the rest of the world.
“I would like to be involved in work that promotes Japanese products and pride as ‘Made in Japan’ to the world, so that people from all walks of life can benefit from them.”
Kazumi has moved her activities from Japan to Australia and is steadily building her career while fulfilling her responsibilities as a professional medical device manufacturer. However, her underlying desire to ‘contribute to society through healthcare’ has not changed, no matter where she is.
We look forward to Kazumi's next challenge.
Thank you for reading this, and we are always here for you !
Women can fly.
Much love, xxx
Team WCF
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