Embarking on a journey to live, study, and work abroad is a significant milestone that shapes one’s life in profound ways.
Maximus “Max” Abraham, a 22-year-old Indonesian accountant living in Melbourne, shares his experiences navigating life in a foreign land. From his motivations to study abroad to his thoughts on career growth and cultural connections in Australia as well as Indonesia, Max offers a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities that come with building a life overseas.
Through this series of questions, Indonesia Expat delves deeper into his journey, insights, and advice for fellow Indonesians aspiring to take a similar path as well.
Hello, Max! Would you mind introducing yourself first?
My name is Max, I am currently 22 years old and working as an accountant/bookkeeper in Melbourne.
Could you share a bit about your journey—what motivated you to study abroad, and why did you choose Melbourne, specifically?
Around 13 years ago, I lived and studied primary school in Melbourne for 1.5 years. We also have a relative living in Melbourne and my family would visit them every Christmas, making me more familiar with the area. Another factor that motivated me to go to Melbourne was the opportunity to work while studying, as well as the working culture, in general. I was able to hold a part-time job along with doing my full-time studies, which I don’t think would be possible if I were to study in Indonesia. Ultimately, the familiarity factor is what led me to choose Melbourne over other destinations.
What were the biggest challenges you faced as an Indonesian student adjusting to life and academics in Australia?
For myself, I did not have too many challenges adjusting. The education I received was fairly straightforward and easy to follow. The main thing that was very different compared to Indonesia is how expensive the living cost is.
What factors influenced your decision to stay and work in Melbourne after graduating?
As mentioned before, the work culture is very good in Melbourne. At my current job, they do really look out for you and they try to support you as much as possible. There is also the monetary factor as well; while the living cost is certainly higher, you are also able to save more even if you are a junior employee.
Can you describe your current job as an accountant? How did your studies prepare you for this role?
My current job position is more of a bookkeeper with a side of accountant, where I mainly do the bookkeeping side of things but also, help out with the accounting side in regards to the GST/VAT reporting and other business advisory aspects. To be honest, I did have to learn most of the stuff that I do on the job as it is very different to what I was taught at the university. The universities only explain to you the basics of accounting and then, the main aspects of the job.
How has living and working abroad shaped your perspective on career growth and opportunities?
Living abroad did expand my perspective on one thing in particular: people value. In Australia, many workplaces do not dare to mistreat their employees because of the tight regulations and the potential of copping a lawsuit from the employee. In my current workplace, they are really focused on letting the juniors learn and grow, as such they would have monthly catch-ups on top of their biannual review where they would discuss their current situation and goals.
Do you see yourself returning to Indonesia in the future? If so, what would motivate that decision?
If I had the opportunity, I would prefer to stay in Australia.
What do you think the Indonesian government or private sector could do to attract talented Indonesians living abroad back home?
I am not familiar with what the working situation is like in Indonesia [right now], but from what I have heard is that the government or people in managerial positions do not appreciate young professionals. Maybe if they would give something that incentivises people to come back, such as a competitive wage, something to contribute to their pension, or maybe a quality of life incentive…
Are there specific policies or initiatives from Australia that you think Indonesia could adopt to support young professionals?
There was a new policy that was recently passed in Australia called the “right to disconnect”, in which employees are given the right *not* to answer any work-related calls or messages after hours. I believe this might help improve the quality of life for many working Indonesians.
What advice would you give to other Indonesians considering studying or working abroad?
I would suggest giving it a go. While there are barriers such as monetary, language, etc., I would recommend people to try and go overseas to broaden their horizons. See how people from different countries work and live. If you were to come back, implement the good parts from your experience.
How do you stay connected to your Indonesian roots and culture while living in Melbourne?
I joined many Indonesian social circles ranging from the Indonesian Students Association (Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia di Australia or PPIA) to celebrating kuningan with the Balinese community in Melbourne. Quite a number of my friends are Indonesians that I met from PPIA, and many Indonesian restaurants have opened in Melbourne so I frequent those as well. It is very easy to connect with fellow Indonesians in Melbourne as we would often get introduced to each other during social events, family events, etc.