Migrants learn English and find new friends at outback sewing classes

Outback Queensland is a long way from Pakistan — but when you do not speak English, it can feel even further.

That all changed for Amina Faisal when she made a Pakistani friend on the streets of Mount Isa.

"I used to wander here and there, just exploring Mount Isa, then suddenly I met one of my Pakistani friends," she said.

The friend suggested she head to the local library, where she found a community of residents from around the world.

Ms Faisal learnt English through sewing classes with the group.

Now, she has a job at the local supermarket, a group of friends in town and has just given birth to her first child.

"[Before] my husband had to explain everything to me, what they are talking about," Ms Faisal said. 

"The biggest barrier is the language, if you don't know the language, in any country, you can't have a job."

A multicultural outback city

Therese Sexton is the Multicultural Program Coordinator at Community Action for a Multicultural Society (CAMS) Mount Isa.

"We assist the migrant community in feeling welcome for social and economic inclusion," she said.

CAMS has 19 locally run branches funded by the state government across Queensland, with each program tailored to meet the needs of its community.

In Mount Isa, CAMS facilitates weekly sewing classes, where women from different countries come together to sew, drink tea and practice their English. 

"It's an opportunity for those who are quite capable of sewing to teach the beginner sewers as well — [it is] a great opportunity to interact," Ms Sexton said.

According to the ABS, 23 per cent of Australians speak a language other than English at home.

And in the remote city of Mount Isa that figure is still significant at 15 per cent .

Like Ms Faisal's husband, many people migrate to the region for employment in the mining industry.

The first project she worked on with the group was sewing blankets for the maternity ward at Mount Isa Hospital, the same ward where she would deliver her first child.

When Ms Faisal fell pregnant, her mother back in Pakistan was worried she would have no help.

"I told her, 'No, I'm not all alone, I have some very good friends here,'" she said.

'I feel so proud'

Kitika "Bird" Lambden moved from Thailand in September last year after her husband secured work in the mine.

"I like Mount Isa because … [it's] quiet and not traffic jam — the opposite of my hometown" she said.

Ms Lamden is excited to learn how to repair her clothes rather than replace them, but loves the social aspect of the group too.

"This helped me learn a conversation with my friend," she said.

"My friend is international from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Australia, and Thai, and [we] have fun."

"I feel so proud of myself and say, 'Oh! I can do!'

"I know everything is different but I'm so happy living in Mount Isa."

Seeking job opportunities

Mashell Ortac moved to Mount Isa three weeks ago.

"I came here … looking for job opportunities because I am geologist," she said.

After leaving her home country of Ecuador, Ms Ortac lived in Sydney for five months and then the small town of Bedourie for a year and a half.

She said Mount Isa was a whole new remote Australian experience.

"I was shocked because it's a city in the middle of nowhere," Ms Ortac said.

She had never sewn before but jumped at the opportunity to meet new people.

"The ladies help me a lot because I didn't [have any] idea how to turn on the machine," Ms Ortac said.

"It's perfect for me because I would like to improve my English and I like to learn about other people [and] their stories."