Welcome to The Perantau Podcast, where we share stories from Australia's Indonesian diaspora.

Join Billy Adison Aditijanto and sit down with overseas Indonesians and the Indonesian diaspora to explore what it means to be, well, Indonesians. From international students to first-generation migrants, Indonesian academics to industry players, The Perantau Podcast talks about cross-cultural experiences, diaspora insights, Indonesian culture abroad, and the global Indonesian community. This podcast is bilingual, featuring episodes in English and Indonesian.

New episodes every other Wednesday.

The Perantau Podcast

Dr. Jonathan Hasian Haposan, atau akrab disapa Dok Jo, adalah Ketua Mata Garuda Australia & New Zealand sekaligus kandidat PhD di University of Melbourne. Di luar risetnya tentang infeksi, vaksin, dan kesehatan anak, ia aktif membangun komunitas LPDP dan mendorong mahasiswa Indonesia di Australia untuk saling terhubung dan berkontribusi, bahkan sebelum lulus dan pulang ke Indonesia.
Di episode ini, Dok Jo ngobrol bareng Billy Adison Aditijanto di The Perantau Podcast tentang perjalanan panjangnya mendapatkan beasiswa, kegagalan yang datang berkali-kali sebelum akhirnya berangkat ke Australia, dan pelajaran yang ia dapat selama menjadi perantau. Mereka juga membahas kenapa komunitas itu penting, bagaimana Mata Garuda berperan sebagai wadah bagi awardee dan alumni LPDP, serta mengapa kontribusi untuk Indonesia sebenarnya bisa dimulai dari mana saja—termasuk saat masih tinggal di luar negeri.
Season 3 Episode 6 – The Perantau Podcast.This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia.The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

Gimana caranya orang Indonesia bisa jadi peneliti di Australia? | Dr. Jonathan Hasian Haposan

Banyak mahasiswa Indonesia datang ke Australia buat kuliah. Tapi buat sebagian orang, pengalaman merantau nggak berhenti di kampus. Ada yang akhirnya memilih membangun komunitas, bantu orang lain, dan jadi jembatan antara Indonesia dan Australia.
Mohamad Desgia adalah Ketua LPDP UniMelb 2025/2026. Selain menempuh Master of Public Policy and Management di University of Melbourne, Desgia juga aktif membangun komunitas dan membantu kawan-kawan di perantauan untuk menjunjung tinggi impian mereka.
Di episode ini, Desgia ngobrol bareng Billy Adison Aditijanto di The Perantau Podcast tentang kehidupan mahasiswa Indonesia di Australia, pengalaman memimpin komunitas diaspora, dan arti menjadi bagian dari ekosistem LPDP. Mereka juga membahas mentorship, beasiswa, hubungan Indonesia-Australia, dan kenapa komunitas bisa menjadi salah satu cara paling sederhana untuk menciptakan dampak. Lewat ceritanya, Desgia menunjukkan bahwa menjadi perantau bukan cuma soal mengejar kesempatan untuk diri sendiri, tapi juga soal membuka jalan bagi orang lain.
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Season 3 Episode 5 – The Perantau Podcast.
This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

Kalau udah LPDP, apa sih ekspektasinya? | Mohamad Desgia

Apa sih rasanya jadi aktris Indonesia dan hidup di Melbourne
Sekar Sari adalah seorang pemeran film, penari, dan peneliti asal Yogyakarta yang pertama dikenal lewat perannya di film 2014, Siti. Perjalanannya kemudian membawanya keluar dari Indonesia — ke berbagai panggung internasional, hingga akhirnya menetap di Melbourne untuk melanjutkan riset dan praktik seninya.
Di episode ini, Sekar Sari bergabung bersama Billy Adison Aditijanto di The Perantau Podcast untuk membahas realita hidup sebagai kreatif Indonesia di luar negeri. Mulai dari perbedaan industri dan audiens, pengalaman terlibat dalam berbagai misi budaya mendunia, sampai bagaimana tinggal jauh dari Indonesia perlahan mengubah cara dia melihat identitas dan karyanya sendiri.
Season 3 Episode 4 – The Perantau Podcast.
This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

S3E4. Aktris Indonesia di Melbourne Gimana Rasanya? | Sekar Sari

Job hunting has changed, but for many people, even a strong CV is no longer enough. For students and migrants navigating the job market, the challenge is even more complex — figuring out how to stand out in a system that often feels unfamiliar.
Nicholas Alexander Sugianto is the co-founder of Jobsuit AI, an interactive resume builder designed to help job seekers tailor, analyse, and improve their CVs for each role. As an Indonesian building a startup in Australia, Nicholas experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to break into the job market — from understanding applicant tracking systems to learning how to position yourself effectively in a different cultural and professional context.
In this episode, Nicholas joins host Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about the biggest mistakes people make on their CVs, why buzzwords and overdesigned templates can hurt more than help, and how networking and personal projects can make a real difference. He also reflects on his journey from finance student to startup founder, the realities of building a business as an international in Australia, and how his own struggles shaped the creation of Jobsuit AI.
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Mencari kerja di Australia semakin kompetitif — dan bagi banyak mahasiswa serta diaspora Indonesia, punya CV yang bagus saja sering kali belum cukup. Tantangannya bukan cuma soal kualifikasi, tapi juga bagaimana memahami sistem rekrutmen, budaya kerja, dan cara “menjual diri” di pasar kerja yang berbeda.
Nicholas Alexander Sugianto adalah co-founder Jobsuit AI, platform AI untuk membuat dan mengoptimalkan CV agar lebih relevan dengan setiap lowongan kerja. Sebagai orang Indonesia yang membangun startup di Australia, Nicholas merasakan langsung sulitnya menembus job market — mulai dari menghadapi Applicant Tracking System (ATS) hingga memahami strategi CV yang efektif di lingkungan profesional Australia.
Di episode ini, Nicholas ngobrol bareng Billy Adison Aditijanto di The Perantau Podcast untuk membahas kesalahan paling umum dalam membuat CV, kenapa penggunaan buzzwords dan template yang terlalu “ramai” justru bisa merugikan, serta pentingnya networking dan personal projects dalam meningkatkan peluang kerja. Ia juga berbagi perjalanan dari mahasiswa finance menjadi founder startup, tantangan membangun bisnis sebagai diaspora di Australia, dan bagaimana pengalaman pribadinya membentuk lahirnya Jobsuit AI.
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This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

S3E3. From Finance Student to Jobsuit AI Co-Founder with Nicholas Alexander Sugianto

Berobat jauh dari rumah bisa mengubah cara kita melihat harapan, iman, dan arti menjadi kuat untuk diri sendiri dan keluarga.
Rosana adalah penyintas kanker yang menjalani perjalanan pengobatan di Australia sebagai pemegang guardian visa — datang untuk mendampingi anak bungsunya sekaligus berjuang sebagai pasien. Dalam masa sulit itu, doa, teman paduan suara, dan dukungan keluarga menjadi penopang sehari-hari yang membantu melewati hari-hari paling berat.
Bersama Billy Adison Aditijanto di The Perantau Podcast, Rosana berbagi pengalamannya menerima diagnosis, rutinitas kecil yang memberi kekuatan, dan bagaimana kendala bahasa memengaruhi pengalaman emosionalnya saat berobat. Mereka bicara soal advokasi medis — mengapa ia menolak klaim “obat ajaib” dan suplemen viral, bagaimana herbal bisa mengganggu kemoterapi, serta realita birokrasi dan rujukan di sistem kesehatan Australia yang kadang melelahkan. Rosana juga membagikan bagaimana peran iman, keluarga, dan komunitas (termasuk teman paduan suaranya) mendukungnya; pesan-pesan yang ingin ia sampaikan pada orang yang baru didiagnosis; serta apa arti harapan baginya sekarang — termasuk rencananya setelah kemoterapi selesai pada Maret 2026.
Season 3 Episode 2 – The Perantau Podcast.
This episode is delivered in Bahasa Indonesia.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

S3E2. Realita Kemoterapi di Australia: Cerita Penyintas Kanker

Language, culture and healthcare come together in ways that shape access, diagnosis and everyday care for migrants, where these nuances are too often missed by systems that assume a one-size-fits-all approach.
Sabrina Suwandi is a clinical speech pathologist and research assistant from Medan who works with children and assists research in the speech-pathology team at one of Australia's best children's hospital.
Sabrina joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast where they talk about what speech pathology really covers – from speech and language to swallowing, assistive communication devices and social skills – why some sounds and speech patterns are harder than they seem, and how multilingualism and code-mixing shape identity and confidence in a new country. They also touch on the cultural differences in how conditions like autism are recognised and accepted, and why research and awareness matter for better care. 
They explore Sabrina’s work in building the Indonesian Professionals in Healthcare Australia (IPHC) — a group launched in April 2025 to connect Indonesian allied-health and medical professionals in Australia, grow a community of practice, and act as a bridge for collaboration between Indonesia and Australia.
This episode is delivered in a mix of English and Bahasa Indonesia.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

S3E1. Indonesian speech therapist talks about working at Australia's best children's hospital | Sabrina Suwandi

Sometimes moving cities and between cultures pushes you to meet a completely new version of yourself. For many Indonesians abroad, that can happen through the food we chase, the values we hold onto, and the moments where we realise we don’t quite fit into one box anymore.
Jane Vieren is an Indonesian food content creator – among many other things – based in Melbourne. Between faith, confidence, and learning where she stands, Jane’s story reflects the messy, honest work of growing up far from home.
Jane joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast where they talk about the ethics of food content creation, the truth behind hype-driven dining videos, her funniest “wait… what?” Chindo culture mix-ups, and why marathons and pilates are the future for her.
This episode is predominantly delivered in a mix of English and Bahasa Indonesia.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

S2E18. How an Indonesian became a Melbourne food content creator with Jane Vieren

Loving Indonesia can feel complicated — especially when the place you call home challenges your hopes for its future.
Alfin Nurul Firdaus is a youth and environmental advocate from Pasuruan, East Java, now in Melbourne studying waste management at the University of Melbourne. From founding Pasuruan Youth Forum to building Waste Reform Indonesia, Alfin’s work is rooted in community, sustainability, and a desire to give back to the place that shaped her.
In this episode, Alfin joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about her deep, sometimes “toxic-relationship” love for Indonesia; the grassroots realities of waste management she witnessed growing up near industrial rivers; and how education abroad is reshaping her approach to environmental change.
Season 2 Episode 17 – The Perantau Podcast.
This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

S2E17. Rethinking Waste and Community in Indonesia with Alfin Nurul Firdaus

What does it take to build a life, and a business, far from home?
Meet Jordan Setiawan, an Indonesian entrepreneur in Melbourne who transformed his student journey into a thriving career in hospitality. After arriving in 2019 with limited English, Jordan faced Melbourne's strict COVID lockdowns, lost touch with his Indonesian community, and struggled to find his place. But through coffee, resilience, and a reconnection to culture, he co-founded Mr. Summit Café and recently launched the new Indonesian eatery, Kantin Kita. His story reflects the challenges and triumphs of the Indonesian diaspora: building dreams overseas while staying rooted in identity.
On this episode, Jordan Setiawan joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about reconnecting with Indonesian identity, battling burnout as a café owner, and why food is his bridge between Melbourne and Indonesia. 
This episode is entirely delivered in English.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.
Chapters:
Intro (00:00)
Identity and disconnection (01:12)
Hospitality career and starting Mr. Summit Café (03:16)
Burnout and imposter syndrome (08:10)
What Sets Mr. Summit Apart (13:30)
Southbank's new Kantin Kita (16:53)
Reconnecting with Indonesia through food (20:13)
The Next Chapter: Returning to Indonesia (22:10)
Quickfire Q&A (25:25)
Closing Thoughts (28:22)

S2E16. Experiences running a cafe in Melbourne with Jordan Setiawan

From Jakarta to Melbourne, the Indonesian diaspora is more than just students and migrant workers. It’s a community that reshapes how Indonesia connects with the world. Questions of belonging, identity, and rights remain central, especially as debates over dual citizenship and the future of overseas Indonesians gain momentum.
Charlotte Setijadi, anthropologist and author of Harnessing the Potential of the Indonesian Diaspora (ISEAS, 2017), has spent years studying how Indonesians abroad push for recognition, build networks, and engage in nation-building from afar. Now back in Melbourne after working in Singapore, she brings both her own research and personal take to the conversation.
In this episode, Charlotte joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about the changing face of the diaspora and the crucial role it plays in bridging cultures, politics, and economies.