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. – 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. – 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

Many young Indonesians living abroad quickly realise that life overseas isn’t always as ideal as it seems — especially when your degree and career path no longer feel like the right fit. Adelina Novanty, or Dela, moved to Perth from Jakarta after finishing high school. Initially spurred by family, she began her degree in dental nursing. But over time, she discovered that her true interests lay in the business and creative space. Now, while continuing to work at a clinic, she’s pursuing a degree in management and exploring new opportunities — from health-sector marketing to running her own photography business. In this episode, Dela joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about homesickness, the challenge of finding community in Perth, and the value of self-exploration. She shares her journey from working in dental care to building her own side hustle, and what it’s been like navigating work and life across cultures. Season 2 Episode 14 – 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.

For students in Australia, Bahasa Indonesia is often seen as the throwaway subject — too easy, too close, or just not important. But for Silvy Wantania, Indonesian teacher at Melbourne High School and President of the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers’ Association (VILTA), language isn’t just about passing doing well in class. It’s a way to build relationships — with others, and with ourselves. After more than two decades of teaching in Australia, Silvy works with two main demographics: Australian-born students of Indonesian descent, and non-Indonesians who choose to learn Bahasa Indonesia as a foreign language. As the challenges differ, so does the approach. But the point stays the same: to make the language feel alive and relevant. In this episode, Silvy Wantania joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share her experience keeping Bahasa Indonesia engaging for the next generation. We discuss why student interest is stagnating, how pop culture like Dilan 1990 and Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? unexpectedly draw in non-Indonesian students, and the crucial role diaspora parents play in keeping the language from fading away. This episode invites us to reflect: if Indonesia still matters, why is the language being left behind?

What happens when you’re trying to make a new home abroad—but your emotions still speak in the language of home? In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Angela Utomo, an Indonesian psychologist and lecturer at Victoria University in Melbourne, who shares her unique perspective on navigating mental health, identity, and belonging as a migrant. Drawing from over 15 years of experience in Australia, Angela reflects on what it means to stay rooted in your cultural identity while building a new life elsewhere. We explore the emotional weight of language in therapy, the hidden stigma still surrounding mental health in Indonesian communities, and the unspoken pressures that often come with studying or working overseas. Angela also opens up about how faith, community, and small everyday actions can ground us through the uncertainties of life abroad. Whether you’re an international student, a first-time migrant, or someone supporting others through change, this episode reminds us that it's okay to ask for help—and that healing can begin in the words closest to our hearts.