Sonal Sapkota’s story begins in Nepal, where she honed her skills as a nurse in an intensive care unit, dreaming of a future where her expertise could flourish.
In 2018, she arrived in Australia with ambition in her heart, pursuing a master’s degree and navigating a complex web of visa restrictions and bridging programmes to become a registered nurse (RN). It was a journey marked by resilience and sacrifice, years of planning, thousands of dollars spent, and an unwavering commitment to care.
But when Sonal stepped into the world of residential aged care in 2020, she encountered a reality far removed from the compassionate environment she had envisioned. Instead of support and recognition, she faced a subtle yet pervasive undercurrent of racism that tested her spirit and nearly broke her resolve.
Still noticeably apprehensive about sharing her story, Sonal recalls her early days in aged care. “I thought aged care would be different,” she says. “You are putting your parents in aged care for good care and everything. But it was like, ‘Oh my God, not what I expected it to be.’”
The shock wasn’t just about the workload or the system – it was the way she was treated, not as a skilled professional, but as an outsider whose background was a barrier rather than a strength.
The racism Sonal experienced was rarely overt; it hid in the shadows of condescension and exclusion.
Colleagues and managers would remark, “Oh, you did not learn that in your country? It’s a bit different here in Australia,” their tone dripping with superiority. When she sought promotions, leveraging her ICU experience and proven competence, she was dismissed with comments like, “You have a lot to learn because you don’t know Australian things.”
Despite her qualifications and dedication – one of the best nurses in her wing – opportunities were dangled just out of reach, reserved for those deemed more “Australian.” Shifts, too, became a battleground, with less desirable hours assigned to her and threats from HR that refusal would mean no work at all.
“You people normally like to work these shifts,” she was told, the phrase lumping her into a faceless category rather than acknowledging her as an individual.
But it wasn’t just the staff. The residents, the very people Sonal cared for, could be the cruellest. She recalls a particularly harrowing night shift, nearing 10:40 p.m., when an elderly former nurse demanded a vitamin K injection for a nosebleed – a treatment unavailable in that facility.
When Sonal explained this, the resident erupted. “You, a nurse coming from another country, you don’t know the system here,” she shouted, threatening to report Sonal to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and have her registration – and visa – revoked.
“You need to go back there,” the woman spat, her words echoing down the hallway for all to hear. Humiliated and shaken, Sonal turned to her manager, only to be met with indifference: “It’s OK, she’s old.” No action, no support, just a shrug that left Sonal questioning her worth.
The toll was devastating. “It affected me mentally,” she admits. “I didn’t sleep for nights, because I was questioning my own ability as a nurse. ‘Am I not made for this? Should I quit nursing?’” The fear of losing her visa, the years of effort unravelled by a single complaint, loomed large.
“I literally worked my butt off to be in that position,” she says, her voice breaking. “Then her telling me that – it wrecked my mental health.” It was one of the reasons she left aged care after two years, disillusioned and on the verge of abandoning the profession she loved.
Sonal’s story is not unique. She notes that around 40% of aged care workers come from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, many facing similar subtle discriminations – overlooked promotions, undesirable shifts, and a culture that fails to value their contributions.
“The system is not good,” she says. “The whole culture needs to change.” When she raised concerns, her CALD colleagues urged her to stay silent, “Just shoosh, nothing will be done” – but Sonal couldn’t accept that. Yet, her managers’ refusal to act only deepened her sense of powerlessness.
“It makes you think, ‘Oh, nothing will be done, so I should not be saying anything about it,’” she reflects. “Which is wrong. Racism affects your mental and physical health a lot.”
For Sonal, the turning point came when she joined Community Home Australia, where she now serves as Clinical Services Director. Under the guidance of Dr Rodney Jilek and her mentor Nicole Smith, she found a workplace that not only rejected racism but celebrated diversity.
“Dr Rodney interviewed me for 45 minutes,” she recalls, smiling. “He talked a lot about the CALD workforce and how racism is not tolerated.” Nicole empowered her to speak out, affirming that her past experiences were unjust. At Community Home, residents are included in cultural celebrations, fostering understanding rather than division.
“We explain what it is and why it’s celebrated,” Sonal says. “They feel like, ‘Oh, OK, yes.’” Racism, she insists, “does not exist” there.
Sonal’s journey is a testament to resilience, but it’s also a clarion call for change. She believes aged care must cultivate CALD leadership to create a positive, inclusive environment – a shift that could motivate and satisfy workers like her.
To Nepalese and migrant workers entering the sector, she offers hard-earned advice: “Look at the workplace that aligns with your values, not just the salary. Otherwise, it will really hamper your mental health.” Culture, she insists, matters more than the highest available pay-rates.
As Sonal thrives in her leadership role, she carries the scars of her early struggles but also a renewed sense of purpose. Her story lays bare the quiet racism that festers in some aged care settings, undermining the very people who sustain them.
It’s a plea for recognition, for action, and for a future where migrant workers are valued not just for their labour, but for the richness they bring to a system in desperate need of their care.
Hear more about Sonal’s story in the latest episode of the aged care sector’s With All Due Respect podcast.
Yes, it is dismissed and too many in the sector are silent.
Microaggressive disrespect (casual racism) damages the workforce and sector. Workforce crisis? Maybe people are turned off aged care due to a toxic culture?
Well done Sonal for your advocacy.
So sad for this RN and pleased she has now found her niche. Howrver I warn against the usr of the tetm ‘mental hdalth ‘ to describe rational feelings Australians are vefy prone to mindlessly ape American marketing and mind control rhetoric. America does jot wany us to think yhere are problems so the word had morphed to the ridiculous ‘challenge’. America wanted to change the powef stductire against the individual so ‘service” haz been changed to (fake) care/supporg. Death hax become passed and ask/contact is now the beggibg ‘reach out. Clearly this woman did not have the pathology of a mental illness.