Business Analyst Lead at MercyCare, Manjusha Subhash, emigrated from Mumbai to Australia in 2013, after her husband received an exciting job opportunity here in Perth.
Since moving to Perth, Manjusha has embraced her new way of life, while holding firmly onto her Indian roots.
Born in Kerala, a town on the Malabar Coast of India, Manjusha’s family moved to the bustling city of Mumbai when she was still a toddler. It was there that she fell in love with the colour and joy of Indian festivals, including – Vishu Festival in April, which is celebrated to mark the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura (victory of good over evil); Onam Festival in August, which is celebrated by the Malayalis in Kerala to mark the homecoming of the Great King Mahabali. It is also said to mark the harvest season for Kerala; Holi Festival, which welcomes Spring with vibrant colour and lots of fun; and Diwali, the Festival of Light, which takes place in November.
Diwali is one of her favourite celebrations and this year she made lanterns, known traditionally as Kandeels, with her children. Diwali is the Festival of Light, and Kandeels are placed at the front of the house to welcome the goddess home.
Making Kandeels is just one of the ways that Manjusha supports her two children to understand their culture.
“I feel a deep sense of responsibility to teach my children about their culture and their roots, even down to cooking foods that are as close to the real thing as possible – I have been known to drive for hours to find the right spice or banana leaves!” Manjusha said.
The family have joined the Cultural Malayalam Association of WA and the Indian Association of WA. Both groups provide friendship, community, and opportunities to participate in Indian festivals and celebrations.
Connection to family is the most important aspect of Indian life, and Manjusha endeavours to travel to India once a year to spend time with her parents, her twin brother and her extended family. During these trips she also makes the most of the delicious street food that Indian cities and towns are famous for.
At MercyCare, we are committed to fostering a workplace that reflects contemporary Australian society and the communities we serve. As a workforce, we are collectively capable of speaking almost 80 different languages, and more than 25% of staff have a first language other than English.
We encourage all MercyCare teams to celebrate Harmony Week by creating opportunities to share and learn about their peers’ cultures, including their food, language, music, history, customs and traditions.
To find out more about how MercyCare embraces diversity, you can read our Diversity and Inclusion strategy at: https://www.mercycare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MC-Diversity-and-Inclusion-Strategy-WEB.pdf
