Surya came from Indonesia to Australia as a backpacker. After traveling the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns, she chose a random job in regional Victoria and got stucked during COVID. As she got bachelor degree in food technology from Indonesia, she secured a job as part of quality assurance team in a meat factory, an essential service at that time. (N.b.: You can still see her big smile at the factory gate in a banner until now haha)

Back in Indonesia, Surya likes to do volunteering and involving herself in many community development projects to be a useful human being as much as possible. So after lockdown was finished in Australia, she started a journey as a support worker to help people with disability on weekdays. She also does kids entertainment such as giant bubble on weekends. The experience was enhancing by doing Small Business program at SisterWorks in 2023. 

She does business as well as studying Diploma of Community Services. In 2024, she becomes a part of Intercultural Ambassador in Bendigo. Surya started to do internship and now as Bendigo Engagement Coordinator at SisterWorks. She connects new migrant, refugee, and asylum seeking women to SisterWorks and ensure that they are offered appropriate internal and external services.

“ Working at SisterWorks really help me to be align with what I believe in life. I live with a motto ‘Memayu Hayuning Bawana’ a traditional Javanese philosophy to make the world more beautiful by doing good for ourselves, human beings, living things, and all nature.’

"Working at SisterWorks brings me joy—I thrive on embracing challenges that push me to excel. The women we empower, with their diverse backgrounds, are a constant source of inspiration. Our closely bonded social enterprise team fosters a dynamic, supportive environment, making every day rewarding and fulfilling."