Rachael Mhembere
“We get an opportunity to improve consumers' mental health, wellbeing, and personal recovery through education, psycho-social therapies, and medication. And at the end of that journey, when they leave our service feeling much better, that brings a lot of joy to my practice and me as a person. I enjoy that.”
“I think the most striking thing about Tasmania is the relaxed pace of life, the natural beauty, and also the good work/life balance anywhere you go is scenic. You’re either facing the sea or you’ve got a beautiful mountain. It’s just gorgeous.”
What’s the first thing do you do after moving halfway across the world with your teenage son to a place where you don’t know anyone? You try the local seafood, of course.
That’s exactly what Rachael Mhembere and her son, Tashinga, did for their first meal after arriving in Hobart. With a calming voice and a wardrobe full of vibrant colours, Rachael made the move to Tasmania after growing up in Zimbabwe and spending 22 years in the UK.
“We don’t have seafood in Zimbabwe,” Rachael says. “It’s an acquired taste. But I must say, Tasmanian seafood is pretty delicious.”
Rachael didn’t specifically move down for the delectable oysters. She came for work. As a registered nurse, she now works in mental health at the Peacock Centre in Hobart. The journey to get there wasn’t a simple one.
“I’d been wanting to come to Australia for a good 10 years,” she says. “So eventually I said, ‘Right, I’m going to do this.’ Then I went to a job fair, because I wanted to meet up with employers and get the ball rolling.”
When Rachael Mhembere saw the word 'Tasmanian' at a job fair, she had never heard of it before. Intrigued, she went over to learn more about the island and what it could offer her, and met a passionate Tasmanian healthcare worker who described her future home. Rachael was sold. But just two days before she was set to fly out, the world shut down for the pandemic.
Despite this set-back, Rachael kept in touch with her Tasmanian contact. “She was just amazing. She kept on encouraging me. That’s why I’m so passionate about encouraging other people who are trying to make the journey. Because I know it’s worth it.” Rachael and Tashinga were some of the very first people to arrive in Tasmania once the borders reopened.
Tashinga, who was 13 years old at the time, was more reluctant to move halfway across the world. Rachael explains, “He was feeling nervous about leaving his friends, and our support network as a family. I felt the same as well, but we just took it like an adventure.”
“Now he says that’s the best thing that has ever happened to him.”
Since their move, Tashinga has built a group of friends, become active in the school community, and taken part in activities like basketball, footy, swimming, and debating. His mum couldn’t be prouder.
As for herself, Rachael has found her place at the Peacock Centre. “It’s the first of its kind in Tasmania, and that’s pretty exciting,” she says.
When you work within a good team you enjoy coming into work, because you know that it’s a safe environment, you know you’re going to be supported.
The Peacock Centre is a drop-in mental health service offering a supportive, safe environment for recovery-focused and trauma-informed care, all built on compassion. On the first floor is a 12-bed acute ward, which is where Rachael primarily works, and below that is the integration hub, which includes the Safe Haven - a drop-in café that supports people in distress and their families.
“The part of my job that I enjoy the most is making a difference in people’s lives,” she says.
“When consumers come into our service and they’re experiencing distress, and a deterioration in their mental health, we get an opportunity to improve their mental health, wellbeing, and personal recovery through education, psycho-social therapies, and medication. And at the end of that journey, when they leave our service feeling much better, that brings a lot of joy to my practice and me as a person. I enjoy that.”
The other thing that keeps Rachael coming back everyday is the team. “I’m very fortunate enough to work within a supportive team,” she says. “They are very friendly, and that makes a difference. When you work within a good team you enjoy coming into work, because you know that it’s a safe environment, you know you’re going to be supported.”
Her long journey to get to Tasmania has paid off, and Rachael has no doubt she made the right decision.
“I think the most striking thing about Tasmania is the relaxed pace of life, the natural beauty, and also the good work/life balance,” she says. “Anywhere you go is scenic. You’re either facing the sea or you’ve got a beautiful mountain. It’s just gorgeous.”
Rachael lives in a coastal suburb and loves having the beach right at her doorstep, as well as easy access to great cafes, food, schools, and shopping. As a family, Rachael and Tashinga enjoy hikes, beach walks, and hanging out at Kingston Park, where Tashinga gets to practice shooting hoops. “And if I want to go to the city, it’s only 15 minutes down the road. So it’s pretty cool,” she says, chuckling.
Tashinga has fallen head over heels for Tasmania. He is far from the 13-year-old boy who didn’t want to leave the UK. This became clear to Rachael when they went on a holiday to the United States, which Tashinga had always dreamed of. In Rachael’s words, “he thought America was the best thing that ever happened since sliced bread.”
So, they went as a 16th birthday present. While it was a nice holiday, when they returned, Tashinga was thrilled to be back. He was struck by how few trees there were in America and missed nature back home. When they landed at the airport, he took a deep breath and said, “Smell this, mum, this gorgeous fresh air.”
“He loves Tasmania,” Rachael says, beaming.
Now, a few years on from their first day in Hobart - when they sat down and tried the local seafood together - they have no regrets. “I’m happy at work, I’m happy in my social life, and we’re thriving. My son and I are thriving, very happy.”
“So if anybody’s thinking about moving to Tasmania, I’ll say go for it. It’s worth the move to come down under. It’s a hidden gem. Come to Tasmania.”
Rachael is featured in partnership with our friends at Department of Health Tasmania.
We worked with southern Tasmanian photographers Jess Oakenfull, southern Tasmanian writer Peter Burt, and southern Tasmanian videographer Bree Sanders for this Tasmanian story.
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