Poppy the lollypop lady at one of her morning shifts. 73393 Picture: XAVIER SMERDON
By XAVIER SMERDON
POINT Cook mother of three Poppy Setiawan has a Bachelor of Psychology, a Master’s degree in Marketing and a PhD in Economics, but she is stuck working as a lollypop lady.
Originally from Indonesia, Poppy came to Australia more than 15 years ago and received her permanent resident status in 1995.
But despite all her qualifications and her dying passion to put her skills to good use, the only job she has been given a chance at is as a school crossing supervisor for Wyndham Council.
Poppy bravely stood up in front of Julia Gillard at last week’s community cabinet meeting in Werribee and asked why skilled migrants could not receive more support.
“I’m not complaining about this job,” Poppy told Star.
“I’m happy to meet the kids and I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I’m asking why.
“They are not putting my skills to use.”
The dedicated learner is so desperate to work in her chosen field that she applies her mathematical skills to her current job.
“I know the statistics,” she said.
“If it is raining in the morning or if it is too hot there will be around 40 kids at the crossing but if it is a sunny day there will be around 70 kids.”
When Poppy told her story at the community cabinet meeting last week the audience gasped in disbelief.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen told Poppy and the rest of the audience that there is a system in place for skilled migrants.
“What we have tried to do is encourage more people to come in under the employer nominated scheme, which means you basically have a job from the day you arrive because an employer has nominated you for filling a vacancy,” Mr Bowen said.
“Of course we do have to make sure that our recognition regime is very rigorous to ensure that people are qualified appropriately for that work in Australia.”
