'Like really being kicked out': This Australian shares her struggle returning home during COVID pandemic

Amelia Lemondhi shares her story on how she contracted COVID-19 in Indonesia and her struggle to get on the plane home to Australia. Source: Facebook: Amelia Lemondhi

SBS Indonesian

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic begins, many Australians living overseas have struggled to return home. The low number of flights and caps on arrivals in Australia make this such a difficult effort. Has the Australian government optimally facilitated its citizens?

In 2018, Amelia Lemondhi decided to move and live in Jakarta. As a professional Indonesian-English interpreter, this Australian admits that she received many job offers in Indonesia, although every month she still commuted to Sydney to work.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Amelia was still able to comfortably carry out her work from Indonesia. However when she felt that COVID-19 cases were not being handled well in the country, especially after she and her husband were also infected with the disease, Amelia decided to return to Australia.

But she feels that her journey back to her homeland was not easy.

"Why are we citizens like.. we were really being kicked out," Amelia said when asked about Australia's response in helping its citizens return to this country. "People's comments on FB seem to really hate us who live abroad.

"They should be more attentive.. To better understand other people's situations."

Listen to the full interview on the SBS Indonesian's podcast.