Dream Australia

Claudia and Rachid Ait-Touati (Murraylands / Riverland region) and Mary and Javier Centenera (Mallala region) Stories

Claudia and Rachid Ait-Touati Story

After feeling trapped in their home country of Holland, Claudia and Rachid decided it was time to realise Claudia’s childhood dream of moving to Australia. A migration agent advised them they would not be granted an Australian working visa. They didn’t have much money in the bank. If they couldn’t work they wouldn’t last long.   But they decided to try their luck. They packed five bags, their young family and headed to Australia on a tourist visa.

At first it didn’t look promising. Claudia’s family in regional Victoria were not helpful. A friend in Holland encouraged them to travel to Brisbane where they were offered work at a warehouse. However, without a working visa they were not able to start work. Things were looking bleak. Finally, a three-year working visa was granted. Through years of trying unsuccessfully to become residents in Australia through several different visa applications, Claudia and Rachid chanced their luck with a State Sponsorship in South Australia, and, within 2 to 3 weeks, it was approved.

A dream had been realised – rural life in the Murraylands and Riverland region, space for the kids, affordable housing, and most importantly, it provided a wonderful opportunity for Claudia and Rachid to realise a special dream that would benefit the local community.

Australia's first care farm for people with dementia

 Careship Coorong Ltd. is a charity which was established in 2011 by Claudia and Rachid Ait-Touati to promote care farming in Australia. Care farming is a form of ‘green care’ where people with care needs have socially valued roles on a working farm. The program is initiated by the farmer and therefore the focus is on the abilities of clients instead of the disabilities. Work will be adapted to the clients’ needs and interests and there is a friendly and relaxed atmosphere on the farm.

Careship Coorong Ltd. wants to promote care farming by establishing a pilot care farm for people with dementia. We will farm free-range snails which we will sell to local restaurants and caterers. The farm will be located in Coonalpyn, SA and is currently open every Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Careship operates as a social enterprise with the profits from the snails being returned into care programs and the farm project. 

To learn more about the Careship initiative go to: here

Mary and Javier Centenera Story

Javier’s and Mary’s story begins in Sydney where they recently arrived from the Philippines. At the time, they were unaware that Mary was pregnant with their third child. For the first two years in Australia everything was going well. Javier had found work at a local engineering business, Mary was working as a bank teller and they moved into their new home. However this all changed when Joseph, their third child, turned two.

For the next 18 years their family fought hard to support Joseph. It mean't Javier had to work the night shift and Mary during the day. They were like ships passing in the night. In this episode, we see how an off-chance opportunity to purchase a farm from Javier’s brother in the Mallala region in South Australia, changed their lives. It gave them opportunities that they could have only dreamt about in Sydney.

Hunno Pappy' written by Mary Centenera

"Hunno Pappy" is a family's journey in life from the time their youngest son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, up to his young adult life. The initial shock, then the acceptance and their willingness to learn and understand the complexity of autism. And how love, patience, perseverance and faith played a very big role in writing the book

To contact Mary Centenera: here