Moving to a new town is an exciting adventure but imagine moving your young family to an entirely new country, thousands of kilometres from everything you have ever known.

For Nipun, a Career Medical Officer in Emergency Medicine at Bathurst Hospital, and his wife Susanthika, that was exactly the journey they were preparing to make as they arranged their relocation from Sri Lanka to Bathurst in regional NSW.

A new country, a new community, a new job and a young child to consider. They had a lot to organise, and navigating accommodation, childcare, and everyday life in an unfamiliar place from overseas was no small task.

Fortunately, someone on the ground in the Central West who was ready to help!

Through The Welcome Experience, the family was connected with Local Connector Rahni Darcy, who began working with them while they were still living in Sri Lanka, helping to put the pieces of their new life together before they had even boarded the plane.

“Relocating to a new area with a young child was quite overwhelming for us, especially while trying to organise accommodation, childcare, and settling into a completely new environment,” Susanthika said.

“Rahni made the entire process much easier and less stressful by guiding us through every step.”

One of the main challenges was finding a fully furnished rental property in Bathurst.

For a family relocating internationally, arriving to a home that was ready to live in was particularly important. Bringing a household of furniture halfway around the world wasn’t practical, and arriving in a new country with a young child and having to furnish a home from scratch would have added another layer of stress to an already major move.

But finding a suitable fully furnished rental in Bathurst was far from straightforward.

It took considerable research, with numerous enquiries and plenty of persistence, but Rahni was able to find a solution that met the family’s needs. The family was able to arrive in Bathurst without the stress and have somewhere comfortable to call home.

Accommodation was only part of the puzzle. Rahni also helped the family secure a childcare placement for their child, another important piece of the relocation process.

“Having a furnished house ready for us was a huge help, especially while moving with a child, as it made settling in immediately much easier and more comfortable for our family,” Susanthika said.

“It honestly felt like we could simply move from point A to point B without worrying about the usual challenges that come with relocating.”

Moving to another country is about so much more than finding a house and starting a new job. It’s about learning how things work, discovering your new surroundings, making connections and finding that feeling of belonging in a place that initially feels unfamiliar. This is where having a Local Connector can bring such a change.

With her knowledge of Bathurst and the surrounding community, Rahni provided the family with practical information, guidance, and reassurance before and after their arrival.

For Nipun, knowing they had someone local to turn to, made the transition so much easier.

“From the very beginning of our move to Bathurst, her support was exceptional, professional, and genuinely caring,” Nipun said.

“Her knowledge of the local community and services was invaluable, and it really helped us feel welcomed and comfortable in Bathurst much faster than we expected.”

Since The Welcome Experience expansion in June 2026, the family has continued to receive support, with Local Connector Cara joining The Welcome Experience team to now help support the Bathurst region.

As Nipun and Susanthika settle further into their new life in Australia, the focus has shifted from the urgent challenges of relocating to helping the family build their independence.

Cara has supported Susanthika as she worked towards obtaining her Australian driver’s licence, an important milestone that has given her greater freedom to get around her new community and open up more employment opportunities.

Their journey from Sri Lanka to Bathurst shows how The Welcome Experience helps essential workers and their families move to regional NSW, not just by handling the practicalities of relocation, but by providing the individual relationships and ongoing support that help people really feel at home.

“Having someone local who genuinely cares and is ready to assist makes a huge difference for families moving to a new community,” Susanthika said.

For Nipun, he would happily recommend the experience to others considering a similar move.

“We would highly recommend both the program and Rahni to other essential workers who are considering relocating to Bathurst,” Nipun said.

“Her support made a real difference to our family, and we are very grateful for everything she has done for us.”