Episode 2: Sunil Abbott | My Migrant Soul
Starting Again at 60
A migrant’s journey of resilience, identity and building community in Australia
What would you do if life asked you to start again… at 60?
New country.
New systems.
New identity.
For most people, that sounds like a chapter you’d avoid.
For Sunil Abbott, it became the chapter that defined everything that followed.
From India to Australia - and back to the beginning
When Sunil migrated from India to Australia in 2011, it wasn’t just a relocation.
It was a reset.
After decades of experience, including 20 years with Unilever and running his own business, he arrived in a country where none of that translated easily.
Simple things became unfamiliar:
Technology he’d never used before
Systems that worked differently
A culture that felt fast, unfamiliar, and at times isolating
Even ordering, communicating, and understanding accents became part of the learning curve.
But instead of resisting it, he made a quiet decision:
If I’m going to stay here, I need to rebuild my identity.
The reality of starting over later in life
There’s a version of migration we often hear.
The exciting one.
The opportunity-filled one.
Sunil’s story adds something more honest.
Starting again later in life comes with a different weight:
You’re used to being competent
You’ve already built a life once
And suddenly, you’re back at square one
But there’s also something powerful in that.
You bring perspective.
Resilience.
And a willingness to learn without ego.
Sunil leaned into all three.
He learned new systems.
Adapted to new ways of working.
And accepted something many people struggle with:
Being taught by the next generation.
From isolation to connection
Like many migrants, Sunil experienced isolation early on.
Days felt long.
Connections were limited.
And the sense of belonging hadn’t arrived yet.
Then something shifted.
Instead of waiting to feel connected… he decided to create it.
What started as a small group of people sitting in parks became something much bigger.
The birth of Club 60 Tarneit
With just over a dozen people, Sunil founded Club 60 Tarneit.
Not a formal organisation.
Not a grand plan.
Just a simple idea:
What if we created a space where people could come together, stay active, and feel part of something?
Over time, that idea grew.
From 15 people…
To 50…
To hundreds.
Today, Club 60 has over 800 members and has become a thriving multicultural community supporting older migrants through:
Social connection
Cultural celebrations
Health and wellbeing activities
Education and engagement
It’s not just a group.
It’s a lifeline for many who would otherwise feel invisible.
Building bridges, not boundaries
One of the most powerful parts of Sunil’s story is his approach to community.
Club 60 isn’t built around one culture, religion, or identity.
It’s built around inclusion.
Different cultures are celebrated.
Different traditions are respected.
And people are encouraged to step outside their own circles.
Even more powerful?
The group actively brings together communities that are often divided elsewhere.
Because in Sunil’s world, shared humanity matters more than inherited differences.
Redefining identity in a new country
Migration doesn’t just change where you live.
It changes how you see yourself.
For Sunil, identity wasn’t something he carried over unchanged.
It was something he rebuilt.
Not by letting go of his past -
But by expanding it.
He kept his culture.
Added new experiences.
And created a version of identity that worked in both worlds.
It’s never too late to start again
If there’s one message that runs through this entire story, it’s this:
There is no deadline on reinvention.
Sunil didn’t just adapt to a new country.
He built something meaningful within it.
A business.
A community.
A legacy.
All starting at an age when most people are thinking about slowing down.
Key takeaway
“If you want to stay in this country, you have to build your identity again - and learn to enjoy life in a new way.”
About the Host - Imran Abul Kashem
Imran Abul Kashem is the founder of Westend Business Hub, Westend Photography, Westend Digital, Westend Podcast, and Wyndham Entrepreneur Connect. An award-winning photographer and serial entrepreneur, Imran brings ideas to life at the intersection of creativity and business. As an author, investor, business advocate, and cultural ambassador, he is passionate about building platforms that empower communities and spark meaningful conversations.
About the Guest - Sunil Abbott
Sunil Abbott is a Werribee-based community leader whose story is a powerful example of resilience, reinvention, and lifelong learning. Migrating from India to Australia in 2011 with a Year 12 education, Sunil faced the challenges of adapting to a new culture, language, and technology-driven world later in life.
Rather than stepping back, he stepped forward - pursuing education in computer literacy, English, and commercial cookery, earning a Certificate III and continuing into Certificate IV studies.
In 2016, Sunil founded Club 60 Tarneit, a community group designed to support older migrants experiencing isolation and cultural barriers. What began as a small gathering has grown into a thriving network of hundreds, offering social connection, wellbeing activities, and a sense of belonging.
Recognised as an ambassador for Adult Learners Week, Sunil continues to inspire others to embrace growth at any stage of life. His journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to start again - and build something meaningful.
If Sunil’s story stayed with you, share this episode with someone who might need a reminder that it’s never too late to begin again.
And if you’re ready to grow your voice, share your story, or build something meaningful through content - book a Marketing Kickstarter and let’s make it happen.
Special Thanks to Our Partners
This podcast is proudly supported by our incredible partner businesses, whose ongoing support helps bring these conversations to life:
#MyMigrantSoul #MigrantStories #Resilience #LifelongLearning #CommunityLeadership #Belonging #StartAgain #InspiringStories #AustralianMigrants #Club60
Keywords
migrant journey Australia, starting again later in life, lifelong learning, community leadership, Club 60 Tarneit, migrant resilience, identity and belonging, older migrants Australia, cultural integration, personal reinvention, Werribee community, Podcast Studio,Sunil Abbott
