It’s been a long life path for Anna Liao from growing up among coal burning chimneys in one of the most industrialised areas in northeastern China to becoming a community organiser for Asian Australians for climate solutions in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Born in Harbin, a coal mining capital region close to the Russian border with very distinct seasons of up to minus 38 degrees in winter, Liao remembers the smoke from coal burning pipes as an ever present shadow over her youth.
“I remember the smokey fog with an orange sky. We could taste and smell the smoke in the air – that was normal for us as kids. So now living in Melbourne, just having clean air in winter is a very precious thing.”
Liao recalls it was difficult to access nature in this part of China except when her parents or school would take her on excursions once a year. “We might go to a nearby farming village or forest area. As I grew up, I noticed even those greener areas shrinking and being replaced by more apartment buildings, and the farms were replaced by greenhouses so they could farm all year round in weather controlled environments.”
But even in High School, Liao says she was always quite outspoken about things she cared about, including running for Student President highlighting issues including recycling batteries and providing facilities for people with disabilities. “These are things I advocated for in school, but coming here I’ve had the opportunity to practice them personally, although I didn’t think about pursuing them professionally until now.”
Liao’s work in Australia had taken her in very different directions including social work, teaching and working as a tax agent in large corporations, until she realised working in the corporate sector just wasn’t her real calling. “I had a few months feeling a bit lost and trying to figure out how I can make a bigger and better impact, until I attended a Multicultural Leadership Forum that changed everything for me.”
She happened to be seated at a table with staff from Asian Australians for climate solutions and as they spoke, she recognised that these were her people. “Every time I think about it I feel emotional because it felt like everything I’d done before in my work and personal life had led me to that moment. It just felt like exactly my calling.”
Initially Liao worked on the Victorian state election as a volunteer before being offered a couple of days a week work with Asian Australians for climate solutions. When the election wrapped up it became evident that there was so much more to do in the community, working with Chinese, Sikh and Hindi communities on climate initiative, she was offered a full time job as a community organiser.
The role has empowered her to continue to connect with people in her community on their own level, to find out what they care about and how she can help them achieve those things. “We work mostly with Asian Australians. I know they care most about family – their own health, their children’s and grandparents’ health.”
“So it makes sense to them to switch off gas, to stop relying on fossil fuels – but they don’t know where to start. It seems too overwhelming, so we try to provide small steps they can take to start building their transition to new energy.”
Liao has also found a new home in Melbourne’s west, where she lives with her husband close to the Lollypop Lake in the Chisolm electorate. She says she sometimes even has local frogs visiting her home from the nearby wetlands.
“It’s very peaceful and lovely here. All my neighbours come from multicultural backgrounds – Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Thai and they’re all super lovely. We talk a lot about our gardens – which are the most drought resistant native plants, and how will they survive through the harsh summer?”
Liao says one of the key lessons she has learnt is that when dealing with people from different backgrounds, is not to come to them with a set agenda, but rather to meet them wherever they are intellectually and emotionally. “What I care about is why you are here, what has brought you to talk with me? I want to nurture my community to meet them where they are at right now, and how I can help to make them feel more comfortable, more accepted and respected.”
“I want them to know I am genuinely curious about their stories.”
