Zhixin Chen and Neil Walsh – Victoria

Zhixin and Neil met through an adult beginner English language course, where Neil volunteers as a tutor and Zhixin is a learner. Paired together to practise conversational English, they quickly discovered they both had knowledge and skills to share.

For Zhixin, who has chosen to make Australia his new home, the partnership is an opportunity to build his confidence in English while gaining a deeper understanding of Australian culture and everyday life. Their conversations help him navigate his new home, both for himself and his family, who now call Australia their second home.

For Neil, the exchange offers a different kind of learning. With a background in philosophy and a longstanding interest in Chinese culture, he has been learning Mandarin and exploring Chinese philosophy. Zhixin shares his knowledge of Chinese proverbs and ancestral wisdom passed down through generations, giving Neil opportunities to practise Mandarin while gaining new perspectives on living harmoniously with the world around him.

What began as a classroom exercise has grown into a genuine friendship and two-way learning partnership that extends beyond the classroom. Through language, culture and shared curiosity, Zhixin and Neil continue to learn from one another while building understanding across cultures.

Neil and Zhixin each value the knowledge, perspective and learning the other brings to their life. They agree that while diversity can be recognised in policies or “on paper”, truly embracing it requires openness, genuine connection and a willingness to learn from people with different cultural experiences.

They describe their partnership as one of mutual learning and connection. As Zhixin explained, “It is through connection that the real learning takes place.” Neil added, “The way you learn is more important than what you learn.”

Their friendship is a powerful example of what can happen when people approach one another with curiosity, openness and a genuine desire to share. They look forward to continuing their learning together and proudly consider each other close friends.