Helmy’s journey: from isolation to connection

At Australian Red Cross, connection is at the heart of everything we do. We connect people who have been hit by disaster with practical help, emotional support and trusted information, and we bring people together through a range of community programs.

Connected Women is a Darwin-based program that supports migrant women to feel safe, welcomed and confident as they build skills, friendships and a sense of belonging in a new country. This is the story of Helmy, who joined Connected Women to meet new people in a foreign city, turning feelings of isolation into a powerful sense of community.

When Helmy moved from Indonesia to Darwin, everything felt unfamiliar. She only knew a few words of English, and while the humidity reminded her of home, the culture and surroundings couldn’t have been more different. “When I came to Darwin, I was always at home – I never joined in with people, never talked with people, because my English had not improved,” she says. “For the first five years, I did not go anywhere.”

At home, Helmy’s feelings of isolation deepened. She wanted to explore her new city but didn’t feel confident venturing out on her own. Then one day, she received a letter about learning English at a local school. She enrolled, and after attending a few classes, a pamphlet in the school’s reception caught her eye. On the front of the pamphlet was a photo of women dancing. They were wearing colourful dresses, and most memorably, they were all smiling.

“I read: ‘join dancing with Red Cross’,” recalls Helmy. “So I first joined the dancing, and then I started [taking part in] lots of activities.”

After joining up in 2020, Helmy discovered the program on the pamphlet was called Connected Women. Based in Darwin, Australian Red Cross Connected Women supports migrant women to feel safe, welcomed and confident as they build skills, friendships and a sense of belonging in a new country.

Connected Women is part of Australian Red Cross Migration Support Services, which protect and uphold the health, dignity and wellbeing of vulnerable migrants in Australia.

From sewing classes to jewellery making workshops, as well as opportunities to learn about the history and culture of Larrakia Country from local First Nations groups, Connected Women is all about supporting migrant women in the Northern Territory to feel safe, valued and welcomed.

"A lot of women are coming from China, Africa – from many countries,” says Helmy.

After becoming part of the Connected Women community, Helmy realised she had skills that could be shared with other members. Back home in Indonesia, Helmy would often sew her own dresses. She’s also an excellent home cook.

“Because I can do bling, why don’t I teach my friends to do the same?” says Helmy, referring to the process of decorating dresses with embroidery and diamantes – dresses that feature in Connected Women fashion shows at the annual Joy of Many Colours Festival. “I like teaching, because if someone can do what I say to them, and I can help them to do good, I’m happy.”

A valued member of the Connected Women community, Helmy is now a workshop facilitator, meaning she arranges and hosts different classes, from sewing to cooking and hairdressing. In 2024, her dedication was recognised with a Certificate of Appreciation at the NT Volunteer of the Year Awards. In 2025, she was further acknowledged with a Token of Appreciation for her volunteer contributions at Australian Red Cross Day.

“This makes me very happy,” she says. “Since I joined Connected Women, I’m not lonely. It makes me more confident, and I have a lot of friends.

“My friend came from Indonesia recently, and she joined Connected Women too. I said, ‘if you need something, Red Cross can help you [to get] where you need to go."

"And me too."