From being a cleaner to becoming a cafe owner in Sydney, this is Wilbert Tandiono's story.
Wilbert Tandiono arrived in Australia shortly before the Covid lockdown in 2019. Trying to survive in the country amidst the difficult pandemic situation with limited funds, he accepted any job offer that came his way.
"At that time COVID-19 came, the lockdown hit and I had no choice but to work as anything as long as I had an income. Because once I decided to live in Australia, I couldn't go back," he told SBS Indonesian, noting that he had already spent a lot of money on his visa and travel.
Wilbert then accepted a job as an apartment cleaner in Sydney, with him "specialising" in washing rubbish bins.
"At the time, no one wanted to do the job," he said.
No matter the circumstances are, there is always an opportunity.Wilbert Tandiono, owner of San Java 2.0
Nevertheless, Wilbert's constant dream was to be a business owner in the F&B industry. Armed with his previous experience as a business owner in Medan and strong motivation, he determined to raise capital and learn the ropes of business in Australia by working here.
From wages ranging from $14 to $50 per hour, from working as a kitchen hand to a kitchen head, Wilbert learned from all his experiences and then applied them to open his first business in Australia: Cafe San Java.
Now, fast forward seven years later, Wilbert has positioned himself as the owner of one of the thriving cafes in the heart of bustling Sydney's precinct. How did his business grow to the creation of San Java 2.0? What is Wilbert's dream for this business in the future?
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