Come Salmoni Controcorrente: Francesca Returns to Australia
- the story of francesca Furnari is one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a dream across continents. From her initial request to an Australian company to ultimately...
- For Francesca Furnari, a native of Florence, the prospect of working for an Australian company seemed almost too good to be true.
- “Avevo semplicemente fatto domanda senza grandi speranze.
Francesca Furnari’s Journey: A Decade of Dreams, Disappointments, and Australian Citizenship
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the story of francesca Furnari is one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a dream across continents. From her initial request to an Australian company to ultimately achieving citizenship,her journey has been filled with unexpected turns and challenges.
The australian Dream Begins
For Francesca Furnari, a native of Florence, the prospect of working for an Australian company seemed almost too good to be true. With a background in international sales, the opportunity in Australia appeared promising.After completing the standard tests and interviews, Francesca was ready to embark on her adventure.
“Avevo semplicemente fatto domanda senza grandi speranze. E invece poi le cose sono andate diversamente rispetto a quello che mi aspettavo,” Francesca recalls, highlighting the unexpected nature of her initial success.
Early Challenges and a Change of Course
Though, upon arriving in Australia, Francesca faced management conflicts that led her to seek option employment. She found a position at a swimwear company, where she remained for three years, navigating the initial hurdles of settling into a new country.
Meeting Marco, who would become her partner, marked a turning point. As their relationship progressed, Francesca transitioned through various visa statuses, eventually discovering she was pregnant.

The Pandemic and a Difficult return to Italy
Two months into her maternity leave, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, leading to Australia’s isolation from the rest of the world. francesca found herself in a challenging situation.
“E io mi ritrovo a casa in isolamento con questo bambino meraviglioso, tanto voluto. Ma mi trovavo in difficoltà, essendo sola e con un bambino che dormiva poco. Abbiamo contattato varie associazioni che supportano le mamme che hanno queste difficoltà, però non è cambiato niente per me,” Francesca remembers, emphasizing the isolation and lack of support during that period.
The difficulties she faced motivated her to return to Italy, securing a special departure permit due to the closed borders. Adding to her challenges, the company she worked for closed due to the pandemic, leaving her unemployed.
After seven years in Australia, the return to Italy was bittersweet. While she regained the support of her family, she also faced the risks of the pandemic in Italy.
una volta in Italia abbiamo avuto un problema in famiglia, per cui siamo dovuti rimanere oltre a quelli che erano i nostri progetti originari
Francesca Furnari
Immigration Hurdles and a Second Return to Australia
Francesca’s new life in Italy was soon elaborate by the Australian immigration department. Because her residency application was still in progress,she and her family were required to return to Australia or risk having their application canceled. This ultimatum led to another difficult decision: a second return to Sydney.
“Abbiamo deciso di mollare di nuovo tutto per tornare qui e concludere quello che in tanti anni ci eravamo costruiti. Quindi siamo tornati a Sydney con un bambino ormai di tre anni che non parlava inglese per nulla,” she explains, highlighting the sacrifices made to pursue their long-term goals.
The challenges were meaningful, but Francesca’s network of friends and supporters helped the family through this second beginning.
Citizenship Achieved
The reward for their perseverance came last year in April. After a lengthy bureaucratic process, Francesca and Marco received their
Australian Citizenship: A Q&A Guide based on Francesca’s Journey
This article explores teh path to australian citizenship, drawing insights from Francesca Furnari’s decade-long journey. Learn about the challenges, requirements, and key steps involved in becoming an Australian citizen.
