You could never describe Sundram Sivamalai's life as boring.
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An internationally-renowned academic and one of Ballarat's foremost advocates for new migrants, Dr Sivamalai said it was while writing his autobiography that he realised how much of an impact his difficult childhood had on the rest of his life.
His book One Dream Four Countries will be launched during Refugee Week, on June 22.
It follows his journey from his birthplace in Malaysia, to struggling to survive in Singapore, before finding a lucky break to study overseas and help others.
Writing about his life and experiences was never something he intended to do, he said.
"I've been invited to speak at many events, and many times when the session finishes, they come back and say 'that was amazing, it should be put in a book'," he said with a laugh.
"I haven't been a writer before, writing English is not my style - I've written scientific journal articles, which is a very different thing - you go through several versions to sharpen it.
"If you're a novice writer, give it plenty of time - any time you have a little bit of inspiration, get up and quench it, otherwise it'll still be playing in your mind."
The challenge was in reliving the difficult times, but ultimately it was a "healing process".
"Writing this, I have been able to put some of the sorrows I've been living with, those early experiences that have troubled me for a long time - you can see how it haunts you, and by writing, I was able to move away from it," he said.
"You're reflecting, you're asking 'what could you have done better', but when you're growing up in poverty and everyone's telling you what to do ... the only thing that kept me going was thinking 'this is all temporary', there will be light at the end of the tunnel."
Well before his university studies and work in the medical field, Dr Sivamalai was a sandblaster in Singapore, a time he still remembers as dangerous.
"After leaving Malaysia, where I was born, I didn't think of other places to go other than Singapore, and when I went there, I had to survive," he said.
"I have a lot of friends who are refugees - you're lucky in this country that there's someone to help you, because I remember in Malaysia, if you had no money, there was nothing.
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"I'm here now because I had the support of the community - to go from nobody to someone with a professorship with leading roles in the government and community - if I could do that, my callout is don't hesitate, use this opportunity.
"Australia has given a lot of support to new migrants and refugees and others, so make use of it, and if you're in a position to help someone, don't hesitate."
One Dream Four Countries will be launched at Trades Hall on June 22, with Dr Sivamalai in conversation with the ABC's Prue Bentley.
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