Ghanaian Mechanic in Australia Shares His Journey From LinkedIn Chance to Earning $75 an Hour — Bright Tells His Story on SVTV Africa
Bright, a Ghanaian mechanic now based in Perth, Western Australia, has shared his extraordinary migration journey on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami. He has lived in Australia for four years, but his story began in Ghana, where he worked at Mantrac for three years.
According to Bright, his breakthrough came unexpectedly. One day, he skipped work only to discover that many of his colleagues were secretly processing their documents to travel to Australia. Nobody told him anything. Later, while browsing LinkedIn, he found a Ghanaian who worked with Gold Fields and was looking for a replacement because his job was at risk. The man posted an email for job opportunities abroad, and Bright quickly grabbed it.
He updated his CV, attached photos of his work in the gold mines, and sent an email. Within four hours, he received a reply inviting him for a video interview. He passed, and the company informed him that they would travel to Ghana for physical recruitment.
The interview was held at Labadi Beach Hotel, where over 300 applicants had gathered. Bright was the first person to be interviewed. Company executives from Australia spent two days in Ghana screening candidates. After seeing the stiff competition and the documents others had, Bright lost hope—but three weeks later, he received an email saying he had been selected. He was issued an offer letter and guided through the visa process. After his medicals, his visa was approved within three weeks, and he was flown to New South Wales.
Before travelling abroad, Bright had completed mechanical engineering at polytechnic and later trained at NTTI. He did his national service at Mantrac and eventually secured employment there, which gave him strong hands-on experience.
His first Australian offer was $31 per hour as a mechanic. The company he worked for, Quote Hire, specialized in lifting elevators and equipment. The contract required him to work with them for two years before switching employers. Despite the good salary, life was tough initially. He walked 45 minutes to work every day, paid $1,500 rent monthly, and police constantly stopped him because he was a Black man. Still, he remained focused.
He later paid off a $10,000 debt for his flight ticket and accommodation arranged by the company.
After fulfilling his two-year bond, Bright applied for a new job as a heavy-duty mechanic—and that changed everything. His new salary jumped to $75 an hour. Within two weeks, he earned $6,800. He also received attendance bonuses and discount privileges at shopping malls. His hard work earned him a prestigious Silver Bar Award as the company’s best worker.
Bright now works two weeks on and one week off. He lives alone for now but has attached his wife and children to his visa. His wife, a midwife, is currently studying in Ghana to prepare for work in Australia once she joins him. Today, Bright owns two cars and lives comfortably—a big transformation from the days he walked nearly an hour to work.
He encourages the youth to keep upgrading their skills, especially technical trades, because international opportunities favor people with hands-on experience. His story is a testament to how one email and determination can change a life forever.
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