Episode 6 - Burnout in Hospitality: Why So Many Immigrant Workers in Australia Are Running on Empty

Burnout is one of the most common but least talked about realities of working in hospitality.In this episode, I share my personal experience as an immigrant pastry chef in Melbourne working six days a week while trying to build a stable life in Australia.From early morning kitchen shifts to late night rides on public transport, hospitality life can be physically demanding and emotionally exhausting — especially for migrants balancing work, studies, visas, and the pressure to succeed in a new country.Why do so many chefs, kitchen workers, baristas, and hospitality professionals feel constantly tired?How does migration make burnout even heavier?And why do we rarely talk about it openly?This episode explores the quiet realities of burnout in hospitality, the immigrant mindset of pushing through exhaustion, and the resilience it takes to keep building a life far from home.If you’re an immigrant, international student, chef, or hospitality worker in Australia, this conversation will feel very familiar.In the next episode, I’ll also be speaking with a mental health professional who previously worked in hospitality, to discuss practical ways professionals can deal with burnout both personally and professionally.Follow the podcast, share it with someone in hospitality, and join the conversation.