Alessia Licitra, a Sicilian native who moved to Australia with her family as a teenager, has found success as a speech pathologist while maintaining a vibrant connection to her musical roots. Licitra’s journey, detailed in a recent interview with SBS Italian, highlights the challenges and rewards of adapting to a new life “Down Under.”
Licitra and her family relocated to Australia ten years ago, when she was 17. Her parents sought better opportunities, and her younger brother’s Down syndrome also factored into their decision, she explained. “Mom and Dad wanted to give us a future, as they say, better, with a few different prospects,” Licitra said.
The initial transition proved difficult, particularly due to the language barrier. While Licitra’s mother was already an Australian citizen, having parents who had previously emigrated from Italy, adapting to a new school system and building friendships presented significant hurdles. “It was tough as obviously that’s the age when you build your friendships, the high school years,” she admitted. “But now that I look back, I’m exceptionally happy because I’ve achieved a lot of things here that maybe I wouldn’t have been able to achieve in Italy.”
Licitra pursued and completed her studies in Australia, ultimately becoming a speech pathologist. She noted that music played a crucial role in her integration. Having sung in Italy, she continued to do so in Australia, finding it a way to connect with others. “It was the thing that helped me make friends even at school because, well, I started singing at school and from there I made acquaintances, they invited me to sing the anthem in assembly and things like that,” she recalled.
She currently performs in Italian clubs and with various bands, singing in English, Italian, and Spanish. While passionate about music, Licitra chose speech pathology as a more “secure” career path. The university coursework required significant effort to achieve the necessary language proficiency.
As a speech pathologist, Licitra works with adults who have experienced traumatic brain injuries, strokes, or cancers of the mouth and neck, as well as those with neurodegenerative diseases. Her bilingualism is a valuable asset in her operate, as she frequently encounters Italian patients. “There are always Italian patients,” she said. “I reckon it’s really important to be able to speak Italian with someone who in that case is there as a point of reference.”
After ten years in Australia, Licitra feels at home, but remains connected to her Sicilian heritage. She recently returned to Sicily for the first time in nine years, describing the experience as deeply meaningful. “Last year I finally managed to go after nine years and it was wonderful because I felt reconnected to my origins, to who I am, to see my Sicily, to savor the warmth of our community,” she reflected.
