Imagine arriving in Australia with your wife, a young son, and little more than the hope of building something better. A new country, a new language, and the quiet pressure of making it all work.

That is exactly how Likun Zhang's story began. He came to Australia from China in 2008, settled in Sydney, and took on whatever work he could find, starting in a small city centre restaurant, learning the city, finding his footing. Today, his colleagues and friends at the Busways depot know him simply as Tony, a name that has come to stand for warmth, experience, and seventeen years of showing up with a smile.

His story is not unique. It is the story of so many Busways drivers, people who arrived from all corners of the world looking for a fresh start and found, in bus driving, far more than they expected. Not just a stable income, but an opportunity to grow, to enjoy their work, to make genuine friendships, and to build a real life in this country. 

If you want to explore Bus driving as career, you can look for vacancy across Busways at https://careers.busways.com.au/

Once, Tony was having a conversation with a friend who suggested bus driving. 

“My friend said the bus industry has better pay, flexible hours, and you get more time to look after your family,” Tony recalls with a grin. “I thought, maybe I can try.” Seventeen years later, Tony is still at Busways, and he has not looked back once.  

Tony upgraded his car licence, practised with a small truck, and joined Busways around 2010. Today, Tony is a senior driver with Busways, and he still remembers those early days. 

“At the start, the hardest part wasn’t driving, it was remembering all the routes,” he recalls. “We didn’t have GPS during trainings. Just a simple roster sheet.” But with time, patience, and support from fellow drivers, he found his rhythm. He has never looked back. 

Now in his mid-fifties and a proud grandfather, Tony works a four-day week, the same weekly hours compressed into fewer days, giving him an extra day to visit his son’s family and his granddaughter.

The flexible roster is something Tony talks about with genuine enthusiasm. He chooses an afternoon shift, starting around 2:30 pm. He likes to have his mornings to run errands, rest, or simply enjoy life. “You can arrange your time,” he explains. “You pick what works for you and your family.”

What kept him going wasn’t just the job, it was the people.

Every day brought something new. Different routes, different passengers, different stories. Over time, familiar faces turned into meaningful connections. 

Ask Tony what keeps him turning up every day for nearly two decades, and he lights up with stories. There was the woman at Plumpton Marketplace who boarded his bus on a scorching afternoon and handed him a frozen bottle of water. She said “It’s really hot and this is for you”, just a small act of kindness that stayed with him. There was the primary school kid who gifted him Christmas cards and sweets before the school holidays last year, whispering “Thank you, driver” as they stepped off.

And then there was the night he helped a lost passenger find his way home. “He was I think new to Australia and boarded the bus in the wrong direction late at night at Eastwood station, panicking when he realised his mistake”. Tony calmly guided him, kept him on board, and dropped him close to his destination on the return trip. “When he got off, he had tears in his eyes,” Tony says quietly. “He gave me a hug and said, ‘I know nothing about here. Thank you so much.” 
“Moments like that make you feel useful. You feel like you’ve helped someone.” Tony reflects.  “It’s not just driving a bus. It’s not just making money, I feel useful and happy that I am able help someone.”

At the depot, Tony is part of a diverse team made up of drivers from all over the world. All the drivers share the same lunchroom, swap driving tips, and look out for one another. It doesn’t matter where you’re from,” he says. “We help each other. That’s how you learn and grow.”

Tony’s advice to anyone considering the profession, especially someone who may doubt their language skills or driving experience: “Don’t hesitate. Just apply and try. Busways provides great training from day one. After the training, you will find out, if you can do it or not. You might find it’s easier than you think”

He knows firsthand how daunting it can be during initial days, but that’s true if you try anything new. Tony's own journey is proof that the road is open to anyone willing to take that first step. And taking that step has never been easier. 

Applying to join Busways is straightforward. All driver vacancies are regularly updated on the Busways careers page, where you can explore opportunities across 20 depots of Busways. If you are ready to take the next step, simply visit the website and apply. From time to time, Busways also hosts Career Open Days, a great chance to meet the team, see the depots, and get a real feel for the role before you apply. Keep an eye on the Busways website and Facebook page so you do not miss one when it comes up.

Find out more details: https://careers.busways.com.au/