Llyly Valdes
“Strength lies not in holding on tightly to what was, but in adapting bravely to what is”
Llyly Valdes
Country of origin: Dominican Republic
Occupation: Dental assistant & Wellness educator (essential oils specialist and nutrition coach)
State of Residence: Victoria
Favourite place in Australia: Wilson Promontory
Upon arrival: Surprised how everyone kept to themselves on the streets.
Story edited by Lucy Coulson
From San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic, Llyly made a bold leap of faith at just 20 years old, leaving behind her family, language, and a nearly completed dentistry degree to start a new life in Australia. As the first Dominican to gain residency in the country, she paved the way for others with her quiet strength and pioneering spirit. Though her studies were paused as she became a young wife and mother, Llyly never stopped growing. She built deep roots in her community,eventually becoming a Dental Nurse and launching her own business, DentalReady. Her health journey and passion for well-being led her to become a wellness educator, Certified Food Matters Nutrition coach, and essential oils specialist with doTerra oils. Through it all, Llyly has been a mentor, advocate, and cultural bridge—supporting new arrivals,uplifting her local Latino community, and building a legacy of love, resilience, and purpose for future generations.
Tell Us Your Story
True LOVE Llyly & Manuel
¡Que lo que, mi gente! From the sun-drenched shores of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic, where the Caribbean Sea whispers its secrets, my journey began. I was just 18 when Heaven introduced me to a young Australian. We met briefly, just weeks before he concluded his two-year missionary service in my country, but something meaningful sparked between us. This was a time before mobile phones or the internet, so our connection took form through handwritten letters and a unique exchange of audio cassettes—a beautiful testimony of our determination to stay connected across oceans.
In October 1993, at just 20 years old, I left everything I had ever known. I was married and on a plane to Australia—16,000 kilometres away from my family, friends, language, and culture. I learned later that I was the first Dominican to make the leap and become a resident in Australia. The Honorary Consul of the Dominican Republic even expressed his surprise at my pioneering spirit.
Family life just before Llyly started work and her youngest was about to start school.
When I arrived, I was on the cusp of completing my dentistry degree in the Dominican Republic. I had just one year left. Eager to continue, I enrolled in English classes, determined to fast-track my professional recognition. Incredibly, I was accepted into the third year of Melbourne University’s Bachelor of Dentistry. I was surrounded by students from Sudan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Egypt, and China—a beautiful tapestry of cultures, and I was excited to begin this new chapter. But life had other plans.
Challenges
Loneliness - Just a few months into this promising academic journey, I became pregnant. My husband and I decided that staying home and raising our family was best. By the age of 22, I was a young wife, a new Australian resident, and the mother of two small children. It was a whirlwind of changes—new country, new family, new roles—all in a language I was still learning. Despite being deeply in love and fully committed to my role as a wife and mother, I began to battle with depression. The pace of life and the magnitude of these adjustments were, at times, overwhelming.
Llyly’s Mother in law Silvia Edith. Picture taken months after arriving in Australia.
Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. My in-laws Manuel’s parents and sisters—had migrated from Chile two decades earlier, and they embraced me with love and understanding. This made my adjustment easier than it might have been for many other migrants. Within my Spanish-speaking church, I found deep, lifelong connections and an adopted family. My dear friend Dina from El Salvador has been like a sister to me and a cherished aunt to our children. Alongside her, Maria Raquel from Chile, another sister in faith and life, shared this journey with me. With her small children, Maria Raquel provided my kids with Spanish-speaking playmates to grow up with—a gift beyond words. To this day, our families still consider each other family, bound not just by language and culture, but by love and shared history.
A turning point came through my neighbour Marlene, from the Seychelles, who invited me to a local community playgroup. It was a simple gesture, but one that led to lasting friendships. There, I met Maggie—a young mother and fellow immigrant from England. We were opposites in many ways: she spoke no Spanish, my English was just developing; she was fair-skinned, I was dark; she came from the cold, and I from the tropics. Yet, with no direct extended family on either side,we became like sisters. That bond has now lasted more than 30 years.
Contrasts and Similarities
Llyly says “ Everything is better with ice cream, even challenges”.
There were clear contrasts—cultural, linguistic, climatic, and even spiritual. But there were also powerful similarities. At our core, we were all young mothers navigating a new life in a new land. Over time, the differences faded into the background. The warmth of shared experience replaced the gaps that language and culture had once created.
With three children and our youngest son transitioning into school, I redirected my energy into community involvement. I proudly joined other parents to lobby local government for the speedy construction and opening of our local public primary school in Southeast Melbourne. I even helped interview and select the school’s first principal—a moment of pride and participation that reflected how far I had come.
My passion extended to the broader Latino community and our church. I introduced friends and neighbours to the vibrant rhythms of merengue, performed dances with my husband and children, and even choreographed routines for youth and community events. Our home became a haven—welcoming and adopting young people and families who needed support. That legacy continues through our children today.
Piece of Advice
Adapt to the present reality - If there’s one truth I’ve learned, it’s that strength lies not in holding on tightly to what was, but in adapting bravely to what is. The decision to start over is not an abandonment of who you are—it’s a deeper investment in who you can become.
Llyly doing what she loves, teaching!
Build a life of purpose - Dreams don’t always unfold in the way we expect. I didn’t get to finish my Dentistry degree, but that didn’t stop me from building a life full of purpose, joy, and meaningful contribution. I became a Dental Nurse and I am currently running my own small business—DentalReady—providing dental nursing services to local practices. It wasn’t my original dream, but it was aligned with it. I also became a wellness educator. After facing significant family health challenges and growing frustrated with conventional medical advice, I chose to educate myself in nutrition, health, and well-being learning of the healing power of plants and that food is medicine, I became an essential oils specialist and a nutrition coach That decision opened new doors and beautiful global friendships, enriching my understanding of healing and self-care.
Don’t fear reinvention- My advice? Don’t fear reinvention. And don’t underestimate the power of your story to help someone else write theirs.
Llyly Valdes and family at her eldest daughter’s wedding in Portugal.
Llyly with granddaughter Anaya loving life
In the Next Few Years…
Llyly is affectionately known as the Australian Quisqueyana—a Dominican Australian embracing and supporting new arrivals from her homeland as they navigate life in a distant land. It’s a role she holds close to her heart.
Looking ahead, Llyly hopes to expand her dental services and make a broader impact through her work in nutrition, health, and wellness. She is considering training as a nutritional medicine practitioner. More than anything, Llyly aspires to leave a legacy—through her values, her work, her doTerra essential oil business and the lives she and her family have touched.
f you want to know more about Llyly and her life, she has co authored the book “Finding myself” where alongside other Australian women they share their experiences in discovering healing and acceptance. Contact her for a free digital copy!
Do you want to follow Llyly’s journey? Connect on Instagram , Linkedin and Facebook and explore and choose your essential oils with her gentle guidance here.
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With love and gratitude - The Latin Stories Australia team