I was born in South Sudan and lived in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya for five years. I worked for the United Nations for two years, and the International Rescue committee for three years and arrived to Tasmania in 2006.
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I completed a Bachelor of Social Work (2010) and BA in Public Policy (2012) at the University of Tasmania. I have worked at the Launceston General Hospital, Alcohol & Drug Services North and Papua New Guinea and am currently a mental health officer at Adult Community Mental Health Services North.
I am also studying a Bachelor of Health and Human Services (Leadership) Professional Honours at UTAS.
This has been a fruitful time for me as this country can offer many opportunities that could never be available in South Sudan which has now become a war torn homeland and butcher for the government to maintain ruling elites in power.
My big passion, however, is to contribute positively to my newer home country.
This involves encouraging and sharing the resources of the Sudanese community, adding to the richness of our cultural diversity that we all bring together to make Australia a great place for every citizen, regardless of your ethnicity, political views or religious ideology.
It is also about learning to respect each other within the mainstream community.
While there are differences in our community, we are one community and for me it is about is bringing people together, rather than creating divisions, and making the best out of the opportunities presented to me since arriving in Australia in 2016 (but also while in the refugee camp in Kakuma).
I am very passionate about helping people, driven by what might not have been available to me family and the community.
I see that we have an opportunity to serve our community as positive role models for others and to also connect with the wider community through our shared experience. This, in turn, supports people when they take the risk of ‘putting themselves out there’ in terms of study, work, placement etc.
My work as vice-president of Young Seeds Foundation of Tasmania (YSF) is part of this. YSF is a registered charity run by a small committee of volunteers committed to providing educational and life opportunities for refugee children in South Sudan.
Through sponsorships and donations, currently out of 21 children, 18 are at boarding school in Uganda because of conflict in South Sudan and higher educational opportunities in Uganda.
Ultimately I am passionate about capacity building within the Sudanese Community in Australia and for all African and migrant communities.