Eight years ago, Alireza Kaveh Rad and his wife relocated to Tasmania from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, hoping for new opportunities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now Mr Kaveh Rad has a successful business, his wife a university degree and the couple have two children.
The story behind Mr Kaveh Rad’s success in Australia began when his wife decided to pursue a career in teaching.
The couple decided to move to Australia in February 2008, for at least three years while she completed her studies.
“UTAS was the most affordable university in Australia for us,” Mr Kaveh Rad said.
“So we decided to move to Launceston.”
As a qualified barber, Mr Kaveh Rad planned to continue his trade in Tasmania.
He began working in the industry when he was in school and would work in a barber shop during his holidays for pocket money.
After receiving his qualifications, he worked as a barber in Iran before meeting his wife and moving to Dubai.
Although visa restrictions made it difficult to find work when he first arrived in Australia, he managed to work for two barbers in Launceston before opening his own business.
“My wife was on a student visa but I was on a dependent visa, so there were conditions,” he said.
“I was not allowed to work more than 20 hours a week and I had limited options because there were not many barber shops around.
“However I got a chance to work with Bruce Lockly and after that with Lisa Ann Elizabeth Mackenzie for a few years. I am thankful to them for what they did for me and the opportunity that they gave me to work in their businesses and give services to people in Launceston.”
Mr Kaveh Rad opened ‘Al’s Barber Shop For All’ and hasn’t looked back since.
“It was a very big decision to have my own business, I took a risk, but so far it has been good,” he said.
Mr Kaveh Rad said his family were settled into their new home and planning a life in Tasmania.
“What I like about Launceston is being able to meet customers,” he said.
“Because it is a smaller city, I can get to know them and they can get to know me.
“I also think my business is a good service for the community too.”
Mr Kaveh Rad said he was proud of how much his family had achieved since leaving Dubai.
“It was a huge relief for my wife and I when we got our permanents visa through my work and now we are Australian citizens,” he said.
“We have found Australia to be an amazing country with big opportunities for us and that was the main reason that we decided to stay.”