Iraqi refugee Marwah Al-Khameesi sheds light on life in Australia for others
Refugees always find it hard to adjust when they first arrive but learning English will be a big step towards making it in Australia, according to a refugee who is studying to be a nurse.
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Marwah Al-Khameesi, whose family fled Iraq because of the war, wants to pursue a career in nursing to help others.
Acknowledging her family of four lived in fear in Baghdad before eventually settling in Sydney in 2016, Ms Al-Khameesi said refugees must not give up despite the initial hardships.
Speaking ahead of Refugee Week, Ms Al-Khameesi said: “It is hard when you start as you don’t know the language but you have to learn English first because we now live in Australia.
“I learnt English for one year and because I passed, I was allowed to do a course in nursing, which I love.
“I have been studying at Bankstown Senior College for more than two years and I want to later finish a degree in nursing because I like to help people.”
Ms Al-Khameesi won a Settlement Services International Allianz (SSI) scholarship last year.
Sydney is holding several events to mark Refugee Week this week.
Ms Al-Khameesi’s brother Munjed is also studying in Year 12 with plans to become a programmer.
She said her parents and brother live together in Liverpool and are adjusting to life in Australia.
“Before we came to Australia, we lived in Jordan for a few years after fleeing Iraq because it was not safe for us because of our faith,” said Ms Al-Khameesi.
“My parents did not allow me to go anywhere on my own and I used to come straight home after school.
“It was very scary for us.
“What I miss most back in Iraq are my friends.”
SSI and Allianz Australia awarded 35 people, including several from Bankstown Senior College, refugee scholarships in April.
The SSI Allianz Refugee Scholarships were created to minimise the financial barriers experienced by refugees in the NSW education system.
Over $84,000 — including $50,000 from Allianz — has been given this year to individuals across the education system: secondary school, vocational education and training, university, and skills and qualifications recognition.
The Bankstown students, hailing from countries including Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, have dreams of furthering their education in engineering, medicine, agriculture, radiology, dentistry, nutrition, hospitality and IT.
IN OTHER NEWS
The scholarships will help cover the cost of tuition, laptops, textbooks and other educational necessities.
■ Canterbury Bankstown Multicultural Interagency is celebrating Refugee Week at Bankstown TAFE (Building E, lower Ground Room ELG17) from 10.30am-2pm. Details: 9798 1700
■ Assyrian-Syrian woman Atra Tchikha will share her remarkable story as part of the Refugee Council of Australia’s Refugee Speakers’ Bureau program at a lunchtime event hosted by the City of Sydney at Town Hall House on Friday, June 21 at 1pm.
■ For Refugee Week events in Sydney, visit: www.whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/programs/refugee-week
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