Irfan Ali Nasiri proudly graduating from Western Sydney University. Image courtesy Irfan Ali Nasiri
Fleeing persecution A young refugee forges prosperity in his new home
Irfan Ali Nasiri’s father arrived in Australia by boat in 2010, after making the decision to risk his life for the long-term safety of his family, writes Rebeka Selmeczki
‘MY DAD TOOK THE DECISION to search for security. First and foremost safety and then a better place to live’, Irfan explains. ‘Back then, I didn’t pay too much attention but, now that I am 23, I can’t even imagine what it was like for my mum thinking about my dad coming over here by boat.’ The Nasiri family are Hazara, an ethnic minority originally from Afghanistan. They moved to Pakistan in the mid-1990s seeking security when life became increasingly unsafe for Hazaras in Afghanistan. Irfan arrived in Australia from Pakistan with his mother and four siblings in 2016, reuniting with his father in Auburn, Sydney, after years of separation. Although Irfan has come far on his journey and succeeded on many fronts, including studying finance and economics at Western Sydney University, he found that resettlement presented many challenges. 78
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‘I am grateful for the refugee support services here in Australia and the programs and supports they offer’, Irfan says. ‘I’m the first in my family to go to university, and I consider it one of my biggest achievements.’ Irfan is one of many refugees whose stories are celebrated by Settlement Services International during Refugee Week, 20–26 June 2021. Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to inform the public about the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. Within the theme of ‘Unity’, Refugee Week 2021 reminds us that, given the volatility of life in recent times, we need to support and encourage one another, sometimes merely to survive. To thrive and progress we should take the opportunity to start afresh, count our blessings and build on them as existing and emerging communities work together. As part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s commitment to preserving and sharing migration stories, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Settlement Services International. For more information, visit ssi.org.au/. Rebecca Selmeczki is Senior Communications Officer with Settlement Services International.
