St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services 39
Disability Service Seyed’s Story Seyed has worked at Ozanam Enterprises for a little over 12 months. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Seyed studied Politics at university before completing compulsory service in the army which included fighting against the Soviet occupation. Seyed was sponsored to come to Australia by a cousin living in Melbourne and following an interview at the Australian Embassy in Pakistan he arrived in Melbourne in 1990. Seyed quickly joined the Afghan community in Victoria where he was a key figure in setting up the Jaffaria Association. This association provides support to Islamic Afghan migrants. In 2003 Seyed received treatment for lymphoma. Following this he found it extremely difficult to find and maintain a job and was referred to a psychiatrist where he was diagnosed with various forms of disability, predominantly due to his time in the war in Afghanistan.
Since commencing at Ozanam Enterprises Seyed has made himself a highly valued member of the team. He has developed new skills and is now a key member of the production area in which he works. Working at Ozanam Enterprises has given Seyed the confidence to increase his social roles and help put his traumatic journey to Australia in the past. “If I wasn’t here working, I would probably be sitting around at home doing nothing. This is a good job for me; in the past it was very difficult to find a job and all I could get was casual work. This is permanent and I am learning a lot of new skills. Working at Ozanam Enterprises has made me feel better about myself and I have made some new friends.”
The new Ozanam Enterprises website is now available, log on to www.ozanamenterprises.org.au
Ozanam Enterprises’ employee: Seyed