Stories
Fadi’s Successful Settlement Journey
Fadi, a newly arrived refugee from Syria, approached Arabic Welfare requesting support with employment. Fadi owned his own business for years in Syria and has extensive knowledge and experience in welding and metal turning. Initially, AW assisted Fadi with finding a local welding job, however, he later expressed a desire to start his own business. Fadi’s AW Case Manager supported him to understand the requirements of starting a business in Australia. Fadi was also supported to attend information sessions and courses to build his understanding on how to start his own business. Topics included but were not limited to; understand and meet business registration and insurance requirements, market research and marketing ideas, risk analysis, review of cashflow and bookkeeping support, how to establish relationships with stakeholders, how to access loans to help get the business started and how to find government funded courses.
Fadi was highly satisfied with the sessions and courses he attended. Arabic Welfare continued to work with Fadi and supported him to obtain his own Welding/Metal Turning certification. Arabic Welfare contacted Weld Australia and Australian Welding Institute to ensure that Fadi is given accurate information regarding certification.
Fadi only has a few weeks left to complete his certification and has already began being exposed to local business and making connections. He will start working with, these connections as soon as the certification is issued. Moreover, Fadi is very excited to begin his career in Australia. Arabic Welfare will continue to assist Fadi and has also linked him in with Thrive Refuge Enterprise to access a non-secured business loan to enable his dreams to come true. Fadi has on several occasions, expressed how much he appreciates and is grateful for all the support he has received from AW to make his dreams come to life.
QOWEH Program Supports Samir’s Journey To Recovery
Samir sought support from the QOWEH gambling counselling service offered through Arabic Welfare under the CALD Gambler’s Help program. A 45-year-old refugee from Iraq, his experience travelling to Australia included witnessing the drowning of his two close companions as their boat sank, horrific cold temperatures and harsh treatment by people smugglers. Now alone, with his family still in Syria, he was detained for two years while facing the possibility of forced return, before being released into the community.
Introduced to pokies by a neighbour, an initially social activity became a way for Samir to mask his psychological pain. This escalated into an addiction which led to him waiting all night in the CBD near an ATM to access his Centrelink pay to gamble the entire pay packet.
An initial assessment by QOWEH’s therapeutic worker allowed Samir to build trust in Arabic Welfare and the counselling process. The worker’s understanding of the Arabic language and cultures, issues of Iraqi wars, trauma and forced displacement, was critical in the approach and enabled Samir to feel safe ‘opening up’, disclosing physical and mental health issues and his dependence on gambling.
The worker further supported Samir by connecting him with mainstream mental health clinicians including a trauma specialist and assisting him to sign up to the ‘self-exclusion’ list banning him from all pokies venues in Melbourne including the Casino.
Samir reports feeling more in control of his gambling addiction, reduced negative self-talk and feeling a sense of achievement and hope. QOWEH will continue to work with him as he rebuilds his life.
Mira Seeks Employment
Arabic Welfare was approached by Mira, a newly arrived young woman from Syria who has been struggling to find a job. The student was very ambitious and determined to find a job despite all failing attempts. She felt her language skills were pulling her back and was slowly losing confidence in her ability to gain employment.
Arabic Welfare coached Mira and explained to her the process of getting ready for a job. Mira was assisted to realise her strengths, skill set and passions and was then guided to look for jobs that matched her skill set and desires. Mira was also supported to develop a concise and updated resume.
In a short period of time, Mira developed the confidence needed to overcome her perceived barriers and was successfully offered a job at a local shopping centre.
Mira was so happy and appreciative.
“I am lucky to have had your support- thank you Arabic Welfare”. – Mira
