Aaliyah
For 20-year-old Aaliyah*, Australia is the only home she truly knows. Aaliyah’s family sought safety in Australia from Myanmar when she was 10 years old. Now, nearly a decade later, her mother is still without a protection visa, forcing the family to live in a constant state of uncertainty.
“I have to look after my family… but I hope to go back and continue my studies to become a psychologist one day - so I can help people just like my mum who struggle with mental health and depression.” - Aaliyah
After fleeing conflict and persecution, Aaliyah’s parents arrived with a lot of uncertainty about how they would survive with their three young children. Her father’s bridging visa and basic English language skills allowed him to work and support his family, whilst the family was awaiting a decision on their protection application.
With the sudden passing of her father, the family found themselves grappling with the devastating loss and a stark financial reality. Stripped of their primary source of income, Aaliyah’s mum now bears the sole responsibility of caring for her children. However, the ongoing uncertainty about her visa status has taken a significant toll on her psychological well-being. Her worry of having no right to work and being unable to speak English is coupled with her battle with grief.
With the well-being of her siblings to consider, the shoes of support are left for Aaliyah to fill. Instead of joining her friends at university or dreaming of travelling, Aaliyah must consider how she can help support her family and provide the essentials such as food, housing, and healthcare, something that no young person should have to do.
The ASRC has stepped in to provide support and services to help Aaliyah and her family. Access to essentials such as food, legal assistance and the ASRC Health Program has been a lifeline for the family in their time of need. With their fundamental needs being met, Aaliyah’s mother can turn her attention towards caring for her mental health and rebuilding her confidence.
This assistances also relieves some of Aaliyah's pressure, allowing her to be young again as she dreams about her future possibilities. Young refugees like Aaliyah – who have lived in Australia most of their lives, been educated here and barely remember their birth country – just want a chance to realise their potential and call Australia home for good.
But our government policies continue to deprive many people seeking asylum of their rights and many families continue to live with the impacts of short-term bridging visas which deny them the right to work, study or access Medicare, putting them in extreme disadvantage to survive in the community.
* Name changed and story amalgamated to protect the identity of people seeking asylum
Remember, after you prepare these dishes –
share them with your friends and raise the flag of
inclusion and welcome for every single migrant
in Australia. 
Reveka
Hawi and Dejen
For Hawi and Dejen* there was only one option, leave Northern Ethiopia and seek safety elsewhere. With a baby on the way and a toddler, the family made the long and dangerous journey to safety.
Hawi was six and a half months pregnant the day she first arrived at our Centre. With no fixed address, her family had no access to Medicare and no understanding of how to navigate the healthcare system to get the care Hawi needed.
“I remember the first time I saw the purple building, my Yafet was so happy. We spent the whole day there getting help from so many people. My biggest concern was that we didn’t have a place to sleep that day, but they helped us.” - Hawi
The little savings they arrived with diminished quickly, leaving the expectant family at risk of homelessness. With no right to work or income support while they waited for the outcome of their permanent protection application, Hawi and her family had to move out of their shared accommodation because they could not afford the rent increase.
The very day Hawi and her family arrived at the ASRC, we were able to provide crisis accommodation while we supported them to find a longer-term rental. Months later the ASRC connected Hawi and her family with a landlord willing to provide them with a long-term rental property. With just days until Hawi was due to give birth, they moved into their new home. ASRC covered the bond and rent until Dejen was able to find work.
Through our Heath Team, we were able to connect her with the Royal Women's Hospital, where she was provided with the antenatal care that she needed in the final stages of her pregnancy.
Hawi and her family were able to access fresh, nutritious and culturally appropriate food through our Foodbank and weekly community meals at our Centre. At a time when they had no income support, right to work or savings, this prevented Hawi's family from having to skip meals.
Through emergency relief payments, our Social Services team helped Hawi and her family purchase essential items like winter clothes, blankets and shoes. The ASRC also provided practical support with items such as Myki cards so the family could access public transport.
Lack of access to mainstream services, the harshness of the housing crisis, the increasing cost of living and social and community isolation mean the ASRC and other charity organisations are essential in keeping families safe and supporting them to independence.
* Names changed and story amalgamated to protect the identity of people seeking asylum
