Refugee Stories

RACS first met Afsaneh at one of our outreach events in Western Sydney, back in early 2017. It had already been several years since she had arrived in Australia and she was still in limbo.

Aisha*, living as a persecuted minority in her country, was granted a humanitarian visa and fled to Australia on her own. But after years of building a life here under the protection she was granted, Aisha’s status was abruptly deemed unlawful. Distressed about her situation, Aisha contacted RACS for help.

At just 16 years old, Ali Haidari arrived in Australia alone, having fled his home country of Afghanistan. Ali was determined to build a future in Australia, but he understood that would be impossible without first being granted a protection visa.

Emil arrived in Australia alone in 2002, after fleeing religious persecution in his home country. When he reached out to RACS for support in applying for protection, he didn’t know that same support that would extend to another family member, many years later.

When Jeanine fled her home country in East Africa, she became separated from her two sons. After reaching out to RACS, she was granted a permanent visa and from there, was able to apply to be reunited with her children in Australia.

Maryam and her family arrived in Australia in 2012. With no protection, no support and no finances, the family’s situation seemed bleak. Read more to hear how RACS was able to assist Maryam to gain permanent safety in Australia.

When Mohsen fled Iran in his early twenties, he didn’t expect to spend the next two years of his life detained on Christmas Island.

“There were lots of ups and down in that period,” he said. “But we were safe.”