Moving forward and supporting others

GEELONG’S Ari Anatulain knows he is “lucky” to have only spent two years in a refugee camp in Jordan, while his cousin reaches a devastating 10-year milestone in a camp in Turkey – still waiting for news of a safe haven and a future.

Like thousands of others forced by ISIS to flee their homes and lives in Iraq and Syria, Ari and his family were threatened with violence if they didn’t leave and they know there is nothing to go back to.

Australia is their home and their future.

Ari and other members of his family made it out of Jordan in 2016 and are now settled in Geelong, and he is a case worker with Diversitat, using his experience to help other refugees.

This year’s theme for Refugee Week (June 20 – 26) is “Unity – The way forward”, and highlights the importance of Ari’s role at Diversitat in sharing his knowledge and understanding of his clients’ experiences.

“I am from Mosul. ISIS occupied the city and they broke into my home, held their weapons to me and told me to leave, and if I didn’t leave they were going to come and kill all my family,” Ari explained.

“We had to get out and go to the camp. It was very hard, you can’t know the future or where you will go or when.

“And the UN cannot provide you all with the support you need; medication is very expensive in Jordan and my mum was disabled and in very poor health.”

Ari’s mother passed away while they waited in the camp, unable to access the medication and treatment they needed to keep her alive.

But Ari knows his experience was still easier than some others.

“I applied to the Australian Embassy in Jordan (under the humanitarian support program) and at the time, they accepted minorities.

“In less than two years, in March, I moved to Melbourne, and then Geelong, with my wife and two children. My brother and his family came as well in August.”

Since arriving in Geelong, Ari and his wife have welcomed another child, and their two older children, aged eight and nine, fortunately don’t remember very much of life in the refugee camp.

But Ari knows it isn’t easy having your world turned upside down, appreciates the support he received through Diversitat and is pleased he can provide that support to others.

“My former case manager did a great job, giving us all the information about how to live in Australia,” Ari said. “The first challenge is re-organising yourself and restarting your life.

“I was very wealthy there, I was a lawyer, my brother a pharmacist, I owned properties.

“Then you have to start again.

“I speak several languages including English but many families don’t have English at the start; it’s very difficult for them.”

As a case worker, Ari is able to assist the many families coming to Australia from Mosul and the surrounding region, particularly those who only speak Arabic or Kurdish, with medical and service appointments, and navigating Australian life.

He understands what they have been through, the culture they can share and the significant contribution they can make to their new country.

Learn more about Diversitat by visiting the website.