By Cameron Weston
IN A stable democracy such as Australia, it is easy to forget about people in other countries who suffer through war, famine and persecution.
But all that we take for granted seems like a divine gift to those who arrive here as refugees.
During Refugee Week last week, refugee agencies from around the country encouraged people to consider this fact and take a moment to think about their plight.
Ayak Madut arrived in Australia three years ago, having fled Sudan during a period of protracted civil war and the severe humanitarian crisis that followed.
She is one of many arrivals from the Horn of Africa in the past decade, as internecine conflicts rip countries apart and displace millions of people.
The memories of the atrocities she witnessed will never disappear, but Ms Madut, who came to Australia with her six children, said the prospect of safety, security and a better life gave her hope for the future.
“I wanted to come to Australia, to be an Australian citizen and have a better education for my kids and myself,” she said.
“I have really liked the experience I have had here.”
Marko Perkovic, from the West Gate Migrant Resource Centre in Altona, said Ms Madut’s experience was typical of refugees fleeing violence and persecution.
“It doesn’t matter what country a refugee comes from, they always arrive under a lot of stress,” he said.
“They are coming from countries at war, many of them have suffered torture or trauma and many have lost family members.
“The worst thing is when people come here and they still don’t know what has happened to family members, that is when they need extra help.”
Australia was little more than an idea, a point on a map for Ms Madut and her family, and on arrival she was suddenly adrift in unfamiliar waters.
She was free and safe, but she was lost in unfamiliar surroundings.
“When I first came to Australia I didn’t know how to start and where to end,” she said.
“I really struggled to learn how to start a new life.”
The minutiae of daily life – banking, driving, working and accommodation – can all be daunting for new arrivals, especially those from countries without similar infrastructure.
This is especially true when a large family group, such as Ms Madut and her six children, arrives together.
“It’s very hard to get accommodation from a real estate agent because they have no references. Nobody knows them,” Mr Perkovic said.
“Very often there is overcrowding. There might be 10 people living in a two-bedroom house.”
Ms Madut and her family have moved forward in leaps and bounds in the past three years.
She now has a job and is fulfilling what she sees as her most important role: providing a bright future for her children, something that was all but impossible in her homeland.
“My first priority is education for my kids. A good life and education,” she said.
Robert Tickner, the CEO of Australian Red Cross, said it was important that people considered stories such as Ms Madut’s when thinking about refugees, and not only for one week a year.
“We are incredibly fortunate in Australia to have free and democratic systems of government, excellent education standards and freedom from religious persecution,” Mr Tickner said.
“It is critical that we take the time to place ourselves in the position of those who are not so fortunate.”
