Harper Sercombe
Craigieburn’s Athraa Yousif has been named young leader of the year in the Victorian Refugee Awards for her passionate support of fellow refugees.
The Victoria University student fled war-torn Iraq nearly a decade ago.
Ms Yousif knew very little English when she arrived in Melbourne as a 14-year-old alongside her parents and younger brother. Her only Australian contact was an aunt she had never met.
Her commitment to helping others began at age 15 when she became a St Vincent de Paul Society volunteer. She now helps other young refugees in a range of advocacy, support and peer mentoring roles at VU and at Penola Catholic College. Her fluency in Arabic, Assyrian, Chaldean and English is crucial to bridging communication gaps.
“It’s a very fulfilling experience and unique connection that we grow to have with those around us,” she said.
She also helps trauma-affected people rebuild their lives as a community adviser with the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, and is a strong advocate for refugee mental health.
The 23-year-old said one of the hardest parts of coming to Australia was seeing the challenges and frustrations her parents faced without the benefit of English.
“My dad ran a taxi business and mum was a university tutor so we were a very well-established family in Iraq. But when they arrived in Australia, they found it difficult to communicate and lost their motivation to work,” she said.
In her early years, she often needed to interrupt her secondary school classes to act as a translator for her parents, helping them fit into their new country.
Ms Yousif said she was “thrilled” to be recognised as a young leader.
“I have always just wanted to help others,” she said.
“Being recognised for my efforts and work is a true reflection of the powerful work of having a supportive and caring community.”
After graduating from Hume Central Secondary College, Ms Yousif studied community services before enrolling in a Bachelor of Psychological Studies at VU two years ago.
Although Ms Yousif said she’s “always dreamt of working with UNICEF and I hope someday I can make that happen.”
