Stories
Lidia arrived in Australia in 1997 as a 16-year-old refugee from East Timor. After completing English language school and Year 12, and with help from the Brotherhood, she found work in the hospitality industry. But following the economic downturn she needed our help again.
Patient, 30, has ‘always loved technical jobs’. When he was in high school he dreamed of working in a mechanical field, even becoming a mechanical engineer. But his dreams were put on hold when he and his family were forced to flee their home in the Congo (DRC) and live as refugees for six years in the neighbouring Congo Brazzaville.
IT expert Pei Pei, 32, and his wife, Helen, migrated from China in 2007. Settling in a new country had its challenges. Although Pei Pei could read and write in English, he struggled to understand – and make himself understood – and was overwhelmed by the different, perplexing culture.