Moz and Rukhsana outside their new house
In 2011, Mohsin (Moz) Hazara came to Australia seeking asylum, bringing with him a commitment to improve the lives of those in need. Today, Moz and his wife Rukhsana are on a path to do just that with the Certificate IV in Community Services Scholarship. This month, Moz chatted with The Yarn about how things are going with his studies and what it means to support his community in Melbourne.
My name is Mohsin (Moz) Hazara, and I am originally from Hazarajat, Afghanistan, although I grew up in Hazara Town Quetta, Pakistan. I came to Australia by boat seeking asylum in 2011. After a period of time at the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre, I was granted an Australian Permanent Resident visa and made Melbourne my home.
I’m currently employed as a security guard while I complete the Cert IV in Community Services Scholarship (with financial literacy units), thanks to the partnership between ICAN Learn and South East Community Links (SECL). I also hold a Bachelor of International Studies (majoring in International Relations) from Deakin University in Melbourne.
I recently got married and spent last New Year’s Eve at Melbourne Airport, excitedly waiting for the arrival of my wife, Rukhsana, to arrive from Pakistan. Starting our new life together in Melbourne is a dream come true.
Seizing Opportunity
I saw an ad for SECL’s Community Services Scholarship and immediately thought it was a great career opportunity for Rukhsana to learn about financial literacy and how to support our community in Australia. When I offered to drive her to and from the course, she said, ‘Why don’t you do it too’? So we both applied and were awarded this fantastic scholarship!
The course is structured so that the students complete the theory along with one day of voluntary placement at SECL per week, which allows us to ask questions about the course while we’re learning. The hands-on experience is really important as it increases our self-confidence in a real-life work environment. It’s a beautifully designed course.
Breaking Language Barriers
SECL recently held a ‘Bring Your Bills Day’, which was an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge, meet people from different service providers, and learn from their expertise. I also had the opportunity to help translate SECL’s event posters into other languages so people felt at ease when they arrived and comfortable asking questions.
My ability to speak three languages (Hazaragi/Dari, Urdu/Hindi, and Pashto) allowed me to talk to people in their language about issues like Centrelink, energy, housing, and emergency relief. From my perspective on that day, the students did a fantastic job translating the information and supporting everyone who attended.
Promoting Self-Advocacy
The knowledge I’ve gained from this course has allowed me to pass on valuable information to my family and friends so they can advocate for themselves. In one recent case, my friend in Australia endured a decade-long wait for his permanent visa, with little information supplied by his lawyer. During this difficult time, his family remained in Afghanistan, including his now 22-year-old son, whom he had not seen since the age of 12 due to the limitations of his bridging visa. I gave my friend the contact number for the government’s Translating and Interpreting Service so he could contact the Department of Immigration directly without a language barrier. Two weeks later, he called me, shouting, ‘I got my Visa! I got my Visa!’ which was granted on compassionate grounds. I was the first person he told. I felt so happy knowing I had been able to help my friend.
Real Employment Opportunities
I would definitely encourage anyone interested in making a difference in their community to complete the Cert IV in Community Services through ICAN Learn. I can already see the employment opportunities this course creates for students like me. We are already preparing our resumes and applying for jobs, and we are only halfway through! There is so much to be gained, not just the knowledge learned, but in building confidence, reducing isolation, and making new friendships.
Although we are still studying, Rukhsana is now a part-time bilingual practitioner, helping women with digital systems literacy, so her new career is already taking off. In my case, I want to channel my knowledge, language skills, and prior experience working with NGOs, bringing positive change to our community.
In my culture, we work for three reasons – to look after our immediate family, our extended family, and to have the means to visit family overseas. Thanks to this scholarship opportunity, Rukhsana and I are on track to fulfilling our commitments.
Find out more about ICAN Learn Courses and Scholarships here
Watch this: Muzafar Ali is a human rights activist, Hazara photographer, and former refugee from Afghanistan, now living in Adelaide. He explores the notion of identity in Australia in this film Watandar, My Countryman.
