Fariba Aramesh is happily settled in Australia88037 Picture: Meagan Rogers
By MELISSA MEEHAN
IRANIAN refugee Fariba Aramesh has called for a ‘fair go’ for new migrants.
Ms Aramesh, who came to Australia just over a year ago after leaving her homeland for a better life, spoke at the AMES Accomodation Forum in Noble Park last week about her own experiences of settling into a new country.
After spending a week in Christmas Island and two months at a refugee detention centre in Brisbane before arriving in Dandenong, Ms Aramesh said she had no idea how to find a house, open a bank account or find a job.
“I came with my brother and my two babies,” Ms Aramesh said.
“But I didn’t know what to do. We had to leave our country, friends and family – our home. It is the same sad story. It was a lot of stress.”
Ms Aramesh said that was where AMES and other migrant service providers came in handy.
“Red Cross helped us when we came to Melbourne seven months ago,” she said.
“When I met them, I had too many problems, but after one year now I have no problems.
“They helped me step by step – like a baby.
“I think maybe, the future will be a good life.”
Ms Aramesh said it was important that real estate agents and other people dealing with new migrants in the community learnt to trust them.
“I say to them, ‘trust me’, ‘give me a chance’,” she said.
“I had a home in my country, so did others, but they are here for a reason.
“AMES has helped me so much.”
AMES plays a major role in the support of new migrants in Victoria.
In 2011/2012 alone, 204 of the 850 homes AMES secured for their clients were in the south east region.
