By NARELLE COULTER
LAST Australia Day Rohullah Rahimi proudly became an Aussie.
This year the young Afghan refugee stepped up on stage once again, this time to accept the award as the City of Greater Dandenong’s 2015 Young Leader of the Year.
Rohullah was recognised for his work with young people.
He is employed by the City of Greater Dandenong as an assistant youth worker and has volunteered as an advisor with the Centre for Multicultural Youth, participated in the council’s Young Leader’s Program, represents the Hazara community on the Refugee Council of Australia and is secretary of the Assocaition of Australian Students from Afghanistan.
Rohullah’s story is a familiar one among his Hazara contempories in Dandenong – wrenched from his homeland as a child, he and his family lived itinerant lives in Pakistan and Iran before getting the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance of a new future in Australia.
He is driven and determined to make the most of the opportunity for which he and his family risked everything.
“My brother sponsored me to come here and he told me if you want to be a successful Aussie you need to speak English.
“He told me of the expectations Australians have for refugees, that they integrate and that I became familiar a little bit with the rules, policies and norms here.“
Since arriving in 2010, Rohullah has been on a relentless quest to better himself and his adopted community through education.
He learnt English at AMES in Dandenong before enrolling in year 11 at Chisholm TAFE.
He completed year 12 at Dandenong High School while also studying for a diploma of community service at Carrick Institute based at Docklands.
He was, he said, “very focused on my study“ not finishing classes in the city until 10.30pm after which he would catch a train back to Dandenong and get up in the morning and be in class at Dandenong High by 9am.
Last year he completed a Bachelor of Social Science in psychology.
He is now hoping to be accepted into a masters program.
He said issues facing young people in Greater Dandenong were constantly changing but nominated family violence, alcohol and drugs, employment and bullying as the issues of greatest concern.
He wants to be at the coalface of efforts to alleviate these problems and give other young people a chance to reach their full potential.
That his leadership efforts have been recognised with an Australia Day honour thrilled and humbled the quietly spoken 23-year-old.
“This award increases my responsibility to make more of a contribution and help young people; advocate on their behalf,“ Rohullah said.
“Being recognised gives me a wonderful feeling and encourages me to work for my friends, community and Australia.“
He describes becoming an Aussie in 2014 as an “amazing feeling“.
His precious citizenship certificate is neatly tucked in a blue folder which also displays Rohullah’s growing number of graduation certificates and commendations for his volunteer roles.
“It is an honour to be a citizen of Australia, a country that has democracy and a commitment to celebrate multi-culturalism.“
