By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A FORMER refugee who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan has dedicated himself to helping others in a similar plight.
Hayatullah Rahimi, 35, was awarded Greater Dandenong’s leadership award on Australia Day for his advocacy on refugee and asylum seeker issues, as well as supporting members of the Hazara community.
For his first three years in Australia Mr Rahimi battled on a temporary protection visa, worked in a factory and postponed study due to being denied a welfare safety net, services or HECS subsidy.
He gained permanent residency in 2010, has since studied a social work honours degree and works as a case manager supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
In short, he knows what new arrivals are going through and speaks up for them on national and international media.
The Dandenong activist argues that the temporary protection visa system should be scrapped.
“We don’t issue the permanent protection visa to people who come by boat. They argue they are jumping the queue.
“I would say they don’t have access to government papers because they have been persecuted by the government of the day (in their homeland).”
In Mr Rahimi’s own case, he asks how he was expected to get a valid passport from the Taliban to leave overseas.
Seeking help at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’s office requires a hazardous trip to Kabul.
“There is a lot of evidence that they are stopped and killed by the Taliban.”
Mr Rahimi said it can be frustrating that many people and organisations, including the Federal Government, don’t listen to his arguments on behalf of people who are demonised as “illegal”, “threats” and “burdens”.
“In my experience they are genuine refugees seeking asylum to Australia.
“We contribute a lot to Australian society.”
Other Australia Day award winners included Tracey Walden (volunteer of the year), Aaliyah Corles (sportsperson), David Willersdorf (corporate citizen), Mohammad Reza Haidari and Khalid Katikang (joint winners of young leadership award), Be Ha (community hall of fame) and Michael Findlay (sports hall of fame).
