From War-Torn Iraq to Australian Dreams: Jwana’s Educational Journey

When Jwana arrived in Australia in April 2022, she was ready to rebuild her life from scratch. Having fled Iraq in 2014 with her husband and two children to escape the dangers of ISIS, she brought with her a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a strong determination to create a better future. Yet, she quickly realised that starting over in a new country would require more than just qualifications—it would demand adaptability, new skills, and a deep understanding of her new environment.

Jwana’s journey began with a crucial first step: improving her English. She enrolled in the free Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs and delivered by Navitas Skilled Futures (NSF), a decision that would shape the course of her new life.

 
“I heard about NSF through SSI and my parents-in-law. I enjoyed the AMEP course and got more confident speaking English. I understood English, but I wasn’t confident speaking it. At NSF, I was encouraged by the teachers and made a lot of friends because NSF is like your second home. There are good people there who have experienced the same conditions, so they always help each other,” Jwana says.

NSF provided Jwana with more than just language skills—it offered her a community and a sense of belonging, which was vital as she navigated her new surroundings. With her English improving, Jwana began to explore various pathways that could help her integrate into the Australian workforce. She decided to continue her studies by enrolling into the Pathways to Beauty program, a part of AMEP under Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET) that provides students with employment focused classroom tuition and is contextualised to meet their needs and goals.

The program not only allowed her to gain a Statement of Attainment from the Certificate III in Beauty but also provided her with 40 hours of work experience at City Perfumes in Stockland Merrylands.

“Pathways to Beauty was an important experience for me because I learned a lot about work in Australia and the working environment here through training”

Jwana, Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET)*
*Part of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)

“Pathways to Beauty was an important experience for me because I learned a lot about work in Australia and the working environment here through training,” Jwana says. The course gave her hands-on experience and introduced her to the nuances of working life in Australia, helping her build the confidence she needed to thrive in a new culture.

However, Jwana’s aspirations extended beyond the beauty industry. She had always been passionate about her original field of civil engineering and was determined to find a way back into the profession. After completing the Pathway to Beauty program, Jwana resumed her AMEP classes at NSF, Fairfield, all the while searching for courses that could help her reconnect with her engineering background.

During this time, she attended an information session about a course related to civil engineering. However, the demands of managing her studies alongside her family responsibilities made her reconsider taking on the course. Yet, she didn’t give up, encouraged by NSF, Jwana applied for a Certificate IV in Residential Drafting at TAFE Ultimo, a program that would allow her to combine her engineering knowledge with her new skills in Australia’s construction industry.

“A few weeks ago, I applied for Certificate IV in Residential Drafting at TAFE Ultimo and was accepted. Currently, I am studying the course that might help me move back to my first career,” she says.

As Jwana continues to pursue her studies, she reflects on the importance of the support she received at NSF and how it has given her the confidence to take bold steps toward her future.

“I encourage people to come to NSF because it’s a good place to start understanding life in Australia. They will get help with many things they struggle to understand at the beginning of their lives here. It’s also a good place to learn English and take courses to help them start working in Australia”

Jwana, Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)