The Journey
Deena was born in Kirkuk, Iraq, but she and her family were forced to flee due to political unrest in 1986. Deena was just shy of ten years old. They trekked for 15 days on foot, to reach the Iranian border. It was the midst of winter, and they endured freezing conditions. “We barely survived the journey”, Deena says. Upon reaching Iran, they were held in a detention centre for a year, followed by two and a half more in in community detention. They were denied basic rights, including the rights to work and study, meaning that permanent settlement in Iran was unfeasible. They applied to the Refugee Humanitarian Program and were granted Australian visas in 1990.
Arriving in Australia
Arrival in Australia marked a profound cultural shock and adjustment for Deena. Initially, she struggled with severe homesickness, isolation, and trauma from her childhood experiences of war and displacement, which severely impacted her studies and overall well-being. “I cried for about a year”, says Deena. “I felt alone and isolated and begged my parents to take me back to Iran.” As a teenager, learning a new language and adapting to a new educational system proved challenging. However, despite failing her Higher School Certificate, she persevered, later earning a Diploma in Community Services and a Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences, majoring in Youth Work.
Giving Back
Since 2006, Deena has dedicated her energy to the resettlement of refugees. Her work primarily supports young refugees, fostering educational opportunities and better settlement pathways, growing the chances she herself struggled to find. As Director of Community Engagement at the Refugee Council, Deena manages the Refugee Stories for Change program, facilitating the sharing of powerful personal narratives to challenge stereotypes and deepen empathy for the refugee experience. “I knew that the complex challenges of the refugee experience should not define me,” says Deena, “but that through my truth telling I would connect and engage with others, exploring cultural heritage and learning more about the stories that have shaped my own understanding and view of the world.” By highlighting the resilience of refugees and the complex realities they face, she aims to effect change through acceptance and education, using her personal experiences as a foundation for advocacy and connection.
Please send all media enquiries to media@refugeecouncil.org.au.
