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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-09-09 Daily Xml
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Aback, Mr K.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:59): In recent weeks, the world has been shocked and shaken by the images of a small three-year-old Syrian boy who had washed up on a Turkish shore after drowning at sea. The boy, Aylan Kurdi, and his family highlighted that when refugees and asylum seekers are spoken about we are really speaking about human beings, families and children who are merely trying to make a better life for themselves because of the turmoil they face in their own home countries. Whilst little Aylan's story is tragic and one we should all take heed of, I wish to speak today about a much happier and successful story.

I recently met a young man, Mr Keyvan Aback, who fled from persecution in Iran and came to this country alone, on a boat, at the tender age of 15. Keyvan and his family are Mandaean, which is a small religious minority in Iran. Mandaeans, and indeed all other non-Muslim religions, have been denounced by the Iranian authorities, with fatwas issued against Mandaeans characterising them as filthy infidels who contaminate all they come in contact with. Needless to say, Keyvan and his family were not safe in Iran, and in 2000 Keyvan fled for Australia.

He spent two years in Woomera Detention Centre and a further two years in community detention before finally being granted refugee status. Despite his harrowing ordeal, he has gone on to achieve extraordinary things. After completing high school in record time, Keyvan completed a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master's in Mediation and Conflict Management. At present, Keyvan is in the process of completing his PhD whilst at the same time working as a senior practitioner with Uniting Communities and helping some of our most vulnerable members of the community.

Far from being an immigrant who depended upon welfare from the government, Keyvan had previously held down as many as three jobs simultaneously to support not only himself but also his family abroad, some of whom still continue to struggle with their plight for freedom. Keyvan's strength and determination to make a life for himself here and to be the best person he can possibly be is extremely moving.

This young man, who is still only just 30 years of age, has never asked for anything other than to be free from the violent and oppressive regime that destroyed his childhood and saw his family torn apart. After such traumatic experiences, you could expect that a person would be broken and want to give up; however, Keyvan continues in his efforts to assist members of his family to gain refugee status whilst also providing support and assistance to vulnerable people in the local community.

Keyvan's story is just one from the many hundreds and thousands who have escaped turmoil and resettled in Australia. His story is not dissimilar to many others who came to Australia many years ago seeking a better life and whose family are now second and third generation Australian. Multiculturalism and acceptance is one of the foundations of Australia, and I eagerly wait to see what other great things Keyvan and his peers will achieve.

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