Maria's story
Maria has lived in Australia for 12 years, but the dream of becoming a citizen felt out of reach. She is a devoted mother who remained focused on ensuring her sons attended school and participated in community activities. However, Maria suffered from health problems which prevented her from engaging in much beyond her immediate responsibilities. To help Maria access the network of community support she needed, St Brendan’s Community Hub in Moorooka reached out to her through her son’s school, and before long, she was introduced to the Acacia Ridge Community Centre citizenship preparation program.
How it started
We first contacted Maria regarding her sons’ attendance at a local camp. As we got to know her situation better, we realised she was struggling with something much deeper. Maria had postponed her citizenship exam for over a year, daunted by its difficulty and overwhelmed by her circumstances. Migrant women must navigate getting their children into school and understanding a new school system – leaving their own needs to the last. A mother’s language, work, and interests are deprioritised, making the process of establishing her own roots within a new country incredibly intimidating.
Maria’s caseworker was aware of the challenges she faced and recommended that she attend classes at Acacia Ridge Community Centre, a place known for its excellent citizenship preparation courses. However, Maria felt unsure and hesitant to take the next step of putting herself out there. At this point in time, it was very important for the hub staff to build a relationship with Maria that was based on trust and understanding. In any of the support programs Communify delivers, getting to know the individual needs of our participants, and understanding any trepidations they may have, is of utmost importance before connecting them on to any programs or services.
How Communify helped
We invited Maria to join our English class at St Brendan’s Community Hub. It was a small step, but one that would open the door to a broader support network. Community Hubs provide a connection for those who long for community but are unsure of where to find it. Hubs reach out first and foremost to women like Maria, to make sure they are connected with social networks and friends; to support them to learn English if need be; and to help them find volunteer and employment opportunities in their local community. We invited one of our dedicated volunteers who teaches citizenship at Acacia Ridge Community Centre to come to the hub and assist Maria directly. This connection was crucial in building Maria’s confidence and familiarity within these new learning spaces.
We advised Maria to visit the Acacia Ridge Community Centre at least once so staff could add her to their list of participants. She eventually worked up the courage to attend, where she met our English Language and Citizenship program coordinator, Cait Wildman, who connected Maria with a representative from Multicultural Australia. This introduction was life-changing. The representative helped Maria apply for an exemption, which, if granted, would allow her to bypass the citizenship exam and finally obtain her Australian passport – a long-awaited milestone.
How it's going
Maria’s journey began with a simple connection made at St Brendan’s Community Hub. She has now discovered the supportive community around her and felt empowered to make real progress towards her goal of obtaining citizenship after overcoming a myriad of personal challenges. This is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of making services more accessible. Had Maria been aware of the support from organisations like the Qld Police Service’s Police Liaison Officer, community centres, and domestic violence centres earlier, her situation might have been very different from the start.
As Maria gradually became more involved in the community, she was able to learn about other people’s experiences, and found comfort in knowing that she did not have to move through daily life on her own. Rather, connecting with community has the power to create a safer, more inclusive space where everyone can thrive, and Maria’s story is a shining example of that.
Learn more about Community Hubs
The Community Hubs initiative delivers grass-roots programs based in schools that cultivate connections between refugee and migrant families and their community.
Our support coordinator works in the hubs established in Zillmere, Inala, Acacia Ridge and Nundah State Schools and St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School in Moorooka.
