Two Milestones, Two Young People, One Program That Made It Possible

Omar arrived in Australia from a humanitarian background twelve years ago. He has built a life here. He has called this country home for more than a decade.

But Australian Citizenship had remained elusive.

He had tried before. The application process is complex, and the first time around he didn’t fully understand what was required. The application was unsuccessful. For many people, that experience alone would be enough to make them give up.

Omar didn’t give up. But he needed support to try again.

Through the SETS program, he was connected to a case worker who guided him through every step of the process. Each document. Each requirement. Each stage of an application that can feel overwhelming without someone in your corner.

Recently, Omar received the news he had been waiting for. His application has been approved.

In a few months, he will attend his Australian Citizenship ceremony, where he will be formally recognised as a citizen of the country he has called home for twelve years.

He is excited to reach this milestone after a lengthy process. And that is an understatement.

Layla has been using her preferred name unofficially for years. The people who know her use it. It is who she is.

But across her identity documents, a different name still appeared. Getting it changed had always felt too complicated, too daunting to navigate alone.

Through the SETS program, Layla found the support she needed. Her case worker helped her gather the necessary documents, understand the process, and cover the costs to lodge a formal application to change her name.

The application has been lodged. Soon, every document will reflect who she actually is.

Layla feels ready to formalise this change and is looking forward to officially being known by her preferred name, and having consistency amongst all of her identity documents.

It sounds like a small thing. It is not a small thing. For many people, having your name officially recognised is an act of profound self-determination.

On World Refugee Day, it would be easy to talk about statistics and systems. But the most important thing we can do is tell the truth about what this work actually looks like on the ground.

It looks like Omar, finally holding approval for the citizenship he has been working toward for twelve years. It looks like Layla, about to see her own name reflected back at her in every document she carries.

Both of these milestones are about identity. About being seen and recognised for who you are. About belonging not just in the everyday sense, but in the official, documented, legal sense that opens doors and creates security.

And both of them happened because someone showed up. A case worker who understood the process, who knew the system, and who believed these young people deserved to navigate it with support rather than alone.

This is what the SETS program does. Not just housing support or employment assistance or help with Centrelink, though it does all of those things too. It walks alongside young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds through the full complexity of building a life in a new country, for as long as they need.

On World Refugee Day and every day, we celebrate the strength and resilience of every young person who has made that journey. And we recommit to being the kind of organisation that shows up for them every step of the way.

If you know a young person from a refugee or migrant background who could benefit from SETS, please get in touch.

**Names and images have been changed to protect privacy