Ma Ka La and Tha Hser share their stories as world marks World Refugee Day

Ma Ka La and Tha Hser have called Bendigo home for five weeks.

The Karen refugees have only known life in the Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand where they were born and raised.

Today they share their stories, thoughts and dreams as we celebrate International Refugee Day and Refugee Week 2018 ... 

Tell us about yourself

Ma Ka la

I am 20 years.

I was born in Mae La Refugee Camp and until coming to Australia have spent my entire life in the camp. I was not able to go outside the camp.

I arrived in Australia on 3 May, 2018. For one year I knew I was coming to live in Australia. I knew little about Australia before leaving Thailand but I did know that all people are equal in Australia, people are treated equally under the law and people have freedom of speech and that is why I am so happy to be able to come to live in Australia.

If I have a chance to live in Australia it will be a chance to have study past Year 12 for my future. This is a great opportunity for me to continue to study and achieve my aim of becoming a nurse.

I can also help my family who are still in Mae La Refugee Camp.

Tha Hser

I arrived in Bendigo on 3 May, 2018. 10 years ago I found out about the chance to come to Australia. I knew the location of Australia, kangaroos, koalas and other Australian animals.

What are your goals?

Ma Ka la

I want to improve my English and practice English conversation. I have studied English at the school at Mae La camp for the past nine years with a Karen teacher but need to improve. I have to try hard on my study and to improve English, it is broken. I like English class to improve English but need more chance to practice English.

At school the teachers help us and treat us as friends, we are not looked down on.

I learnt about health as a subject at school in the camp. Actually I will try hard for higher education and to study nursing. I wish to look after people with a disability to help if they need help. If I become a nurse I can help other people who need my help and also because my family and Karen people who don’t have education I can help them as well.

Tha Hser

I would like to become a nurse; I like helping people and learning about health. Getting a licence and getting my own house. Leaning about the Australian government systems and the Australian way of life will help me achieve my dreams.

Bendigo TAFE students volunteer to paint Fork In The Road community hub

What a truly amazing gesture.

This group of Bendigo TAFE students read about our plans to establish a community hub to help disadvantaged, vulnerable, lonely and homeless people build work and life skills so they promptly volunteered to paint the entire space.

The Painting and Decorating Certificate II students spent a week cleaning, repairing, preparing and painting walls, cupboard and tiles under the guidance of teacher Shane Kennedy.

“What a great way to help out the community and give these students some real life training,” Shane said.

“None of these students had painted before so what they have achieved in a short time is impressive and a credit to them all for sticking it out.

“If they don’t end up in the painting industry, I think it has inspired them to participate in other training.

“Vikki, Luke, Sebastian, Zac and Otto played a big part in the project and just wanted to help out people less fortunate.

“Thanks for the project and I know there are five students that are proud of their achievements.”

All Time High regional roadshow to support professionals working with drug users

Bendigo Community Health Services and Burnet Institute is embarking on an All Time High regional roadshow to support professionals working with people using any type of drug.

The roadshow will involve a series of workshops covering topics such as evolving drug patterns, injecting behaviour among forensic cohort and Hep C transmission in communities that inject drugs.

Castlemaine, Maryborough, Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura will host roadshow stops.

The roadshow is an expansion of the successful Bendigo All Time High forums run by Bendigo Community Health Services last year.

The State Government's Ice Action Plan will fund the roadshow with Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley announcing the grant during a visit to Bendigo last year.

BOOK YOUR PLACE: See the full list of venues and dates and links to book your place below

The workshops are designed to deliver the latest information to professionals to help build knowledge and skills so they can provide the best support to people under their care.

Burnet Institute will provide presenters for the roadshow, including:

Michael Curtis

Michael is working as a research assistant for the PATH Cohort Study and MIX Cohort Study. His research interests include injecting drug use, homelessness, mental health, young people and post-prison outcomes.