WEBVTT - ‘They don’t want us here’: an asylum seeker’s shattered education dreams

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, Hereni, how are you.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm good, How are you good? Thank you?

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much for coming on the show. I

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<v Speaker 1>really appreciate it.

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<v Speaker 2>No worries at all. Thank you for this opportunity.

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<v Speaker 1>Hareni Rafnakuma is twenty three years old. She grew up

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<v Speaker 1>in Sunshine in Melbourne.

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<v Speaker 3>I was born in Sri Lanka as a Tamil Elam

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<v Speaker 3>person and I had to flee the genocide that took

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<v Speaker 3>place in Damil Elam and I went to India as

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<v Speaker 3>a refugee.

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<v Speaker 1>In India, Hareni lived in a refugee camp. She describes

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<v Speaker 1>an early childhood marked by fear, where going to school

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<v Speaker 1>was difficult. The fees were exceptionally high and her family

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<v Speaker 1>struggled to pay. Hareni remembers this one day when she

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<v Speaker 1>was ten years old. She was hanging around the adults

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<v Speaker 1>eavesdropping on the conversations and she heard them talking about

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<v Speaker 1>a place called Australia.

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<v Speaker 3>My dad was talking to a neighbor about how it

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<v Speaker 3>was a better place to live in how they were

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<v Speaker 3>welcoming refugees and that our family would be better off

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<v Speaker 3>there instead of in India. We cannot go back to

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<v Speaker 3>Sri Lanka, and I do believe he mentioned something about

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<v Speaker 3>free education to the neighbor and that's when I got

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<v Speaker 3>hooked on. I was like, I wouldn't be a burden

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<v Speaker 3>to my family at all, because my dad couldn't afford

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<v Speaker 3>to be the feast that got into my head and

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<v Speaker 3>I was very stubborn.

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<v Speaker 2>When my dad was going.

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<v Speaker 3>To leave, I was like, I am coming with you

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<v Speaker 3>or I'm going to die.

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<v Speaker 2>That's what I told him.

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<v Speaker 3>To a kid hearing how Australia was a better place

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<v Speaker 3>and they would treat us better, our human rights would

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<v Speaker 3>be upheld to a kid, that sounds like a wonderful dream.

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<v Speaker 1>And that dream was realized. Hareni made it to Australia

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<v Speaker 1>and went to school. But what she could never have

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<v Speaker 1>expected is it a largely unknown feature of our immigration

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<v Speaker 1>system would stop her from getting the full education she

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<v Speaker 1>risked her life for. From Schwartz Media, I'm Ruby Jones.

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<v Speaker 1>This is seven AM today on the show Hareni Rathnakuma

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<v Speaker 1>on the promise of life in Australia and why the

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<v Speaker 1>children of refugees aren't able to attend university here. It's

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<v Speaker 1>Thursday September nineteen. Hareni can you tell me about your

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<v Speaker 1>journey to come to Australia with your dad.

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<v Speaker 2>It was scary. It was very, very scary.

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<v Speaker 3>It was almost seventeen to eighteen days a worth of

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<v Speaker 3>journey on the sea. It was short of one hundred

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<v Speaker 3>people on that boat. There was a bit at the

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<v Speaker 3>bottom where they would store fishes, I believe because there

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<v Speaker 3>was eyes too, and that's where most of the people

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<v Speaker 3>kind of head away. When we had to cross the

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<v Speaker 3>border and we all shared this space, everyone was just

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<v Speaker 3>throwing up. Most people couldn't even like sit up. It

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<v Speaker 3>was covered in warmt But because my dad was there,

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<v Speaker 3>I knew I'd be okay. I knew he'd be taking

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<v Speaker 3>care of me, and that's why he did.

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<v Speaker 1>And do you remember any of the other people on

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<v Speaker 1>the boat did you talk to them?

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<v Speaker 3>I made so many friends because there were so many

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<v Speaker 3>young kids like me. There was a guy that I

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<v Speaker 3>became best friends with. He and I love to study.

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<v Speaker 3>That's what we connected over. And what was funny was

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<v Speaker 3>that after so many years of being separated, we ended

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<v Speaker 3>up going to the same uni. We reached Coco's Island

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<v Speaker 3>and the Navy they came and took us to safety,

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<v Speaker 3>and I was so joyed. I was very, very joyed.

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<v Speaker 3>I was like, finally we made it. I was transferred

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<v Speaker 3>to Adelaide detention Center. That was after spending a couple

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<v Speaker 3>of months in Christmas Island, and then they transferred me out.

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<v Speaker 3>They were like, you're allowed to go live in the

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<v Speaker 3>community now, and my dad chose Melboyn.

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<v Speaker 1>Hareini and her dad were put on a bridging visa,

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<v Speaker 1>which is what it sounds like. It's a temporary visa

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<v Speaker 1>where the government can decide at any point what it

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<v Speaker 1>wants to do with you. You stay on it until

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<v Speaker 1>you're assessed one way or the other, and you can

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<v Speaker 1>be deported at any time. Many Tamil asylum seekers are

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<v Speaker 1>stuck in this kind of limbo. They face some of

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<v Speaker 1>the lowest acceptance rates as refugees, like the Billa Wheeler family,

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<v Speaker 1>who were only granted permanent visas after a huge campaign

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<v Speaker 1>to let them stay. Parini and her dad have been

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<v Speaker 1>on this type of visa since they arrived in twenty thirteen.

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<v Speaker 2>I was eleven when I came to Melvin.

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<v Speaker 3>I came at nighttime, my second or the third time

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<v Speaker 3>I've been on a fly, and the city looked so beautiful,

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<v Speaker 3>and I was just so happy to be here. I

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<v Speaker 3>was put into a primary school right away instead of

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<v Speaker 3>a language school. I was very proud to be standing

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<v Speaker 3>there because people had knew about the Tamil genocide that

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<v Speaker 3>took place, and I was glad to know that other

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<v Speaker 3>people knew that other people were actually kid I enjoyed

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<v Speaker 3>going to school with primary school here. I made so

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<v Speaker 3>many friends, and again my dad didn't have to pay,

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<v Speaker 3>so I was thrilled.

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<v Speaker 2>I was like, oh my God, free education.

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<v Speaker 3>And I also went to high school here where I

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<v Speaker 3>finished year twelve in twenty twenty, the year of COVID.

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<v Speaker 1>And then you applied for university. Can you tell me

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<v Speaker 1>about that.

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<v Speaker 3>I had applied to Vicuni to study a Bachelor of

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<v Speaker 3>Biomedical Science to then go on to become a doctor.

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<v Speaker 3>My brother has always suffered with this condition affecting his kidneys,

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<v Speaker 3>and he was always on medication. He was always getting

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<v Speaker 3>some kind of surgery done, and I thought if I

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<v Speaker 3>became a doctor, then I would be able to provide

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<v Speaker 3>that kid to a little bit more people. So I

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<v Speaker 3>got my offer letter saying that I was accepted in

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<v Speaker 3>that day. I was thrilled. I was thrilled to get

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<v Speaker 3>that offer. I gave my dad a call. I gave

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<v Speaker 3>him so much joy by letting him know that I

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<v Speaker 3>was offered a place in UNI.

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<v Speaker 1>Coming up after the break, Hareni learns what her education

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<v Speaker 1>will cost.

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<v Speaker 4>Her welcome back.

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<v Speaker 1>When Hareni started applying for universities, she was made to

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<v Speaker 1>do so as an international student. She thought it was

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<v Speaker 1>strange given she'd been here since she was a child,

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<v Speaker 1>but didn't think too much about it. Hareni still remembers

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<v Speaker 1>the moment she opened that letter from Victoria University telling

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<v Speaker 1>her that she's been accepted into biomedical science, her first

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<v Speaker 1>step towards becoming a doctor.

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<v Speaker 3>So it said that I was offered a place as

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<v Speaker 3>an international student because I've applied as a international student

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<v Speaker 3>because that's the only way I can apply. The second

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<v Speaker 3>page had the fear information the total amount that was

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<v Speaker 3>expected for us to pay. It said ninety five thousand,

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<v Speaker 3>and I'm like I was just sitting there looking at

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<v Speaker 3>it for a couple of minutes because I didn't believe

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<v Speaker 3>my eyes. First, I was like, ninety five thousand for what?

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<v Speaker 3>And then I sat down reverted over and over again.

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<v Speaker 3>I was shocked, and I didn't want to break it

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<v Speaker 3>to my dad. That I would have to pay these feests,

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<v Speaker 3>and then I gave my dad a call.

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<v Speaker 2>I told him that I wouldn't be able to access X.

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<v Speaker 3>I was heartbroken over why this was, and when I

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<v Speaker 3>asked my dad why I was being treated differently when

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<v Speaker 3>I tried to apply for UNI, he said, well, our

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<v Speaker 3>kids has been rejected and they haven't found us to

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<v Speaker 3>be junior refugees. They don't actually want u CR And

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<v Speaker 3>that broke my hearts, like all this hope that I've

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<v Speaker 3>saved up, all the dreams that I've been over so

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<v Speaker 3>many years after coming to this country broke.

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<v Speaker 1>So it sounds like at some point during the application

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<v Speaker 1>process you had realized that you would need to apply

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<v Speaker 1>as an international student, but it wasn't until you got

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<v Speaker 1>that letter that you realized what that meant and how

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<v Speaker 1>much money that would cost. Is that right?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's right. Yes. But my dad was like, I'll

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<v Speaker 2>do whatever to make your study.

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<v Speaker 3>I'll do whatever to make you had blocked her, And

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<v Speaker 3>I felt like I was placing that burden on him

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<v Speaker 3>yet again, what was a happy moment was kind of broken.

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<v Speaker 2>After hearing about.

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<v Speaker 1>The FeAs, Haarini's dad scrambled to find the money working

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<v Speaker 1>an extra job so that she could start studying. She

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<v Speaker 1>completed two and a half years of her degree with

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<v Speaker 1>support from her dad and also from her husband, who

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<v Speaker 1>she married while she was at UNI.

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<v Speaker 3>I had done two and a half ears of my

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<v Speaker 3>bachelor degree, which in which I had four months left

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<v Speaker 3>to graduate. My dad had an injury at work and

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<v Speaker 3>my husband ended up losing his job around the same time,

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<v Speaker 3>and we couldn't do anything to pay for the UNI

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<v Speaker 3>as well. They had decided to just enroll me because

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<v Speaker 3>I couldn't pay. So I already owe the UNI like

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<v Speaker 3>twenty four or twenty five K, and I would need

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<v Speaker 3>another twenty four or twenty five K to finish off

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<v Speaker 3>my bachelor degree. But in saying so, I also want

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<v Speaker 3>to do a Bachelor of Medicine, which makes me a doctor.

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<v Speaker 3>And to do medicine it's like seventy seven thousand a year.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm not even able to pay ninety five thousand for

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<v Speaker 3>three years. How am I going to pay seventy seven

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<v Speaker 3>thousand for a year to become a doctor. I wasn't

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<v Speaker 3>able to brivele vanes and banks because of my visa status,

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<v Speaker 3>and it drove me to depression. I had to face

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<v Speaker 3>the harsh reality in the truth that the country didn't

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<v Speaker 3>want me here, that I don't actually belong anywhere at all,

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<v Speaker 3>the country I was born and doesn't want me, wants

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<v Speaker 3>to get rid of me, kill me.

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<v Speaker 2>And I didn't even know what to do.

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<v Speaker 3>I sought out so many organizations, so many refugee supporters,

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<v Speaker 3>to see if they could help me at all. My

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<v Speaker 3>husband did write to so many MP's as well, and

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<v Speaker 3>all they said was that they could probably get us

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<v Speaker 3>mental help, but they cannot do anything about my situation

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<v Speaker 3>or about my education either.

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<v Speaker 2>It was hard because well, the politician that needs.

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<v Speaker 3>To care for us, they don't even consider us human beings.

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<v Speaker 1>There are more than ten thousand people on bridging visas

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<v Speaker 1>in Australia, and with Year twelve exams and university offers approaching,

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<v Speaker 1>the young people who were brought to Australia by parents

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<v Speaker 1>seeking asylum will be faced with this same problem. Pay

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<v Speaker 1>the extremely high international fees or forgo the chance to

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<v Speaker 1>get a tertiary education and the opportunities that brings.

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<v Speaker 3>What am I supposed to do with my life in

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<v Speaker 3>those years? I cannot study, so I'm going to have

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<v Speaker 3>to work. I am working, I am paying tax. This

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<v Speaker 3>is what we've been doing for twelve years. We've been

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<v Speaker 3>paying tax, waiting for this opportunity to get to go

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<v Speaker 3>Australia or home and to finally be at peace, to

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<v Speaker 3>have that breath of siyeh and know that we finally

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<v Speaker 3>belong in this country.

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<v Speaker 2>Yet we haven't been given that opportunity.

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<v Speaker 1>And so ha, RENI, what would need to change for

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<v Speaker 1>you to be able to study at university here like

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<v Speaker 1>any other student.

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<v Speaker 3>The only solution at the moment that we have is

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<v Speaker 3>that we need our permanent visas. And if we do

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<v Speaker 3>have our permanent viasas, then we'll be able to apply

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<v Speaker 3>as a domestic student, which we are after ten years

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<v Speaker 3>in this country.

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<v Speaker 2>We are domestic.

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<v Speaker 3>This is our home and we should be able to

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<v Speaker 3>have access to education without worrying about all the fees

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<v Speaker 3>that that's going to literally break our families. About the

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<v Speaker 3>boy I told you about the boy that went to

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<v Speaker 3>the same UNI as me.

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<v Speaker 2>He came on the same boat as me. He played

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<v Speaker 2>with me on the boat.

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<v Speaker 3>He had to flee the same situation we had to flee,

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<v Speaker 3>the same genocide. He's got a visa though, so he

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<v Speaker 3>did end up end up getting a permanent visa. I

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<v Speaker 3>came with him and they have treated me so unfairly

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<v Speaker 3>and said that I'm not a genuine refugee, that I

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<v Speaker 3>don't belong here. After building a home and a life here,

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<v Speaker 3>A lot of people have lost their lives waiting in

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<v Speaker 3>a slimbo, including one of my friends who was also

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<v Speaker 3>trying to study. Yet because we can't, he had to

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<v Speaker 3>go and work. He paid tax yet after waiting in

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<v Speaker 3>this limbo. Hiss take in his life.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. ARENI?

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<v Speaker 2>What is this government going to do with us?

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<v Speaker 3>Like we've been here, We've been begging, We've been campaigning

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<v Speaker 3>for our rights, yet the government hasn't even looked at us.

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<v Speaker 2>They haven't given us a reply.

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<v Speaker 1>And ARENI we know that there have been cases where

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<v Speaker 1>the government has intervened on behalf of people who have

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<v Speaker 1>been living on ridging visas. I'm thinking of Nadees and

0:13:27.400 --> 0:13:30.520
<v Speaker 1>pri and Rgapa, the Bila Willa family. Can you tell

0:13:30.520 --> 0:13:31.360
<v Speaker 1>me your thoughts on that.

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<v Speaker 3>I am glad for those families that did end up

0:13:34.400 --> 0:13:37.200
<v Speaker 3>receiving permanent visas, such as the Billowilla and the bell

0:13:37.200 --> 0:13:41.720
<v Speaker 3>are Att family. Pria actually traveled on the same boat

0:13:41.760 --> 0:13:45.720
<v Speaker 3>with me, and they faced so many struggles, they were

0:13:45.880 --> 0:13:49.520
<v Speaker 3>almost deported from this country and they were finally able

0:13:49.559 --> 0:13:53.440
<v Speaker 3>to give their visas after so much fight. I'm happy

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<v Speaker 3>for them. I'm happy that they get to call this

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<v Speaker 3>country home. I'm happy they're finally safe and stay keep

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<v Speaker 3>er in this country. But in doing so, the government

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<v Speaker 3>has when we looked at one family or couple of families,

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<v Speaker 3>even though I'm happy for them, why aren't we given

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<v Speaker 3>the scene opportunity, why are we still being left behind?

0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:20.760
<v Speaker 1>Well, I, Reni, thank you so much for talking to

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<v Speaker 1>me about all of this today. I really appreciate you speaking.

0:14:24.080 --> 0:14:26.000
<v Speaker 2>With me, no worries. Thank you.

0:14:28.720 --> 0:14:31.520
<v Speaker 1>To find out more about Hareni and other students going

0:14:31.560 --> 0:14:34.240
<v Speaker 1>through this, you can read Denham Sadler's story in a

0:14:34.280 --> 0:14:38.600
<v Speaker 1>Saturday paper. It's called All My Dreams Shattered asylum Seekers

0:14:38.640 --> 0:14:55.440
<v Speaker 1>barred from Australian Universities. It's available now. Also in the

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<v Speaker 1>news today, the Albanezi government has threatened a double dissolution

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<v Speaker 1>election if it's unable to pass its housing bills, which

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<v Speaker 1>have stalled in the Senate. Labour's Helped to Buy a

0:15:05.280 --> 0:15:07.280
<v Speaker 1>scheme was put to a vote in the Senate, but

0:15:07.360 --> 0:15:09.760
<v Speaker 1>the Greens and the Coalition voted for more time to

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<v Speaker 1>consider the bill. The Greens are demanding a phase out

0:15:13.040 --> 0:15:16.680
<v Speaker 1>of capital gains tax discounts, as well as abolishing negative

0:15:16.720 --> 0:15:21.120
<v Speaker 1>gearing for landlords with more than one investment property. And

0:15:21.280 --> 0:15:24.400
<v Speaker 1>thousands of construction workers in Melbourne and Sydney walked off

0:15:24.400 --> 0:15:27.560
<v Speaker 1>the job yesterday to protest the government's decision to force

0:15:27.600 --> 0:15:32.480
<v Speaker 1>the cfmeu's construction arm into administration. The government takeover and

0:15:32.520 --> 0:15:36.480
<v Speaker 1>appointment of administrators to the CFMEU earlier this year followed

0:15:36.520 --> 0:15:41.000
<v Speaker 1>allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration of the union. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>Ruby Jones, seven am.

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<v Speaker 4>We'll be back tomorrow