Settling Smarter supports people like Monaliza  

CW: The following story contains an account of a refugee experience. This includes: 

  • War themes 
  • Displacement 
  • Gender-based violence

Settling Smarter is a program at CMY that focuses on settlement information, advice, orientation and support to ensure social participation, economic wellbeing, independence, personal wellbeing and community connections. The program supports young people from migrant or refugee backgrounds through mentoring, individual support and group programs. Monaliza is a multicultural young person who is a participant in the Settling Smarter program. She has written a reflection on her time with the program so far. 

My name is Monaliza, and I am 23 years old. I am originally from Tigray in northern Ethiopia. I am a survivor of the war in Tigray and of gender-based violence. Because of the conflict, I was forced to leave my home country and arrived in Australia in 2024. 

The experiences I went through changed my life. I continue to live with physical injuries and am still healing from the trauma. Although my journey has been difficult, I am determined to build a positive future. 

Moving to Australia meant adapting to a new language, culture, technology and way of life. It has been challenging, but I have continued to learn, grow and move forward. 

I am now focused on my education and creating opportunities for myself. I am in my first year of a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in International Relations at Deakin University. I am also looking for employment so I can become more independent. While I currently live with my family, my goal is to support myself, build my own future and contribute positively to my community. Despite everything I have experienced, I remain hopeful, resilient and determined. 

My goal is to build a career where I can support and advocate for others. I want to be a voice for people whose voices are not always heard, especially women, refugees, people with disabilities, and survivors of conflict and violence. 

I am studying International Relations because I believe it will provide me with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful difference. My dream is to work in international relations, human rights or community services, where I can help empower women, promote human rights and support people to rebuild their lives with dignity. I hope to contribute to creating a more just, inclusive and compassionate society. 

While I was studying a Certificate III in English at Victoria University, the CMY Settling Smarter program delivered a series of workshops to my class. The sessions covered important settlement topics, including education, employment, health and wellbeing, and community connections. 

During the workshops, the Settling Smarter facilitator explained that the program also offered one-to-one support and encouraged me to get involved. I felt it would be a valuable opportunity to learn more about life in Australia, build my confidence and connect with people who understood the experience of settling in a new country. I also hoped the program would help me work towards achieving my personal and career goals. 

The workshops gave me valuable information about settling in Australia and helped me understand the services and opportunities available to support my goals and dreams for a better future. 

What inspired me most was hearing the stories of the Peer Leaders. Listening to the challenges they had faced and how they overcame them gave me hope and motivation. Seeing people with similar experiences achieve their goals made me believe that I could achieve mine too. 

The one-to-one sessions were so valuable. We talked about my goals, hopes and plans for the future, and she introduced me to many opportunities, services and pathways that I did not know existed. I learned that I can ask for support and access information to help me achieve my goals. 

Most importantly, I feel like someone is walking alongside me on my settlement journey. Knowing that I have someone to encourage and guide me has given me greater confidence and helped me believe in my ability to create the future I want. 

If you found parts of this story distressing, you can seek support from: 

Find out more about Settling Smarter.