Students in Focus
Inspired by her parents’ care, Aya pursues nursing against the odds
She can’t watch the blood being drawn out of her own arm during a blood test, but Aya* is steadfast in her dedication to become a nurse. Her parents – her “superheroes” – received excellent care from their nurses during difficult hospitals stays. Now Aya wants to ensure others feel that same comfort of knowing their loved ones are in safe hands.
Aya’s family came to Australia as refugees when she was eight years old. Starting at an ACT public primary school in Year 3, Aya remembers “being so welcomed by everyone” in her first days there.
And while she quickly became attuned to the new language and culture thanks to her formal education, the adjustment was harder on her parents. Her dad has since taught himself English, while her mum speaks only Pashto.
Her parents, her biggest supporters, have always instilled in her the value of education.
“Unfortunately, my mum could not go to school, so she is illiterate. It's very hard for her, she would like to be able to communicate with people here and have a job. She's teaching me to get an education so I can do the things that she didn't get to. I always look up to her for that.”
As she progressed through her final years of school, attending the Islamic School of Canberra for Year 10, before moving to college for Years 11 and 12, Aya weighed up careers in both law and health, before eventually settling on the Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Canberra.
It was December, just months before she was set to start, when Aya’s mum went to hospital for a planned surgery. Two weeks later her father, the sole breadwinner of the family, suffered a heart attack, requiring two major surgeries in 24 hours. The teenager was suddenly managing the health of both parents alone, with no family in the country to turn to.
“It was a very big challenge for our family. My dad is the only source of income. My mum didn’t have time to recover from her own surgery and I was starting university."
Being separated from her loved ones by hospital visiting hours was heartbreaking for Aya, only made easier through the compassion of the nurses who cared for them.
“It was very hard to go through that but knowing the amount of love the nurses gave to my parents touched my heart. I want to be able to do that for somebody else someday,” Aya says.
Companion House, a service for refugees and people fleeing violence, was another lifeline during this time.
“They’ve given me an amazing amount of support, including sponsoring my initial university fees. I will always be grateful,” Aya says.
“But I knew that this couldn’t continue long term. It was always in the back of my mind, what are we going to do?”
Thankfully for Aya, Companion House also connected her with the University’s Student Equity and Participation team. Through the team’s Student Success Program, which provides support for students from underrepresented backgrounds, including those on Humanitarian Visas, or with refugee backgrounds, she received a scholarship to help buy her own laptop and headphones and she was connected with a Study Coach – a tutor to help her navigate her nursing studies, something she had always wanted but couldn’t afford.
And through the new Refugee Sponsorship Program, Aya was one of the first students to receive a full fee waiver, courtesy of the Faculty of Health.
“They also decided that they were going to sponsor my fees, which was more than I could ever ask for. It was the best thing in that situation, after everything I had gone through, it was really a dream come true,” Aya says.
Through these supports, Aya has been able to achieve her potential. She’s just completed her third semester and has received an invitation to complete an honours year, due to her consistently high grades.
“I love the practical aspects most – the actual hands-on parts using the mannequins, because it's practising how you will do it in real life with real people. I’ve also really enjoyed my placements,” she says.
One of those placements has been in the surgical theatre – where she can see herself working in years to come, so she can provide the empathy, compassion and kindness for patients, that her own parents received.
“When I think of hospital, I think of my parents,” Aya says.
“I realised that when the patient goes into the theatre, they have to leave everybody behind. It's only the surgeons and the nurses with them. It’s a very vulnerable time.
That’s someone else’s parents, or children, or someone they love. We should respect them and treat them with kindness and compassion. Islam beautifully teaches us to respect everyone.
Outside of her studies, Aya also gives back to her community, teaching Islamic education at Sunday school to connect other young people with the faith that guides her values. Her parents have recuperated since their health challenges, and ever her greatest supporters, continue to drive her to make a positive difference in the world.
“Even during those difficult times, they continued to encourage me and believe in my potential, which motivated me to keep pushing forward,” Aya says.
“My parents are my other half. If it wasn’t for their dedication to me, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”
Prospective or current students with a refugee background can connect with the UC Equity and Participation team via the UC website, Student Success Programs.
*Aya’s name has been changed for privacy reasons