I think there is this misconception that the Australian Government doesn’t do enough. In reality, ever since I came to this country, the Government has done nothing but help me on my pathway, provide me with all the help I need, and provide me with every document I’ve ever applied for. I just wanted to highlight that because, coming to Australia, I heard a lot of noise, I heard a lot of news, and I was almost afraid of applying for documentation when, in fact, I couldn’t have had a smoother experience. That could be just me, as an exception, but that’s what I have experienced so far. Looking back now at what may have been helpful in that first year in Australia is a basic orientation: “Here’s an Opal card, and here’s how you set it up.” Or, “Here’s a bank account. Here’s what you do with it.” Trying to navigate all that was very tricky at first. I highly recommend the pathway I took with TBB. I don’t want to be a liability. I’ve been taking care of myself and my mother since I was 16; I’ve been paying the bills and putting food on the table. The last thing I want is to come to this country and sit on government payments and rely on them to feed me and feel useless. I’ve always hated feeling useless. This program allowed me to maintain my pride and dignity. I feel proud that I came here with a job. From day one, I have been earning money and paying my taxes. I was contributing and being productive. It’s just so empowering, I cannot tell you. And if you ask every refugee or person struggling, that’s what they want; no one wants to be a liability and feel useless. I couldn’t recommend it enough. It just allows me to keep my dignity, in a nutshell. And for someone like me—maybe it’s my cultural background—when you take that away from me, you might as well kill me. I mean, the worst periods of my life were when I couldn’t provide for my family, when I couldn’t take care of my mother, where I just felt useless as a man. Giving me that power back is priceless. It’s almost like you’ve given me a second lease on life. (May 2024) 88 Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness | Understanding Statelessness in Australia