Home is Here: Noor Shah

My name is Noor and I am 42 years old. I fled Afghanistan in July 2013, leaving my wife, my four children and my relatives behind. I came by boat and was held in detention on Christmas Island for about a month. After that we were transferred to Curtin detention centre for three months, where we suffered a lot. 

I came to Australia to find a safe life for me and my family, a normal life. But life has never been easy for me since I arrived here. The previous government changed immigration policies and said we could never settle in Australia if we came by sea. Being on a bridging visa for almost 11 years and not knowing about my future is very painful. 

My youngest daughter was born after I left for Australia, I have never seen her in person. She tells me that I have not been there as a father for her, not to hug her, or take her to the shops, the simple things. My children need to get the love, care and support they deserve from their dad. My father passed  away when I was in Afghanistan. I always think of my family, I really want to see my kids, I miss home.

Nobody has helped me since I have been here. I lived in shared accommodation and I would struggle to feed myself especially for the first three years when I didn’t have work rights. I still can’t sleep at night. My emotional and mental health is deteriorating. I live a very stressful life. The waiting has destroyed my life, my family’s life, they have destroyed my future.

This Government has to make changes. All we are asking is one simple thing – grant us a permanent visa and let refugees and people seeking asylum start their normal life here, reunite with their families, like any other human being. If we are given the opportunity, we can work so hard, support our family and contribute a lot to society.