Written by May Chang – Mentor & former COACH Mentoring Administrative Assistant
When Nesa arrived in Australia, the world felt impossibly large and confusing. After losing her father while her family were asylum seekers in Iran, she moved to a new country carrying grief, responsibility, and fear. Every law, every bill, and every unfamiliar system felt overwhelming.
“I was scared,” Nesa admits. “I thought it would take years to achieve anything.”
As the only English speaker in her family, the pressure on Nesa was immense. Her English level was assessed at Certificate III, which is considered low, yet she was responsible for navigating schools, services, employment, housing, and healthcare, not just for herself, but for her entire family.
While waiting for a formal English assessment, Nesa was referred to COACH Mentoring as she was eager to find employment. During the intake process for mentoring, she secured casual work in a warehouse which was her very first Australian workplace just before being matched with her Mentor May.
From their first meeting, May saw Nesa not simply as a refugee, but as a young woman full of courage, potential, and strength. Someone to be cherished as a friend.
Turning Challenges into Milestones
The journey was not without obstacles. Early on, Nesa faced pressure from peers to take risky shortcuts, such as driving without a licence. Recognising the danger, May and the COACH team stepped in with support, guidance, and RACV driving lesson vouchers.
Instead of risk, they chose resilience.
On the day of her driving test, Nesa didn’t just pass she achieved a perfect score of 100%.
For her family, this moment was life changing. As the only licensed driver, Nesa became the bridge to their independence, enabling access to work, education, medical care, and community connection. Passing her drivers licence test unlocked an entirely new chapter for them all.
Strength in Every Step
Nesa’s growth didn’t stop there. While working part-time and carrying the responsibility of being her family’s primary communicator, she pursued her education with determination.
With May’s guidance, Nesa navigated the complexities of the Australian education system and successfully secured a humanitarian scholarship. She is now completing a Diploma of Information Technology at RMIT.
The young woman who once feared simple tasks now confidently manages bills, advocates for her family, and navigates the education systems with ease.
“I love being a friend to Nesa,” May reflects. “When people ask why I do this, I tell them: my God wants me to love people, especially the fatherless and the foreigners in our land. Watching her grow has grown my own heart too.”
A Future Without Scars
Today, Nesa’s eyes are fixed firmly on a hopeful future. Between her studies and part-time work, she is building a pathway toward a professional career. She also carries a deeply personal dream, to one day undergo surgery to remove old scars from her time in Iran, marking a final step in her healing journey.
Eighteen months ago, Nesa arrived in Australia as a stranger in a strange land. Today, she stands as a leader in her family, a driven student and a young woman equipped for the future supported by patient mentoring and a faith that refused to give up.
