Using her lived experience to empower others

For Jebbeh Manubah, finding freedom means much than words. It’s a powerful encapsulation of her refugee journey that took her from Liberia to the Ivory Coast to Ghana and finally to safety and a new life in Australia.

"I grew up in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.

"I left my parents and family when I was 18 because of the civil war. I went to the Ivory Coast, then followed people to a refugee camp in Ghana. I lived there from 2002 to 2005.

There were no toilets, no showers, no hope - I just lived.

"I arrived in Australia in 2005 - a country I had never heard of.

"Even though I had access to food and shelter in this new country, I did not know I was different until I came here. I had to fight to be accepted. I studied English language, aged care, then nursing in Queensland.

"At Victoria University, I did a placement at the Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre as part of my Master degree. Here, I worked with other people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to understand their experiences, challenges and needs. This information helps inform the development of programs and services and allows me to support people from diverse backgrounds to ensure they are included and empowered."