Olga’s story: step by step from zero to success

Migration is an incredibly complex and personal experience, often shaped by conflict, trauma, and loss.

For women like Ukrainian counsellor Olga, this journey also intersects with a range of unique challenges tied to personal challenges and specific of her qualification and profession. That was a place where she transformed individual refugee experience into a powerful tool to help other newcomers.

In 2022, after the war broke out, Olga fled her home with her family. Seeking safety for her children, she arrived in Australia and began rebuilding their lives in a new country.

Her journey was not easy, like that of many women refugees, but her new life required and highlighted the importance of an attentive and gentle approach in resettlement services.

Olga said she felt less alone after she began working with her case manager through SSI’s Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP), which provides tailored services designed to meet the unique needs and strengths of individuals and families resettling in Australia as refugees.

“My case worker, Munira, gave me a lot of attention and time, offering everything I could possibly need. I felt supported in everything I did through the program,” she said.

Olga found that participating in the programs’ orientation sessions not only helped her learn about the new country her family now called home but also helped her to connect with other members of the Ukrainian community in Australia, fostering a better sense of belonging.

“These sessions were incredibly helpful; I still remember the knowledge I gained from them years ago. It was an amazing start for my professional growth in Australia,” she said.

As an experienced counsellor, who was waiting for her qualification being recognised, Olga was happy to facilitate and deliver groups about domestic, sexual, and family violence (DFSV) awareness for the Ukrainian community where support for newly arrived women was a key focus. She was also grateful to have the opportunity to share her expertise and facilitation skills to support other refugees during the orientation sessions and groups for the families in culture transition.

“It’s essential for newly arrived refugees to have a platform where they can address issues and learn how to protect themselves and their families. Everyone deserves to be safe, especially at home, even if it’s very new,” Olga said.

She secured employment opportunities with the support of SSI’s Refugee Employment Support Program, along with her dedication and ability to navigate her networks and community.

Olga worked tirelessly to have her overseas qualification recognised and secure the right to work as a counsellor in Australia. All while studying and managing full responsibility for her family.

Later she secured a role as an employment facilitator with RESP and found out that SSI’s gender-sensitive services also include wellbeing assessment tools designed to identify potential trauma experiences, such as DFSV, and assess the risks women may face during resettlement. It was important to have those tools in her work. “By identifying such risks early, our specialists can intervene and provide appropriate support and resources,”she said.

Like many refugee women leading their household, Olga’s economic goal to gain employment was crucial to building her sense of independence. However, despite her extensive background in psychotherapy, she initially struggled to find employment due to her visa status.

With support from SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups, Olga’s combined her skills and networks to establish her own business, OK Club, running mindfulness workshops for refugees online and in person, including a Women’s Circle retreat for Ukrainians.

“What I was trying to achieve was difficult, but with the support I had at the time, it was possible,” she said.

In 2024, Olga began working full-time with NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) as a therapeutic counsellor, offering therapeutic support to other people who have navigated forced displacement.

“Such a beautiful place we call our new home. I adore the equality of genders in Australia. It is amazing that as professionals we have programs like Gender Equity Strategy to support our clients. I take a gendered approach to migration and resettlement, ensuring everyone receives the support needed to thrive, rebuild their lives, and contribute meaningfully.” Learn more.