Remarkable graduate: Noel Zihabamwe

 Noel Zihabamwe with The Honourable Victor Dominello, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Citizenship and Communities.

When Noel Zihabamwe arrived in Australia from Africa seven years ago, he couldn't speak English. Striving to make a new life in Australia, he took English classes, went to TAFE and then commenced studies at UWS. Since completing a Bachelor's degree of Community Welfare and International Social Development, the Rwandan-born graduate has been working passionately within the community to improve the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants to Australia. He is currently studying toward a Masters degree in Policy and Applied Social Research at Macquarie University.

Noel's story is quite remarkable.

When he first arrived in Australia, Noel recognised that it was crucial that he learnt English to be able to communicate, integrate into his local community and build a new life in Australia. "When I came to Australia, the languages that I was able to speak fluently were French, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi and Swahili," says Noel. "I had to learn English so I tried to speak to people as much as I could to pick up the language."

While studying at UWS, Noel was involved in research in South Africa where he worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service and in partnership with other humanitarian agencies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This research gave him experience in supporting asylum seekers, refugees and displaced people whose perspectives he understood well. It also fuelled his passion to find ways to assist and empower those suffering the effects of displacement, conflict and persecution.

For the last six years, Noel has been active in community work and development in the western Sydney area and is particularly committed to assisting new refugees and new migrant communities in areas of settlement, capacity building, education and employment.

He is currently a Community Development Officer at St Anthony's Family Care – a provider of care and services to children and families in need – which includes an early learning centre and disability, family and community support services. At St Anthony's, Noel supports refugees and migrants in assimilating into the community.

He is also a Youth Project Officer at Bankstown Youth Development Service, where he has been establishing links with local services to help young refugees and migrants enter employment pathways.

In addition to this Noel is a founder of the CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) Men's Social Club in western Sydney and actively campaigns to raise awareness of issues affecting CALD. One might think his plate is full, but there is more…

Noel's voluntary work includes his role as the Cultural and Social Affairs Coordinator for the Rwandan Community of NSW, in which he instigated and helped to organise and run the 2013 and 2014 Rwandan Cultural Days, encouraging the participation of other cultural groups. He is also an active member of the Sydney Alliance, which brings together diverse community organisations to advance the common good; and he works to establish links with government and non-government organisations to foster respect for cultural diversity, promote mutual cooperation, increase awareness of the issues that affect disadvantaged families in NSW and enable individuals and communities to help themselves.

"I have always had a passion for family work and communities, and I am interested in assisting in the area of capacity building by working with families to assess their needs and plan for a better future by supporting them to develop new skills and confidence," says Noel. "I would like to use my professional skills to achieve advancement which will assist me and the entire society."

In recognition of his achievements and ongoing work, on 7 November 2014 Noel received an Outstanding Community Services Award at NSW Parliament House.