Case study

Mamona arrived in Australia from Pakistan in 2014 with a Masters in Urdu Literature.

During her first year in Australia she could speak only one sentence in English, so she stayed at home, and lost her confidence.

Mamona decided to enrol in a Certificate 3 in Children’s Services, which she completed, and 2017 she moved to Melbourne with her husband and three children.

Mamona and her husband enrolled their three children Broadmeadows Valley Primary School, and Mamona joined the Broadmeadows Valley Community Hub playgroup.

At the hub Mamona participated in English classes, attended the Peace and Prosperity Kitchen Garden program at Government House, as well as supported cultural cooking for Harmony Day, and the Iftar dinner.

When child minding funding became available to support vocational pathways through The Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Office for Women, Hub Leader Kirsten offered Mamona her first job in Australia – as a child minder within the Community Hub to support children while other mothers study. What’s more, she can do it while her children are at school.