A refugee family facing significant and multiple barriers to settlement have been supported to build happy, successful lives in Adelaide thanks to a collaboration between humanitarian settlement and NDIS services.

Afghan refugee and single parent Zobeideh Ramezani arrived in Australia last year from Iran on a woman at risk visa.

She had suffered domestic violence and faced barriers including deafness, sight impairment and a lack of English language.

Zobeideh was being supported largely by her 14-year-old daughter, the eldest of her three children, who was struggling with her schooling as a result of her domestic duties.

The family was also sharing a house with another person because it was all they could afford.

Case Manager at migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia Raheleh Dara and NDIS Support Coordinator Mona Ryan stepped in to change Zobeideh’s and her kids’ lives.

Working with the family’s innate strengths and resilience, they have helped lift the family out of stress and uncertainty.  

Raheleh and Mona were able to secure carer support for Zobeideh’s eldest daughter as well as a homecare support package for Zobeideh to help her daughter focus on her own needs.

They also secured funding from the Department of Home Affairs to cover in home care and transport, so Zobeideh could get to her appointments independently, and for occupational therapy assessments.

The AMES Australia pair also coordinated with medical support staff to secure ongoing NDIS services for the Zobeideh and assisted the family to secure lifetime tenancy in low-cost community housing.

Zobeideh received support from Guide Dogs SA in providing orientation to Adelaide’s public transport system, focusing on disability access so she can travel independently.

Through Mona and NDIS provider KARE One, Zobeideh was supported with carers while awaiting and NDIS package. She was informed of her rights to NDIS services and was told about the level of service her family could expect from the program.

With her NDIS packages approved, Zobeideh is now supported through AMES NDIS support coordination

Mona said the level of support provided to Zobeideh was misunderstood by her neighbours.

“She was speaking loudly to her kids because of her hearing impairment. The neighbours thought she was abusing her kids and reported it to child services,” she said.

“Raheleh stepped in to explain the situation. We also got an OT involved and we got a functional care assessment done to determine the level of care required.

“We requested funding from Home Affairs because the level of support Zobeideh needed was beyond what AMES staff and volunteers could provide,” Mona said.

Raheleh navigated the bureaucracy to ensure Zobeideh got the support she needed. She also applied for an NDIS care package, which took three months to finalise.

With AMES as her support coordinator, Zobeideh was allotted six hours of NDIS care every day.

“This meant the pressure was taken off her daughter, who was up every night until 2am making lunches for her siblings. She was able to pursue her studies properly,” Raheleh said.

“Getting NDIS support has been a relief for the whole family. Everyone is happy and doing well.

“Zobeideh is able to be involved in her kids’ schooling and she has better control of her life. She is empowered and we have been able to get the family into public housing, so everyone is happier.

“And her kids are growing in healthy supportive circumstances,” Raheleh said.

Zobeideh said she was grateful for the support she has received from Mona and Raheleh.

“AMES made me feel important and I can’t close my eye to that. Before I came to Australia and spoke with Mona and Raheleh I had no power, I didn’t feel like I was even a person but now I feel I have rights, I feel like a person now,” Zobeideh said.