DineshP

In 2012 I came to Australia as an asylum seeker from Sri Lanka. I knew Australia would give me hope from my situation in Sri Lanka. If you ask any asylum seeker why they chose to seek refuge in Australia most answers would the same. It is a safe country, well developed, hardly any corruption if any and a very fair and honest democratic society. I am Sri Lankan and I escaped Sri Lanka as an asylum seeker. In Sri Lanka there is a lot of undercover corruption, and in my case politically. I escaped Sri Lanka in fear of my life. I was engaging with political activities, which in my case ended putting me in a lot of danger. All of my political activity landed me in trouble with a group who was backed by a very powerful political group. It can be very unpredictable and dangerous in engaging in political activities. Unfortunately there is a lot of political corruption in Sri Lanka which is what happened in my case. My political activities attracted attention by a very powerful political group, who sought out to not only attack me but kill me because of my activities. The group had found out where I lived in had beaten me very badly. They told me to stop all my political activity otherwise they would come back and beat me even worse, and that this was my first warning. In fear of my life I stopped, it seemed that no matter if I stopped or not they would still come after me. I went out one day, only to come back and home and see there was damage to my house. I knew instantly who was responsible. I left to go to my friend’s house. Unfortunately the group were still in my area, as I walking the bus stop I heard some yelling saying ‘’there he is get him’’ I ran for my life but there was to many of them they reached up to me and for the second time beat very badly. I had tried to seek help from the police, but sadly didn’t really do anything. Somehow word about me going to the police got back to the group and they had found out. I thought after my last beating they were done with me, but as soon as they heard about the police, they broke into my house very late at night, I heard the loud noise of my door being kicked in and woke up, and they stormed into my room and shot me. Luckily I survived. In fear of my life, I instantly moved out of that area and went into hiding. I had heard of leaving and going to Australia by boat. I knew how safe Australia was and figured this was my only option to stay alive. I had organised to join a couple of people to go to Australia by boat. My long journey to Australia had now started. The minute I got on that boat, I felt an instant relief, freedom and safety. The long journey to Australia took 14 days. The trip was definitely an experience. Being out in sea, with no access to a toilet, bed and basically no human interaction apart form the other people on the boat and the environment of the ocean. We hardly slept for the 14 days, we did have a supply of adequate food but we were getting very lethargic and exhausted, but by the time we landed in Australia it was all worth it. When I landed in the Australian border I got taken to a detention centre in Cocos Island. I stayed here for 2 nights. A detention centre is not a playground to be free, but for me this was freedom enough. I was out of Sri Lanka away from the group I was now in safe hands. My first impressions of the detention centre was safe and secure, but I felt very locked up, but it was my only first night being in a detention centre. The staff were nice. I didn’t’ see any corruption or miss treating of detainees. I was treated with care and this was my first encounter with Australian people. It may have been in lock up, but I felt safe and secure and treated well be staff. I stayed here for two nights, then I got transferred, to Christmas Island to anther detention. I stayed here for 1 month. I got interviewed a lot and asked lots of questions about my situation. I met lots of people in here, I got to share my story and learnt different stories about other people. The detainees were treated very well. We were fed, had a bed to sleep in, access to clean hygienic necessities, but we also locked up. I felt very enclosed and lonely. As time was passing being locked up in detention was taking a toll on me mentally. After 1 month I was moved to Darwin to a detention there. I was wondering what happen with. It was all a waiting game. I tried to keep myself distracted. I already knew basic English, but I learnt more here, and I got a chance to learn more about Australia. After staying here for 2 months, I was then transferred to a detention centre in Weipa Queensland. Finally this was my last detention centre. I stayed here for 1 month until I was finally released into society in Brisbane. This was first taste of what Australia was. I think for most people they have a lot of appreciation for this beautiful country. Everything was so well developed, I got a very warm happy feeling. The environment was very pleasant to be in. Everything about Australia was just clean, well developed and the people were great. I linked in with Multicultural Development Association, also known as MDA. MDA helped me with settling into Australia. The government helped me with social benefits from Centrelink. I got linked in with Medicare, set up a bank account. I was shocked at how well the government help people. I knew that Australia had a lot of opportunities in all aspects but to see it and experience was great. I love the Australian culture and I felt like I instantly fit into society. The people here are just so friendly and compassionate. I felt welcomed by every part of Australia, the people, the government and agencies. Australia culture is a very different to Sri Lankan, Australian culture is very laid back, which made it very easy for me to fit in. I got out there and started meeting new friends, both Sri Lankan and Australian. I loved Australia. I was safe and I saw he very big differences in culture and society with Sri Lanka and Australia I took advantage of the many advantages here and got my first job as a salesman. Then got into sales marketing in shopping centre car parks. I then started working as a cleaner at a university. I then landed work in Whitsunday in tourism. I enjoyed my job here. I was very passionate about my work. I went on to excel in my job. I won awards and I could feel a big change in myself. I was suffering from a bit of PTSD and anxiety from my incidents in Sri Lanka, but this job changed me in many ways. It distracted me from the trauma and flashbacks. I was focused on my job, I excelled, I went on to win awards from my work, I gained a lot of self-confidence and self-motivation to excel even more and do better, not just in my work life but in my life as a whole. I sought counselling for my PTSD issues, and it really helped me in many ways. The opportunities in Australia are massive. I got a bigger chance of a better life here in Australia than I would have ever had. Not just work wise, but in life all together. Australia is very fair when it comes to working and pay, it is enough to live on, whereas in Sri Lanka it is only little pay and only just a little bit to get by. Australia is an amazing fair country that counters to all peoples needs and there is access to all types of services in to help everyone. Australia is a great country where living is very fair and easy to live. I think that everyone that comes to Australia loves this country, for its, people, culture, and society. Although my case is still ongoing, Australia has saved me. It has kept me safe and has given me hope for my life.