Community Migrant Resource Centre
Nazdana’s Journey: Rebuilding a Life through Art, Confidence and Connection
Nazdana, a 25-year-old woman from Afghanistan’s Hazara community, arrived in Australia just two years ago. In her home country, she was a skilled visual artist and art teacher. But after arriving in Australia, she found herself isolated and unsure how to begin again.
She joined the Youth Transition Support (YTS) program at CMRC after hearing about it from a friend and began attending the Hike More initiative to manage social anxiety and meet new people. It was during these early social outings that her caseworker noticed the artwork she was quietly sharing online. With encouragement, Nazdana began to reimagine how her artistic talents could take root in her new home.
With YTS support, Nazdana established her own art teaching business, obtained an ABN, and began marketing her services within the community. She is now employed on a casual contract with CMRC, running visual art classes for newly arrived youth, and regularly delivers creative workshops in schools and community settings.
“YTS has helped me overcome my social anxiety.” Nazdana
