Since her arrival from Iran in 2003 with her two children and husband, Mina Bolandhemati has accumulated nearly a handful of degrees.
And on Wednesday afternoon, she added a Master of Social Work from Federation University to her growing list of academic achievements.
Although it “wasn’t an easy job”, for the last few years, Mina says she juggled her studies with a teaching position at Chisholm.
Using her lived experiences along with 12 years worth of professional skills as a case worker and community support worker; Mina is now an educator for the Diploma of Community Services.
Before that though, Mina completed an Advanced Diploma in accounting while working as a casual worker at a refugee and asylum seeker centre.
It was then that Mina came across a case that would change her entire career and prospects.
With a Farsi and Persian background, Mina was sometimes the first point of contact for vulnerable communities who lived with the lasting repercussions of leaving one’s homeland.
“I helped a young boy who had suicidal ideation and because he spoke a similar language to me, I realised that maybe I can contribute to my community, ” she said.
From then, Mina went on to complete a Diploma in Community Services and Bachelor of Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs.
For Mina, her passion for community and instilling a sense of belonging to everyone she comes across, extends to her studies and teaching.
“The main reason that I studied my Master of Social Work was because I wanted to empower other people around me,” she said.
“And show them that it is possible to study and work and develop our skills”.
Even during her recent studies, Mina would encourage her peers to celebrate the small achievements.
“I made a group study with the students, and I said ‘let’s study together. Each assignment we submit, we celebrate our success and go somewhere’,” Mina said.
“And we have a lot of fun together,”
“Sometimes, we bring food in at Fed Uni and share our food together.”
Looking back tenderly, she says the people she met at Federation University have become her “best friends”.
“Some of them call me their Persian mum,” she said laughing.
And now even with so many degrees under her belt along with years of experience serving her community, Mina says she’s not quite ready for a break.
“I still feel I need to contribute more to our community, and I have a lot of energy,” she said.
