Esther Lauaki
By Esther Lauaki
Birhane Mahari Gebretensay worked as a nurse before fleeing Eritrea as a refugee and is now part of a program to help his community understand and access information about COVID-19.
Mr Gebretensay is a Community Health Champion for IPC Health Sunshine delivering engagement activities that encourage information sharing, up-to-date health and wellbeing information, and linking the community to available local services and programs.
He will work alongside local agencies to identify and address barriers to accessing information and services and consult and advocate for community needs.
Mr Gebretensay worked as a nurse for 17 years before moving to Australia last year.
He was forced to flee to Sudan with his wife and three children because of the deteriorating political situation in Eritrea under one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world.
He said he was happy to have secured a volunteer job that will help him resume his career.
“It is fantastic to be here in Australia and to get a job like this in the community,” Mr Gebretensay said.
“My aim is to take further study and work as a nurse or in aged care.”
AMES Australia case manager Mathumathy Mugunthan supported Mr Gebretensay on his settlement journey in Australia.
“Birhane has finished the training and is set to begin work with IPC. He has also completed a certificate III as a personal care assistant and hopes to resume his career in the health care sector,” Ms Mugunthan said.
