At eight years old, she sat in a classroom in Kenya having recently fled war in her home country South Sudan. She had no literacy skills, but even then, Awit Kuac’s story was already bigger and more meaningful than simply displacement.

“I am a former refugee,” Awit states. “However, that is not the beginning or the end of my story – it is one chapter within a much wider life.”

Today, Awit is a valued member of the AnglicareSA team, spending the past nine years supporting vulnerable South Australians across a range of programs including mental health, settlement services, youth services, employment support, and foster care.

During Refugee Week 2026, her journey is a vivid reflection of this year’s theme: “A Million Stories” — a reminder that every refugee experience is deeply personal with many layers and continued evolution.

“My early life was held by community, culture, and rhythm,” she said. “Even in the middle of war, my memories are not defined by loss alone.

“I come from a line of resilient people, my father served in the army and worked as a university lecturer, while my mother owned a restaurant and worked as a fashion designer.

“There was beauty in how we lived, even when conditions were uncertain.”

 

 

Awit said that when her family fled war-torn South Sudan, the move to Kenya provided a safe space where she was able to transition into the next phase of her life, however it did not  define the entirety of who she was.

She was still a child who saw the world with wonder.

“By 13, I arrived in Australia and I am grateful to this country for giving my family a place of safety,” Awit said.

“Over time, I moved beyond survival and I learned how to navigate new systems, however more importantly, I learned how to build a life with intention, one that reflects clarity, discipline, and purpose.”

For almost a decade at AnglicareSA, Awit has worked across multiple programs and communities, often drawing on both her lived experience and multilingual skills to support others through interpreting, training, and client support.

She said her work was grounded in dignity and restoration.

“As someone in the field of human services, I am interested particularly in resolution, restoration, and creating spaces where people feel seen beyond their circumstances,” she said.

“Vulnerability is a part of the human experience and any of us can find ourselves in a vulnerable position at some point in life – that understanding helps shape my world view.”

For Awit, Refugee Week was also an opportunity to challenge the way refugee stories were told, moving beyond narratives focused solely on trauma or survival and instead highlighting growth, contribution, and possibility.

“The courage to rebuild, to set boundaries, and to design a life that no longer requires escape,” she said

“My story is not only about displacement, but also about continuation, about remaining whole through change, and about becoming myself on my own terms.

“I hope people recognise the humanity, complexity, and strength behind every journey.

“Being a former refugee is part of my story – however it does not limit what I am here to build.”