Overcoming barriers, solving global challenges

“I was proud for many reasons. Most students finish high school, get good grades and go to university. For me, it wasn’t that straightforward,” she says. 

Hailing from Iran, her life took a surprising turn when at age 14, her parents came into her room and said, “We have to go, and we’re most likely going to Australia.” 

A few weeks later, she found herself in a new country, learning a new language. And even though her parents protected her from the story behind why they had to flee Iran, navigating the intricacies of ever-changing visas and red tape is a challenge she’s had to overcome ever since. 

Housing, learning a new language, work, and even her university applications were anything but simple. She discovered the hard way that she didn’t count as a domestic student and was not entitled to HECS-HELP, even though she didn’t identify as an international student. 

But the pressure was on. 

“In Persian culture, like many Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, education is so critical,” she says. “It’s not negotiable.” 

A beacon of light came in the form of her high school career advisor, who told her about the UTS Humanitarian Scholarship. She got her submission in with only an hour to spare – and her application was successful. 

What do you study when you’re interested in ... everything? 

With a broad range of interests, including law, architecture and “pretty much anything I could research”, Golsa was drawn to the flexibility of a business degree. 

Following her first year in higher education, she further developed her creativity and entrepreneurial skills with a Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (BCII). 

“Creative Intelligence wasn’t just about entrepreneurship,” she says. “It was about learning how to work towards solving the world’s complex problems, getting access to this huge toolbox of different methods and ways of viewing issues.” 

Using this approach, she was able to help tackle complex problems with industry partners, including assisting Google with improving the accessibility of its services in underprivileged counties, working with PricewaterhouseCoopers to redesign the juvenile justice system, and optimising efficiency and sustainability in Chris O’Brien Lifehouse’s chemotherapy production process. 

Seeking permanency  

Since graduating, Golsa remains on a temporary protection visa. As a result, her employment options have been limited despite having full working rights. 

“I went through this issue when applying to most companies. As soon as I submitted my application, I got an automated email saying I wasn’t eligible,” she says. 

Undeterred, she applied for the NSW Government Graduate Program and was successful at securing a position that has given her the opportunity to use her innovation skills to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. 

What’s next for Golsa? Ten years after arriving in Australia, she awaits her results for permanent residency. 

And despite all the struggles, she’s grateful – for her work, her education, and for being alive to tell her story.