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How Nooria found safety and support in Australia

When Nooria Noorzai moved to Australia from Afghanistan, she sought safety. What she found was community and the confidence to think big.

By Stephanie Nuzzo. Photography: Nigel Lough

Nooria Noorzai still remembers that feeling of leaving everything behind. “Being separated from your family, from your home—it’s like ripping your heart in half,” she says. Although she was raised in a loving household in Afghanistan, war raged outside her front door and the future—especially for women—was uncertain.

In 2009, Nooria made the decision to start over in Australia. “I came here searching for safety.” What began as a move for survival has grown into a life filled with possibility for Nooria and her three daughters, Shabnam, 15, Marium, 13, and Zainab, 11.

Nooria with her daughters (from left), Marium, Shabnam and Zainab.

Finding support

While Nooria quickly found safety in Australia, support took a little longer. Raising three children on her own was logistically demanding and emotionally exhausting. “I took on the responsibility of both parents in raising my daughters—while also studying and working. That was hard without family around.”

That shifted five years ago, when she connected with Afghan Women on the Move (AWOTM), a Western Sydney-based organisation that offers migrant and refugee women access to education, employment pathways and community. It was a turning point for Nooria. “When I struggle, those in the organisation help me through.”

AWOTM’s founder and CEO, Maryam Zahid, understands that feeling all too well. Like Nooria, she fled Afghanistan for a better life—and has made it her mission to help others. “Women like Nooria and I are lucky to have found a safe country like Australia,” she says. “Here, we don’t walk around fearing violence just because we’re women. But the isolation is real. That’s why support systems like AWOTM matter so much.”

Nooria with Maryam Zahid, founder and CEO of Afghan Women on the Move.

Building confidence

Although Nooria had begun working in the disability sector as a carer and was studying to get certified, she started thinking about creating a business of her own. “I wanted more flexibility to be around for my girls.” But she didn’t know where to begin.

That changed after a conversation with Maryam. With encouragement, Nooria landed on an idea that felt right: a clothing alterations business. AWOTM was able to provide Nooria with essential tools—a sewing machine, workspace and foundational skills in finance and digital literacy. It was a small set-up but a powerful step.

She was also able to attend a series of CommBank financial wellbeing sessions at AWOTM as part of the bank’s ongoing support to newly arrived refugee and migrant customers. Taught in her own language, the classes gave Nooria a deeper understanding of personal finances and a confidence boost in managing her own money.

Nooria in her home studio, where she runs an alterations business.

Planning for the future 

What began as a simple act of volunteering has turned into something bigger for Nooria. She first walked into AWOTM hoping to lend a hand—now she’s running an alterations business from her garage and is preparing to take her business online.

What’s helped her get here hasn’t just been tools and funding but knowledge. Following on from those financial wellbeing classes, Nooria joined other classes at AWOTM too, including business basics sessions and digital upskilling—all delivered in-language. These lessons gave her the foundation she needed to understand her business numbers and plan ahead.

This guidance has helped her remain committed to her ambition, as has her faith. “As a Muslim woman, my faith has been a source of strength in every challenge I have faced.”

Nooria’s sights are now set on the future: building her customer base, opening a shop one day and supporting her daughters. And when the time comes, she hopes to give back to the community that lifted her up. 

For information and tools to help with making the move to Australia, visit CommBank's Moving to Australia hub.

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An earlier version of this article was published in Brighter magazine.

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