Osama Arrives: A New Door Opens for Refugee Students
Osama and the welcoming committee from Skill Path and University of Melbourne, Melbourne Airport, October 2025
Two weeks ago, Osama became the first student to arrive through a new migration program making it possible for refugees to study and settle permanently in Australia.
Osama stepped off a flight from Kuala Lumpur into Melbourne Airport, becoming the first student to arrive through Australia's new Refugee Student Settlement Pathway. He is one of 20 refugee students who will begin their Australian university experience in semester 1, 2026. Volunteers from the University of Melbourne Student Welcome Group met him at the airport with welcome signs and warm smiles.
From limbo to a new home and a future in biotech
Osama spent eight years stuck in Malaysia after fleeing Yemen's civil war. "When we left Yemen, we were looking to go to a place that we could call home," Osama told us on arrival. "Australia is now that place."
Fourteen days later, he's certainly looking at home. He's been kitted out in Melbourne Uni merch, is enjoying cooking with his homestay family, and has been busy dropping his resume around the neighbourhood looking for summer work. This weekend he celebrated Yemen's National Day over the weekend with Melbourne's Yemeni community, and he’s already mastering Aussie-style word shortening (think “brolly” for umbrella and "arvo" for afternoon).
In the new year, Osama will embark on a two-year Master of Biotechnology at the University of Melbourne. He is passionate about genetic engineering and gene therapy to cure diseases and prevent them from happening. Australia desperately needs people with biotechnology passion and expertise, and Osama needed the opportunity to fulfil his potential and contribute to the future of medicine. A genuine win-win.
How it works
The Refugee Student Settlement Pathway is a new pilot program allowing refugee students to migrate to Australia to take up tertiary education opportunities. Students must be registered with the UNHCR, 18-30 years of age and able to meet course requirements for a Bachelor or Masters level course at a participating university in Australia.
The students are matched with universities to pursue qualifications in fields such as nursing, engineering and technology that are critical to Australia's future workforce needs. Importantly, the students arrive in Australia as permanent residents, and are able to settle and call Australia home.
The pilot program has been developed in collaboration with the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs, participating universities, Refugee Education Australia, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia and many other partners and supporters.
Osama with members of the Student Welcome Group at University of Melbourne's Parkville campus
Student Welcome Groups
A key feature that makes the program unique is its student-led welcome model. Each student is matched with a Student Welcome Group at their university: volunteers who provide practical and social support. For Osama, this meant University of Melbourne students and staff who've been preparing for his arrival, ready to help him navigate everything from opening bank accounts to finding the best spots for culturally familiar food.
University leadership
Eight leading universities have made this pathway possible: Australian National University, Curtin University, Deakin University, University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, and Western Sydney University.
We are incredibly grateful to these universities for being the first to join this pilot program and help us build it. This has included navigating challenging admissions requirements for students in vulnerable situations overseas, and ensuring that the students are supported on arrival with the things they need to settle well and succeed academically.
Building a culture of belonging and welcome at university takes dedication and sustained investment.
With Cate Gilpin from Welcoming Australia and Erin Willis from University of Melbourne at the Welcoming Universities Summit, 5 November 2025.
Welcoming Universities
Last week, Osama and I were able to join many of the pioneering universities at the Welcoming Universities Summit at the University of Melbourne to discuss belonging in practice, and how to reimagine universities as inclusive communities. The summit brought home how the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway is part of a larger effort by these institutions to build a culture of welcome on campus.
The Refugee Student Settlement Pathway makes it possible for universities in Australia to directly support refugees to pathway out of displacement, opening the door to both an incredible educational opportunity and permanent safety in Australia.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Adrian Little, an early champion of the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway, highlights the importance of universities building social licence:
"We know that a truly excellent campus is one that reflects the breadth and diversity of our global society. Welcoming talented students from different backgrounds enriches our learning environment, expands our perspective, and strengthens our ability to serve the public good"
We are looking forward to working with these universities to support the talented young students to settle into Australia before they embark on their studies in the new year.
Join the movement
Skill Path is reaching out to universities to take students through the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway in Semester 2, 2026 or Semester 1, 2027.
If you work in higher education and would like to support your institution getting involved, please express interest here.
Read more about Osama
University of Melbourne welcomes first student through new refugee education pilot
Osamah is the first to arrive in Australia on this visa (SBS)
