Finding hope: Ahmed and Nargis’ journey

Arriving in Australia

When Ahmed arrived in Australia from Turkey in 2022 with his wife and daughter they hoped for a fresh start. But soon after their arrival, tragedy struck. Ahmed’s wife passed away unexpectedly. The loss left Ahmed withdrawn and heartbroken.

His daughter, Nargis, did her best to care for him, but the weight of responsibility soon became too much. “I was burning out,” she admits. “My father relied on me for a lot, but he refused to see a doctor or counsellor. I didn’t know what else to do.”

Through the Support for Carers team at SMRC, Nargis found the help she desperately needed. A coordinator introduced her to the ACVVS (Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme) program, which connects older people with volunteer visitors who share their language and culture. At first, Ahmed refused until he learned that his visitor, Mir spoke Turkish.

That changed everything

“Mir started visiting every week,” Nargis recalls. “My father began to look forward to those visits. He became more talkative, more himself again.” For Nargis, those few hours each week offered a break, and the comfort of knowing her father was happy and engaged.

Ahmed and Nargis’s story is a beautiful reminder of how connection and companionship can transform lives. Through programs like ACVVS, families find not only support and relief but also hope.

“My father became more talkative, more himself again. Mir’s visits gave him joy and gave me the break I really needed.”.