There’s a new family settling into life in Murwillumbah, and the welcome they’ve received has been nothing short of heart-warming.
Fatemah, her teenage son Mohamad, daughter Amal and sister Tunis arrived in March after many years living in Lebanon. They had fled the conflict in Syria and were connected with Tweed Welcomes Refugees (TWR) through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
From the moment the family stepped off the plane, TWR volunteers were there to greet them. Within days, the group had helped arrange a place to live, school enrolments, English classes, and all the small but important details that make a new place feel like home.
Fatemah and Tunis now attend TAFE four days a week to improve their English, while Mohamad and Amal have started at the local high school. The children are adjusting to the Australian curriculum, making new friends, and discovering new interests.
TWR’s resettlement coordinator, Claudia Gross, said: “Once again we have been entrusted to welcome and support a family who was in need of safety. The smiles on their faces when they arrived at the airport in March will live with me always. Already they are finding their way around on public transport and practising their English. We are very grateful to the many locals who have made them feel welcome and offered a friendly hand in various ways.”
The family’s first few months have been busy, with volunteer drivers taking them to appointments, locals showing them the best spots to shop, and neighbours stopping to say hello. Fatemah hopes that in the future she can work in the community, while Tunis is interested in hospitality or childcare. Mohamad and Amal are focused on their schooling, with dreams of further study at TAFE or university.
This is the third family TWR has supported, and each arrival has brought the community together in small but significant ways. By offering practical help, language support, and simple acts of friendship, locals are not just helping new arrivals rebuild their lives — they are making Murwillumbah a richer, more connected place.
For Fatemah, Mohamad, Amal and Tunis, Murwillumbah offers them a new start and a chance to build a safe and hopeful future.
From left, Fatemah, Amal, Tunis and Mohamad.
