David's Story
Scenario 1 of 7
Coming to Australia
Now you’re 24 and it’s 1949. You’re stateless and you’re living in Germany, the country responsible for the genocide of your people. You desperately need a new life. You apply for visas to the United States and Australia. You receive the news that Australia will accept you and your wife. Your father, twin brother and his wife and child also miraculously survived the war but have not been accepted into any country yet.
David came to Australia on a Dutch refugee ship paid for by the UN. He had a boarding pass, a landing permit and a document allowing him to stay permanently. He came to Australia with his wife, and his father and twin brother followed a year later.
Did you know that more people are now forcibly displaced by persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations than at any time since the end of the Holocaust and WWII?
As of 31 December 2015, more than 65 million people were forcibly displaced. Of these, 21.3 million were refugees and 3.2 million people were seeking asylum. More than half of the world’s UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-mandated refugees come from just three countries: Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia. In addition, more than half of the people displaced are children.
For many refugees, resettlement is a highly appropriate solution. However, there are far too few resettlement places available. Fewer than 1% of the refugees under UNHCR’s mandate get access to resettlement each year. Of those identified conservatively by UNHCR as being in need of resettlement, more than 85% are not resettled.
For more information, see here.
Scenario 3 of 7
Navigating a new life
You need to work out how to navigate your new life in Australia. Everything is different here. How do you, for example:
- find a place to live?
- find out where to buy food?
- transfer your qualifications in Australia?
- find out how to get a job?
- find out how to get medical help?
- And much much more!!
Let’s hear from David about navigating a new life
David's thoughts about overcoming the challenges of rebuilding his life in Australia – “I had to work very hard when I first arrived in Australia, and I passed this on to my children. My philosophy is that if you are trying to learn something new, and your memory can’t absorb it quickly, you have to sit longer. That’s how it is for me. If I’m not so able to do something, I’m persistent and hardworking.
Did you know that refugees and asylum seekers often leave everything behind in one life and begin their new life in Australia, which has different laws, different education and health systems, different languages and different cultural expectations?
For people who seek asylum and refuge this process is all the more difficult due to the circumstances under which they depart their home country. Some of the documented challenges that face people from refugee backgrounds in Australia are:
- finding affordable housing
- finding employment
- language and communication barriers
- racism and discrimination
- community attitudes
- impact of disrupted education on schooling
- distance and lack of communication with families in the home country and/ or countries of asylum (particularly if the family remains in a conflict situation)
- ongoing mental health issues due to trauma, including survivor guilt
- financial difficulties
- separation from family members; living in blended families
- changes in roles and status of family members.
For more information, see the Roads to Refuge website.
Scenario 5 of 7
David pursuing his passion for Pharmacy
Once you have enough money for your basic needs, do you pursue the profession that you have studied?
Let's hear from David about becoming a pharmacist in Australia
After receiving the doctor’s letter of recommendation the Board decided that David could become a pharmacist in Australia. Despite having already completed a full pharmacy degree in Germany, the Board told him that he had to complete a 4 year course and work as a trainee pharmacist. David took 3 years to complete the 4 year degree, and graduated from pharmacy in 1958, aged 33. His son also became a pharmacist.
Let's hear from David about his passion for pharmacy
Quote from David:
“Frances (my second child) was born in 1958 and I graduated in 1958. Frances was born to a pharmacist and Issy (my first child) was born to a metal worker.”
David worked as a pharmacist in Richmond for 50 years!
Here is a paragraph about David in the book about the history of the Victorian College of Pharmacy!
Scenario 6 of 7
Desire to return home
You’ve been in Australia for a few years and life is hard. You’re considering leaving Australia. What do you do?
Let's hear David's reflections on the life he built in Australia
"Survived by a miracle... hard work, good luck, optimistic attitude to life: keeps me going... David Prince"
Scenario 7 of 7
A life lived to its fullest!
You have now lived in Australia for 68 years! You are 93! What does your life look like now?
David has 2 children, Issy and Frances. Each have 2 children, and Isi’s eldest child Ilana has 2 children. David is a great-grandfather! David continues to volunteer at the Holocaust Centre teaching Jewish and non-Jewish students about the Holocaust. He has a very strong appreciation of democracy.
Let's hear David's message to the Australian community
