She Arrived in Australia at 17 With Basic English. Now She's a Lawyer.

Marziyah Razi was born in Afghanistan, grew up in Iran, and spent three years learning basic English and maths in a refugee camp in Indonesia. At age 17, she arrived in Australia with only a little English and a strong wish to continue her education. This year, at age 28, she was admitted as a lawyer — a dream she once thought might never come true. Her story is getting attention because a politician recently said that immigrants are creating a 'language problem' for Australia.

Pauline Hanson, the leader of a party called One Nation, gave a speech on national television last month. She said Australia has a 'growing language problem' caused by immigration and that this puts 'social cohesion' — the way people in a society get along — at risk. She referenced Australia's 2021 census, saying about one in four people speak a language other than English at home. Her party wants to make English a requirement for new arrivals and end government-funded translation services.

Some experts say Hanson's claims are misleading or leave out important facts. The 872,000 people she said speak English 'not well' or 'not at all' are only 3.4% of Australia's population, and the group includes more than 100,000 babies and toddlers. Professor Catherine Travis, a language expert at the Australian National University, says it is 'a total misconception' to think that speaking other languages at home breaks down social cohesion. She says the opposite may actually be true — when people feel their language is respected, they feel more committed to their new country.

Razi says politicians who make these arguments ignore what migrants really bring to a country. She speaks Farsi, Dari, and English, and uses all three in her community work. 'Not everyone has the opportunity to learn English in their countries. When they come here, they can learn English, just like myself, and they can contribute back to the community,' she said. For her, the key was having access to the right support programs.

After arriving in 2015, Razi completed a six-month intensive English course in Melbourne designed for new migrants. The program helped her understand Australian culture and gain confidence in her English. 'It was also helping me to navigate the system, whether it's the legal system, the education system, the culture,' she said. She believes these kinds of programs are 'really, really crucial and important for newcomers.'

Razi later worked for a program that helps multicultural communities avoid the harms of gambling. She used her language skills to support clients who couldn't access help because of language barriers. Now an Australian citizen since 2020 and a newly qualified lawyer, she wants to be a 'voice for the voiceless.' 'Seeing a lot of injustice in some other countries towards refugees and towards women, it just fuelled my passion to study law,' she said.

Other community members also show how multilingualism can be a strength rather than a problem. Ramya Assaad came to Australia from Lebanon in 2007 and used her Arabic skills during COVID-19 to help people find government support. Climate advocate Ann Liao speaks Mandarin with her parents and visits them on weekends while they take government-funded English classes. Liao's mother, who also speaks Russian, hopes to pass the citizenship test and vote in the next federal election.

Dr. Zareh Ghazarian, a politics lecturer at Monash University, warns that ending translation services would reduce civic engagement across Australia. 'They can inform people of government decisions, they can inform people of their rights and responsibilities and empower them to be active and engaged citizens,' he said. Translation services also deliver important health information to communities that may not yet speak English fluently. Without these services, many Australians could be cut off from vital support.