Rashid, a 35-year-old refugee from Kurdistan, came to Australia with a heavy heart and a remarkable past. Having lost his entire family during the civil war in Iraq, he arrived carrying not just grief, but also the weight of lost purpose.

From the age of 12, Rashid had worked alongside his father in Baghdad, standing quietly in the cramped cabin of a high crane. His father—one of the few self-taught crane operators in the city—taught him the intricate skill of manipulating massive machinery to build dams, buildings, and vital infrastructure. Rashid followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a skilled high crane driver himself—until the war took it all away.

When he joined the MW Learning Centre, Rashid was literate and capable—but emotionally shattered. He had lost his confidence, his sense of identity, and belief in his value to a new community. He didn’t seek opportunities. He didn’t believe they were meant for him.

But something began to shift.

At the centre, a group of younger students embraced Rashid, treating him like an uncle—offering him warmth, respect, and a renewed sense of belonging. Recognising his unique background, the trainer organised for Rashid to be assessed by a local crane training company.

What happened next was extraordinary.

The training company was deeply impressed by Rashid’s skills, despite the years he had been out of work. They offered him a position as a support tutor—but he humbly declined. Instead, he insisted on first learning the Australian standards for crane operation, asking to enrol in their course so he could “keep adding to what he knew.”

The company agreed and offered him a place at a fraction of the usual cost. Rashid completed the course quickly and with excellence, then returned to take on the support tutor role in a volunteer capacity—sharing his expertise with aspiring crane operators.

Today, Rashid not only serves as a respected crane operator in a paid role, but also as a mentor and example of resilience, showing what’s possible when knowledge is met with humility, community, and the courage to begin again.

Rashid’s journey is a powerful reminder that even after profound loss, rebuilding is possible—especially when we honour the skills we bring and continue to grow from them.