Jason Falinski (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pema Dolkar last saw her family at the age of six, 20 years ago. Her father sent her to India, away from the dangers of their Tibetan home. They made the journey together, first climbing mountains to Nepal and then catching the train to a Tibetan settlement where Pema would live for the next 16 years. Although isolated, it was her home away from home. In her early 20s, Pema was offered a humanitarian visa to Australia. Initially unwilling to migrate a second time, Pema left India for Sydney, where she commenced a degree in media and communications.

In her spare time, she works as a bilingual guide for the Tibetan community in Dee Why, volunteers for numerous charities and podcasts for the SBS. Pema well and truly devotes herself to improving the welfare of her fellow Tibetan migrants. In addition to assisting the Dee Why community, she started the University of Sydney Tibetan student association. However, having graduated a few weeks ago, she has passed on the torch. Despite the struggles and setbacks of growing up stateless, without a family and without the comforts so many of us demand as a right, Pema has displayed courage and a certain ferocity for her life in her community service. Her ultimate goal is to establish a newspaper for the Tibetan community in Sydney. It would be written in English so as to make it accessible for all Australians and would, at its heart, be a conduit for societal cohesion.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.