Real journeys to citizenship

At MTC FutureReady Fairfield we witness many inspiring journeys, and Khalid Sayahi's is one that truly stands out. Khalid arrived in Australia in 2013 with a strong determination to build a better future.

Through perseverance and commitment, he achieved permanent residency in September 2023, followed by the proud milestone of Australian Citizenship, which he received at a ceremony in Merrylands, NSW, attended by Mayor Ola Hamed and officials. To celebrate, MTC FutureReady presented Khalid with flowers, a gift bag, and a congratulatory letter, and supported him with his Australian passport application.

Khalid continues his studies at MTC FutureReady Fairfield, strengthening his English and workplace skills as he works toward meaningful employment. His journey is a powerful reminder of what persistence, learning, and community support can achieve.

17 September 2025 marks Australian Citizenship Day, and we proudly celebrate the success of Barbara Castro, who officially passed her Australian citizenship test.

Barbara arrived in Australia on 15 September 1995. A devoted mother of six and proud grandmother, she joined our citizenship preparation class with a clear goal: to build a better future. Her determination and recent success have sparked a domino effect, inspiring fellow students to pursue their own goals with renewed confidence.

Barbara's journey continues as she remains committed to further study and employment. Her story reminds us that citizenship is more than a legal status. It is a pathway to belonging, contribution, and growth.

At MTC FutureReady Fairfield, we are proud to support students like Barbara who uplift one another and build a community rooted in resilience and shared purpose.

At MTC FutureReady Fairfield, we are witnessing something truly special: a ripple of inspiration spreading through our community, sparked by the achievements of students like Mrs. Zeinab Saeidi.

Zeinab, who arrived in Australia in 2012, joined our citizenship preparation class after receiving her permanent residency last year. Her recent success, scoring a perfect 100 out of 100 on the Australian citizenship test in under 10 minutes, is not just a personal triumph but a catalyst for others.

Her achievement, along with those of many other students, has created a domino effect. Every few weeks, more learners share how they are building themselves up, growing stronger, more confident, and more determined to become valuable, high quality citizens.

Our students connect deeply, share their journeys, and support one another, not just to pass a test, but to find a home, a sanctuary, and a place to belong and contribute meaningfully to Australian society. Together, we are not just preparing for citizenship. We are cultivating a community of belonging, resilience, and shared purpose.

Wisam Hadi Obaid Al Hayali recently passed his Australian citizenship test with a perfect score of 100 out of 100, and in record time. His achievement is more than a personal milestone. It is a powerful inspiration to others in our learning community.

Wisam's journey, from arriving in Australia in 2012 to studying hard, improving his English, and now becoming a citizen, reflects the strength of his character and his deep love for his family: a wife and three children who are currently in Iraq. Every step he takes is with the hope of reuniting with them and building a better future.

His success is sparking motivation across our classrooms. Students are seeing what is possible, studying harder and believing in their own potential. At FutureReady Fairfield, we are proud to support individuals like Wisam as they take bold steps toward a brighter tomorrow, because when one person succeeds, it lifts us all.

Originally from Iraq, Rian joined the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program at MTC FutureReady Fairfield with a clear goal: to become an Australian citizen. His dedication was unwavering. He studied daily to pass the Australian Citizenship Test, which he proudly achieved. This milestone marked a significant step in his settlement journey and opened the door to new opportunities.

Recognising Rian's drive and potential, his SEE trainer introduced him to Self-Employment Assistance, a program designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs in launching their own businesses. He said, “I have always wanted to work for myself. When I heard about the program, I knew it was the right path for me.”

Now, Rian is actively working towards launching his own tiling business, equipped with a business plan, industry knowledge, and growing confidence. With support from his Business Coach and SEE Trainer, he has overcome challenges like navigating the Australian business landscape and building belief in his skills. He added, “I did not know where to start, but now I have a plan and people who believe in me.”

From citizenship success to small business ownership, he is building a future for himself and his family, and inspiring others to do the same.

On 29 September 2025, MTC FutureReady Fairfield held a graduation celebration for our citizenship and English learners.

Members of our leadership team joined the students to mark the milestone, with certificates presented and a cake to celebrate together.

It was a proud moment for everyone in the room: learners who have worked hard, supported by a team and leaders who believe in them.

MTC FutureReady in Fairfield warmly welcomed Fibha Frameen JP from the Department of Home Affairs and Hassan Moussa from the Arab Council Australia.

Our Pathway to Citizenship class learned about what to expect in the citizenship process, as well as a snapshot of how voting and the government systems work in Australia. It was an engaging day for us to share queries, experiences, feedback, and settlement stories.

We are delighted to work together on information sessions, focus groups, and more awareness raising ventures. We look forward to more movement towards citizenship and more community voices being shared, including increasing voting accuracy through the Civic Engagement project.

Thank you for an interactive day, for making the students heard in their citizenship journey, and for continuing to provide ongoing chances for feedback and information sessions.

On 15 October 2025, around 300 new Australians were welcomed at the Liverpool Citizenship Ceremony, hosted by Liverpool City Council.

The proud highlight for MTC FutureReady Fairfield was our student Farihah Anjum, who scored a perfect 100 out of 100 on the Australian citizenship test, and finished in record time.

Farihah was congratulated with flowers and a letter from MTC FutureReady, and photographed with Mayor Ned Mannoun and Deputy Mayor Dr Betty Green. Congratulations, Farihah.

On 9 October 2025, Fairfield City Council hosted a citizenship ceremony at Fairfield Showground, welcoming new Australians.

Our student Trong Danh Nguyen scored a perfect 100 out of 100 on the Australian citizenship test, completed in record time. We were proud to surprise him and celebrate his success in person.

Congratulations, Danh. Your achievement inspires every student preparing for the test.