How can you stand out?
You don’t have to go into lots of detail about your circumstances or experiences (or share anything you don’t feel comfortable talking about) – just focus on the skills you use and identify your key strengths and abilities by exploring your own experience.
Also, explain why you've chosen the course you're applying to, and try to link your skills and abilities to it – this will help show you're suitable for that course.
Let’s look at things to note down to help you think about what to include in your personal statement.
Think about your responsibilities
These are the things you’ve needed to do as a refugee or asylum seeker. To get started, here are some things to note down:
- learn a new language
- immerse yourself in a new culture and way of living
- navigate and understand legal proceedings
- personal development to gain new skills or qualifications
- manage family needs as well as personal
Let’s move on to your skills
These are the skills you demonstrate every day as someone who’s needed refuge protection. To get started, here are some things to note down:
- strong endurance of hardship
- understanding of complex information
- effective stress management
- calm under pressure
- great attention to detail
And finally, on to your personal characteristics
This focuses on everything you are because of needing to seek refuge. To get started, here are some things to note down:
- courageous and brave
- hopeful and optimistic
- committed and dedicated
- resourceful and determined
- self-motivated and independent