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 Veronica's story
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 Veronica is 17 years old. She was born in Ethiopia, but is from Sudan and had been living for many years in Kenya before arriving in Australia 4 years ago with her mother and six siblings.
Veronica’s mother, Rita, always says the reason for coming to Australia is because ‘God gave us a better chance of a new life, to start a new life, a chance that your Great Great Great Grandparents and all since have never had…it’s a chance like this….so make the best of it.’ Veronica says, ‘I try to remember that every day.’
It takes Veronica about 40 minutes to get to school, traveling on the bus with her sister. ‘It’s hard getting to school on time,’ says Veronica, ‘because I don’t like getting up in the morning! My 18-year-old sister and I are the only Sudanese at our school, so that’s a bit weird. Actually, sometimes it’s a bit hard and a bit lonely.’ Veronica has high aspirations for the future and chooses her subjects wisely as she’s keen to be a lawyer or solicitor.
Veronica likes basketball, dance (hip-hop), singing and reading, including local and statewide newspapers to keep up on issues.
‘I used to feel safe, a good environment, and a good school, just like my Mum wanted. Live in harmony, accepted, respected, but now, I feel like I’m being part of something, that I’m connected to something, but I haven’t done anything, yet I feel I’m a part of it. I’m being disrespected; I’m being treated unfairly. What the Minister said is rude and it’s racist, and it’s encouraging other people to act like that,’ explains Veronica.
Veronica says an increased level of racism lately coming from the media coverage and comments by the Minister in the news, including racist attacks on the train and elsewhere.
‘I think people should be more accepting. There’s only one difference and that’s the colour of our skin, and that doesn’t matter.’
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