Faryal Nawaz Khan

Humans of Wangaratta for International Women’s Day.  

My name is Faryal Nawaz Khan. In Arabic my first name means angel, Nawaz is my dad’s family name, and Khan is my tribe. 

I came to Wangaratta from Pakistan in 2013 to join my husband. We struggled to find a house to live and spent the first two months in a motel. I was not working; I got pregnant and had our first baby. At that time, I was bullied for wearing my headscarf in public. The first time I walked without my scarf in public I was crying and wondering if this is a true place for me to live. But today, Wangaratta is more welcoming, more diverse. We are very blessed living in Wangaratta, in Australia, we will never regret coming here.  

In Pakistan I was a lecturer; I have a master’s in international relations and political science and a bachelor’s degree in education. I can also speak six languages, not counting the Pashto dialects. But I still had trouble finding work in Australia.  

In that first year I did some work for Jane at the Spirited Party Shop. She supported me to connect with people; she took me to North East Multicultural Association (NEMA) for the first time. I was a totally confused, nervous, isolated person, in cultural and environmental shock, that lasted for three years.  

After the birth of my second daughter, I studied certificate three and then a diploma in early childhood education. In 2018 I started work in childcare and in 2022 I joined NEMA. One of my friends in childcare showed me the job advertisement and said, you have to apply and I did. 

Even when I got the role, I was so nervous, thinking, am I doing the right thing? But a door was opening for me. And I was like, if my God wishes this for me and wants me to explore a new thing. Let's do it. In this role I support our migrant community and help to minimise their challenges. Whatever trauma I faced in my life, I use this in my work. 

My first community project was focused on emergency preparedness for CALD communities. This built my confidence and connection with different LGAs, and we received an award for that work at the local Australia Day Awards this year.  

I specifically enjoy working with women and older people, to minimise their period of isolation and to connect them with community and services. This gives me such a great feeling. I think this is what I wanted always in my life.  

I grew up in an environment dominated by education. My dad is a retired professor, so we spent our life in university campus’ with professors and their families. It was very interesting; it was a beautiful environment. My older brother is an orthopaedic surgeon. My sister has a PhD in Materials Science. My younger brother has a Master of Philosophy in engineering. I have a master’s degree, so I have the lowest education! 

I'm very family oriented I love spending time with my family and dog at home. It gives me a lot of happiness, lot of comfort. I’ve loved art since I was a child. I like to paint watercolours, reflecting colours of nature. I also do Arabic calligraphy; it's a spiritual practice. 

Raising my daughters to understand two cultures is my biggest achievement. We go to Pakistan often to connect with family, language, and traditions. It's so good that they see different living styles, values, and food. They are just beautiful girls and very respectful and embracing everything, very open. So that's very important for me as a mother. My focus for them is to be educated. Education is the power to be flexible, honest, and kind.  

I’m concerned about language barriers and social isolation for migrants because this contributes to low confidence and stops them from accessing support. I think services need to better understand the different values and needs of our CALD communities. Services need to genuinely listen, engage and deliver support in culturally safe and respectful ways. For me, listening is a power.  

They could provide information in different languages and introduce mandatory training for their staff. Building trust and creating a safe space for open conversation, especially around mental health, would make a big difference as well. I believe stronger cultural understanding and can reduce isolation. 

It inspires me to see migrant women growing in confidence - out of home, attending programs, speaking up and building friendships. That gives me hope. Wangaratta might be a small town, but it has a big heart, and I truly believe in its future.  

I think it’s important to recognise the hard work of women. My mother never worked, she was so young when she married. She cared for the house and gave her full energy to her children. She role modelled respect and care of older people, of family, and community. That's what I'm doing my best to pass on to my kids. 

There is a quote “If you educate a man, you empower an individual. When you educate a woman, you empower a nation", because the educated woman will educate her children and that will help build the nation. 

Faryal was interviewed in March 2026