Creating a Nation

Natalie Seiz's father and paternal grandparents arrived in Australia as refugees of both Russian and Chinese communist regimes. Watch Natalie describe the experiences of her parents and grandparents in 1950s and '60s Australia.

Peter Bennett was sent to Australia from England under the child migration scheme of the 1950s. He talks of his journey across the seas and of his experiences living and working at Fairbridge Farm School in Molong, NSW.

Hale Adasal's parents migrate to Australia under the Australia-Turkish migration agreement, the first such agreement between Australia and a Muslim country that was to signal the end of the White Australia Policy.

Dai Le is a former refugee of the Vietnam War and spent years in refugee camps before being resettled in Australia. She speaks of her experiences in the camps, and then of arriving, settling and thriving in Australia.

Hedayat Osyan is a former refugee from Afghanistan. He and his family were persecuted by the Taliban for belonging to the Hazara ethnic minority group so he escaped and eventually ended up in Australia.

Emmanuel Asante is a visual artist, originally from Ghana. He speaks of his experiences as an immigrant and of his struggles to become an artist and to win the approval of his family.