Sydney, Australia – Muhammed Melhem’s story is a testament to resilience, patience, and determination. Born in Syria with Palestinian heritage, Muhammed left his home country after high school to pursue a better life. His journey spanned continents, ultimately leading him to Australia, where he now calls home.

Muhammed first moved to Malaysia to study civil engineering, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2017. However, his aspirations had already shifted towards Australia. “I had heard stories about the opportunities in Australia,” Muhammed recalls. In March 2018, he applied for and received a Skilled Graduate Visa (subclass 476), marking the start of a new chapter.

Upon arriving in Australia, Muhammed faced the challenges of building a new life in a foreign country. He worked various casual jobs before landing a technician role at Boral in August 2018. This position became a stepping stone in his career. “I stayed with Boral for three years,” Muhammad says, “advancing my technical skills and applying for permanent residency, which I received in December 2021.”

While building his career in Australia, Muhammed’s personal life was also evolving. He had met his now-wife while studying in Malaysia. After receiving his permanent residency, he knew it was time to take the next step. “We got engaged in Turkey in April 2022, right after COVID-19 restrictions eased,” Muhammed shares.

However, bringing his fiancée to Australia proved to be a difficult process. “I applied for her fiancé visa, but the wait times were long. Australian partner visas can take up to three or four years to process, and it was really hard for us. The challenges with immigration were very stressful, and it began affecting my work.”

The mental strain of waiting for the visa, combined with the long processing times, took a toll on Muhammad. “It became overwhelming. My work performance started to suffer. I didn’t tell anyone at first, but I finally realised I couldn’t handle it on my own,” he admits.

The turning point came when Muhammed confided in his manager, Darren Prosser, at Downer. “I spoke to Darren about my struggles, and the outcome was unbelievable. He took immediate action and consulted our HR team to explore how they could support me,” Muhammed recalls.

In just two days, Downer’s HR team arranged a meeting to discuss Muhammed’s situation in detail. The company’s support was swift and heartfelt. “Darren told me that family comes first and offered me flexible options, whether working from home or taking time off to deal with the stress. You don’t often hear that kind of support in the workplace, but it was exactly what I needed,” Muhammed says.

Beyond emotional support, Downer also engaged their internal migration agent to help expedite his fiancée’s visa application. “Once they got involved, the visa was approved within two to three weeks,” Muhammed says with a smile.

In a touching twist of fate, Muhammed was in Malaysia visiting his fiancée when they received the news that her visa had been granted. Muhammed immediately contacted Darren back in Australia to pass on his appreciation, which led to a few tears and kicked off a mini celebration amongst Muhammed’s team in the office. The couple returned to Australia together, and in November 2023, they were married in Sydney.

Reflecting on his life in Australia, Muhammed feels grateful. “I feel incredibly lucky to be here. The education system is excellent, and there’s a strong emphasis on nurturing children’s talents. Parents really encourage their kids to pursue what they love and excel at. While I don’t have children yet, I love seeing how families spend time together, developing their kids’ interests and skills. I’d be truly happy to raise my children in this country.”

This October, Downer is sponsoring the Walk, Better Together – which is about raising awareness that Australia’s community, economy and culture was and is strengthened by migrants and refugees, and highlights the importance of cultural diversity and inclusion, with a clear message that we are better together.

Looking back on his journey, Muhammed acknowledges the challenges he faced but is grateful for the opportunities and support he found along the way. “The process was long and difficult but speaking up and getting help made all the difference. Now, I’m happily married, and I’m continuing to build my life and career in Australia.”

“I am proud to be an Australian resident, proud of the effort that the Hon Peter Gutwein is making in support of immigrants and love my role as Senior Project Engineer managing pavement projects across local governments in the Sydney metro area.”

From his humble beginnings in Syria to establishing a new life in Australia, Muhammed Melhem’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, community, and cannot emphasise how important it is to support new Australians and asking for support when needed.