Graduating from university with a double-degree is something that Adhieu Cagai could not have imagined a decade ago, but the Public Relations and Tourism graduate received her Murdoch honour with pride at her graduation ceremony at RAC Arena.

Ms Cagai, who was born in war-torn Sudan in 1987, fled with her family to Kenya in 1991. They eventually made their way to Perth as refugees – settling in Banksia Grove in 2004.

Like many thousands of South Sudanese families, Adhieu, her mother and her siblings were forced to leave to escape the brutal civil wars that had taken over their homeland.

They were among millions displaced by the wars that had ravaged the then-Sudan for more than four decades. The country split from Sudan in 2011, after people voted for independence in an internationally supervised referendum. South Sudan, one of the least-developed regions in the world. slid towards civil war amid a power struggle in December 2013.

Ms Cagai’s father, Cagai Matet, who was a journalist, stayed behind to fight in the armed conflict, and was never able to make his way to Perth to be with his family. He passed away in 2012.

Seizing new opportunities

Meanwhile, Adhieu and her family were more determined than ever to grasp with both hands the opportunities presented by Australia.

“I first applied to Murdoch when I was in year 12 in 2005,” Ms Cagai said. “Murdoch was offering a university access course, and so I was accepted in to study Tourism in 2006.

“The University was very accepting of different cultures and very supportive. At the time, though, I was still coming to terms with living in a new country and a new culture, and I eventually dropped out in 2007.”

After working in the hospitality industry for a few years, Ms Cagai moved back to South Sudan briefly, working for the Ministry of Transport for almost three years. Her aim was to contribute and make a difference in her society.

“I was thirsty for knowledge and determined to learn and I knew nothing would stop me. So, I moved back to Perth in 2014 and I applied to Murdoch again to study Public Relations and Tourism,” Ms Cagai said.  

“It’s an honour to graduate from Murdoch, a well-equipped world class university, the university aims to produce well-rounded graduates with excellent leadership qualities and communication skills. I hope to move back to South Sudan in nearest future. I want to use the skills and knowledge that I’ve gained to re-image and promote South Sudan tourism industry to the global arena.”

Ms Cagai was among 1,100 students who graduated during two ceremonies held for the first time at RAC Arena on September 18 and 19 2018.