My name is Mr Fayia Isaiah Lahai. I am a former refugee from the Republic of Sierra Leone. I arrived in Tasmania in November 2006 after fleeing Sierra Leone due to civil war and spending 14 years in many refugee camps in Guinea, West Africa. I am a father of 4 children and married to one wife. I am presently studying at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. I am involved into many aspects of the Tasmanian community. In December 2011, I was awarded the Human Rights award for my role in advocating for the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Tasmania. I am engaged into speaking at schools in Southern Tasmania in educating students and the Tasmanian community on grass-root multicultural issues and social inclusion. I am a regular speaker at community events in both Southern and Northern Tasmania. I am also an active contributor to initiatives in assisting migrant students in their transition to university at the Sandy Bay Campus



I am presently the chair of the Multicultural Policy Review Reference Group in Tasmania. I am one of three People of Australia Ambassadors representing Tasmania on grass-root multicultural issues at federal level. I am a member of the Glenorchy Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee. I am the former chairperson of the Sierra Leone Liberia Union of Hobart. I am a founding member of the African Communities Council of Tasmania. I have served as a member on the Tasmanian Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs advising the Premier of Tasmania. I have also been a member of several working groups in Southern Tasmania aimed at addressing issues for newly emerging communities, focusing on engaging positively with the media, police and the wider community in realising social inclusion and social cohesion in Tasmania.

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My commitment towards the wellbeing and diversity of the Tasmanian community especially the African community is demonstrated by my devotion of time and effort to several voluntary activities including; volunteering with the Trans-cultural Mental Health program at the Phoenix Centre. I am a volunteer and member of the Migrant Resource Centre Southern Tasmania. I am a volunteer with Amnesty International Hobart, the Australian Red Cross of Hobart and other Non-Governmental Organisations. Finally, I love doing what I do as a volunteer to positively contribute towards the diversity and multiculturalism of the Australian society.