Australia
A former refugee turned advocate and mentor, Mr Kuol is helping young people feel heard, supported and empowered. His leadership has now been recognised with the award of Victoria’s Young Australian of the Year.
Abraham Kuol is a well-respected youth leader who uses his knowledge of community and justice, and his lived experience as a former refugee, to guide young people away from crime and antisocial behaviour.
In recognition of his unwavering commitment to his community work, Mr Kuol was awarded Victorian Young Australian of the Year for 2026, something he says he is still trying to grapple with.
“It's a huge honour and something that I'm still fully trying to absorb,” Mr Kuol says. “It's just been amazing. It means so much for myself, my family, but also my community.”
Born in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, Mr Kuol’s parents fled conflict multiple times, travelling from what is now South Sudan to Uganda and Ethiopia before reaching Kenya.
His life in the camp was difficult, but it taught him about the importance of having strong community bonds.
“Everybody shared what little they had. A lot of joy came from nothing,” Mr Kuol says. “In Kakuma it was important that people looked out for each other because sometimes the conditions could be really tough.”
In 2004, at the age of six and with support from UNHCR, Mr Kuol's family received humanitarian visas and resettled in Australia.
“When we first arrived in Australia, I thought it was going to be all futuristic with flying cars and things like that because compared to Kakuma, Australia is a whole different world,” Mr Kuol says.
He began studying at an English language centre before moving into a mainstream school. This was a difficult experience for a boy who had just arrived from a refugee camp.
“At the start I didn't really know how to socialise with other kids,” Mr Kuol explains. “Looking back at it now, you realise how important it was to learn English and to transition into school as quickly as possible, but also it was a scary feeling. I remember the first time I went to school, I didn't want to go because I was scared.”
Later, while studying at university, Mr Kuol’s mum suggested he volunteer with Afri-Aus Care, an organisation supporting the African community in southeast Melbourne. Despite some initial hesitation, he finally got involved.
“All I wanted to do was go out and make some money and feel like I could have some stability in my life,” Mr Kuol says. “But I remember my mum saying that I needed to come down and help out. It was actually an opportunity for me to utilise the skills I was learning and contribute back and create some belonging for people in my community.”
Since then, Mr Kuol has devoted his time to mentoring and supporting young people through sports programs, and building stronger community ties, all while studying for a PhD in Criminology at Deakin University.
He says his work gives him hope and drives him to continue contributing to his community.
“I get the opportunity firsthand to see a lot of boys who've been through our justice system who then go back and give to the community. And every time that happens, it gives me a little bit of hope and it inspires me as well to continue to do what I do,” Mr Kuol said.
Reflecting on his own experience of growing up in Kakuma and resettling in Melbourne, Mr Kuol says it is important for refugees in Australia to feel like their story can be heard.
“Your story is your source of strength. It's not something to hide,” he says. “Coming from difficult circumstances and sharing those challenges can be a bit of a struggle, but it's an important part of who we are and where we come from. It doesn't limit the kind of people that we can become.”
The majority of funds raised by Australia for UNHCR are directed to UNHCR’s emergency operations, providing the ready funds and resources to respond quickly and effectively in situations of crisis and disaster.
