Apajok Biar’s advocacy journey began long before she had language for it. As a high school student, she gravitated towards team sports and leadership, instinctively noticing where participation fell short and stepping in to bridge the gaps. A school principal recognised this instinct and encouraged her to attend a multicultural youth leadership event, an invitation that would change the course of her life.
At her first Multicultural NSW event, Apajok witnessed something transformative. Young people were naming systemic issues in their communities and actively changing them. They did not wait for permission or formal titles. Many were just fifteen or sixteen. “That was a huge lightbulb moment for me,” she recalls. “Attending that first event was the beginning of my advocacy journey.”
From there, Apajok sought out every opportunity to learn. She joined consultations with young people across New South Wales, contributing to global conversations led by MYAN NSW for UNHCR Global youth consultation about what refugee‑led decision-making should look like. Each experience reinforced her belief in the power of youth‑led advocacy and her confidence to step forward.
One of the most defining moments of her time with MYAN came when she travelled to Geneva to present the outcomes of those consultations. Initially hesitant to apply, she was encouraged by MYAN staff and mentors who helped her prepare not just for the role, but for the space itself. “ MYAN really helped me to prepare. They don’t just expect you to show up and be able to know what you’re doing.”
In Geneva, mentorship proved pivotal. With encouragement from peers, Apajok found her voice in high‑level discussions, a moment that reshaped how she understood advocacy. “That experience showed me how important mentorship is when it comes to advocacy. And then I became the mentor in that space too.” She returned year after year to support newcomers, committed to ensuring others felt as supported as she once had.
As her advocacy matured, Apajok became more intentional about where and how she focused her energy. She began applying an intersectional lens, particularly centring refugee women and the barriers they face within advocacy spaces. “When you know your purpose, you’re more intentional with your movements and with creating change that will have impact.”
That intentionality led to national and international influence. Apajok was invited by the UNHCR to help establish a refugee advisory mechanism, which she co‑chaired for within it’s first five years. She later brought those learnings into Australian policy spaces, while remaining grounded in grassroots community development through her work as a social worker.
Alongside full‑time social work, Apajok facilitated safe, culturally grounded spaces for refugee women to connect, support one another, and access pathways to services. What began as informal community gatherings evolved into spaces that addressed mental health, social isolation, and domestic violence, issues often overlooked in formal settlement systems.
Looking ahead, Apajok is clear about where refugee advocacy must grow. While progress has been made in recognising and compensating refugee advocates, far less attention has been paid to safety and wellbeing. “This space is triggering,” she says. “Speaking up can put people at risk, sometimes even their lives.” True advocacy, she argues, must prioritise protection, ongoing support, and care beyond the moment of consultation.
Storytelling has long been a powerful tool in Apajok’s work, humanising policy debates and illuminating lived realities. But she is equally clear about its limits. “Where things go wrong is tokenism,” she explains. “Things like “let’s call the refugee to share their story” and “Oh, you’ve gone through so much adversity, haven’t you?”. And then as soon as we’re about to talk about policy, you need to leave the room now because you’ve just had a story to share. What we’ve been working on a lot in the last ten years is about going beyond storytelling. I can tell a story, but I’m not here only because of my story. I’m here because I understand the policy implications.”
For Apajok, challenging dominant narratives about refugees is essential. Migrants and refugees are not just recipients of services. They are business owners, cultural leaders, and community builders. “We’re beyond just being your client,” she says. “We’re contributing, creating roots, and shaping the places we live.”
“I am implementing what I have learnt in good refugee advocacy being included in decision making. As the Manager at Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia, I oversee an organisation and team that centres the voices and experiences of our clients, migrants and refugees at the heart of what we do. Co-design is normalised. We don’t just talk about it. Nothing about us without us. We live it.”
As MYAN celebrates Refugee Week and the theme of A Million Stories, Apajok’s journey stands as a powerful reminder. Stories matter, but so does who gets to stay in the room to turn them into change.