Dindo’s Story: Leadership, Faith and Community

When people with lived experience are supported to lead, communities change. 

Dindo is a leader in Jesuit Refugee Service Australia’s Refugee Leadership Program and a person seeking asylum in Australia. Dindo has been sharing his story as part of the Leadership Program for more than 3 years.  

Much of Dindo’s story is carried quietly. He is a loving father, a hard worker, and deeply dedicated to his faith. He balances a demanding manual labour job with regular health appointments, as he lives with chronic health challenges that few people see. Despite this, he has been nominated multiple times as the best employee at his workplace. Dindo is beloved in the community. 

Like many people living on temporary visas, Dindo has spent years navigating uncertainty – not only about his future, but about access to the essential supports that allow people to live with dignity. 

Despite this, Dindo continues to lead with faith, courage and generosity.  

“Still, I have joy,” says Dindo. “I will get to where I want to be.” 

Through JRS’s Schools and Community Engagement Program, he shares his story with students across Western Sydney, helping young people better understand the realities faced by people seeking asylum, and inspiring them to take action. 

Learning through lived experience 

At Cerdon College in Merrylands, Dindo joined JRS staff for the school’s Social Justice Day, speaking with Year 10 students about what it means to seek safety and belonging in Australia. Rather than focusing on policy alone, the workshop created space for listening, reflection, and honest dialogue. 

Students engaged deeply with questions of discrimination, global inequality, and the uneven power of borders. These conversations were grounded in real human interactions, shaped by Dindo’s leadership and the students’ willingness to listen with openness and compassion. 

Ana Vella, English, Religion and SOR Teacher at Cerdon College the workshop as “deeply moving, richly informative, and invaluable in deepening Year 10 students’ commitment to translating their faith into action beyond Social Justice Day.” 

“Dindo demonstrated exceptional skill in giving a human voice to a pressing issue of social injustice. Students left inspired and equipped to think and act differently.” 

This is the heart of JRS’s education work: creating opportunities for young people to encounter the human impact of injustice, and to imagine their role in building a more just society. 

Dindo shares what motivates him to be part of the leadership program and how he is able to courageously share his story and ongoing challenges with students.  

“I want to encourage [the students] and bring more hope and joy to the students. I want to show them how a good mindset can change your life.” 

It is Dindo’s strength and determination to continue to work hard to provide for his family despite the uncertainty of his visa and his health that has touched the hearts of many.  

The impact of school visits extends beyond the classroom.

Students at Cerdon College supported JRS Australia’s Foodbank through a school-wide food drive, contributing essential items for people seeking asylum across Western Sydney.

Our Foodbank has become a vital lifeline for families facing extreme financial hardship, and these donations are a tangible expression of solidarity from the community. Solidarity that Dindo inspires.

In the days following the workshop, one student took the step of contacting her local Member of Parliament, motivated by Dindo’s story and a desire to advocate for change.

“Listening to Dindo speak with such faith moved me in ways I never expected. His story showed me how to trust God even in times of struggle, and challenged me to think about how I can take action for those who cannot support themselves.”
— Marie S., Year 10 student 

While the response she received was discouraging, her action reflects the kind of courage and civic engagement we hope to foster through our education work.

JRS continues to support the school community as they explore further ways to advocate alongside people seeking asylum. 

JRS also received messages from another student reflecting on Dindo’s visit and their desire to take action: 

“I have been thinking a lot about Dindo and his family. Thank you so much for everything you do for people like Dindo. Your talk on Social Justice Day really inspired me to take action and keep caring deeply about these issues.”

For many students, hearing Dindo speak left a lasting impression that will shape the future they want to build.  

Alongside his leadership work, Dindo continues to navigate the challenges created by Australia’s asylum system.

Living on a protracted bridging visa has meant ongoing uncertainty, including insecure access to healthcare, despite working hard to provide for himself and his family. 

Dindo lives with a serious health condition that requires ongoing, life-sustaining treatment. When his Medicare access ended late last year, this uncertainty had significant implications for his wellbeing. 

“If I had a choice I wouldn’t come in [to get ongoing treatment], but I don’t have any choice. It’s a very difficult situation. Without Medicare, I won’t be able to afford the ongoing treatment at the hospital.”   

Through close accompaniment by JRS Australia’s Casework and Refugee Leadership team, and in partnership with Life Without Barriers, Dindo was supported to regain secure access to Medicare. 

When Dindo received confirmation of his renewed Medicare access, he wrote: “I’ve just received the Medicare card that will last until next year. Thank you so much for your support and to JRS. God bless you all.” 

The results of this advocacy offer some peace of mind. And space for Dindo to focus on his health, his family, and his future. He is now on a pathway toward further treatment that we pray offers renewed possibility. 

“I always have a hope even if there doesn’t seem to be any. People have told me lots of negative things over the years – you can’t find a job, you’re too sick to work, no one will help you. Through all of the negativity, I didn’t give up, I prayed to God and God has helped me” 

“My faith keeps me going,” Dindo says. “Even when the future feels uncertain, I believe my life still has purpose.” 

Leadership rooted in community 

Storytelling is not about sharing hardship, it is about connection. Through the Refugee Leadership Program, JRS supports people with lived experience to build confidence, skills, and opportunities to lead change in their communities. 

When asked what he would like to share as a final message to the JRS community, Dindo says: “In our life, don’t give up and always trust yourself and your family. You need to have faith in God. Keep learning. I want to keep moving forward, even where I fear I have failed.” 

Dindo also quoted and sang the lyrics from Skyline Pigeon, a song by Elton John.

He says he often sings this song to himself.  

“For just a Skyline Pigeon, dreaming of the open, waiting for the day, he can spread his wings, and fly away again.”  

Dindo continues to dream and hope and inspire others to act for justice. 

“What has carried me through the uncertainty is community,” Dindo reflects. “Knowing that people are walking alongside you makes a real difference.” 

Dindo’s leadership — in classrooms, in community spaces, and through quiet acts of perseverance — reminds us what is possible when we lift each other up. 

Why your support matters 

Dindo’s story reflects the power of community coming together. 

Leaders who speak with courage.
Schools that open their doors.
Students who listen and act.
Caseworkers who advocate relentlessly.
And supporters who make this work possible. 

At JRS Australia, we accompany refugees and people seeking asylum through service, advocacy, and community. Your support ensures that people like Dindo are not left to navigate uncertainty alone, and that their leadership continues to inspire change far beyond the classroom.

Thank you for making this work possible.