When Shohreh Kosary stepped off the plane in Australia in 2012 with her husband and young son, she carried with her more than just luggage.
She brought the emotional toll of leaving behind everything familiar and hopes for a new beginning.
Back in Iran, Shohreh held a degree in Persian literature and art, qualifications she knew would hold little weight in the Australian job market.
But rather than dwell on what she had left behind, Shohreh made a courageous decision: to start over and build a life with purpose in a place she now hoped to call home.
Before that, Shohreh had spent six months in English classes at TAFE. Despite having studied English back home, she found adjusting to the Australian accent, expressions and cultural nuances much tougher than expected.
Her second son was born in Australia, and when he turned one, Shohreh enrolled in an enabling course at Curtin College.
“It was the hardest year of my study journey,” she said.
“I had to review and learn high school subjects in English. It was incredibly challenging.”
As a mature-age student surrounded by classmates fresh out of high school, she juggled study, part-time work and motherhood.
Often, she had to mentally translate concepts from English into Farsi just to keep up.
Initially Shohreh was accepted into Oral Health Therapy, however she later switched to nursing and midwifery, but still, something didn’t feel right.
Eventually, Shohreh found her passion in Occupational Therapy, inspired by her sister Shiva, a Curtin pharmacy graduate.
In 2022, Shohreh graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) (Honours) and today, she works with the Brightwater Care Group, supporting older Australians to remain independent in their own homes.
Her work aligns closely with the Australian Government’s Support at Home initiative, helping people live healthier and more connected lives in their communities.
While Shohreh’s achievements are impressive on their own, she is quick to credit one key person who made it all possible: her husband, Max.
“He was the most important factor in helping me start, continue, and complete my studies,” she said.
“When I was tired or unmotivated, he encouraged me to keep going and reminded me of my goals.
“Sometimes, he’d drive me to university and sit on a bench while I was in class, just so we could have lunch together between workshops. That support meant everything.”
Max wasn’t just a cheerleader, he was hands-on at home too, helping care for their sons, cooking meals, and taking on household responsibilities so Shohreh could focus on her studies.
“I honestly couldn’t have done it without him,” she said.
While it may seem like Shohreh has already achieved her goals, she’s the first to admit she’s not done dreaming. One day, she hopes to open her own practice and maybe even complete a PhD. To anyone walking a similar path, Shohreh offers gentle but powerful advice: “Don’t rush your journey. Don’t compare yourself to others. Your path will look different and that’s okay.”
Shohreh’s story is a moving reminder of the quiet strength it takes to begin again. With courage, perseverance, and the deep love of her family, she hasn’t just built a new life she’s built a meaningful one. And in doing so, she’s shown her two boys that even in a new country, with hope and hard work, anything is possible.
As Western Australia’s most culturally diverse university, Curtin is proud to welcome students from around the world to study across our campuses in WA, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius and Colombo.
