South Sudanese Australian high school teacher Deng Jurkuch’s amazing 20-year education journey in Australia culminated this week when he graduated from QUT with a Master of Education.
Mr Jurkuch moved to Brisbane with his brother and two cousins in 2004 when he was 16 years old, after living in a refugee camp in north-western Kenya for four years.
He is now a secondary teacher in Townsville and the proud new recipient of a postgraduate qualification in inclusive education, having also obtained his teaching degree from QUT.
It’s a long way from his own first experience of secondary education in a refugee camp.
“While I was in the refugee camp in Kenya, life was very difficult – there was no electricity or modern houses as we have here in Australia,” he said.
“There was not much running water in the camp, and there was one point from which more than 200 people would draw their water in each group.
“But with the assistance and generosity of the UNHCR (The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), we were provided with food packages and free education, so I was able to take this opportunity and do up to Year 10 level before I came to Australia.”
After being granted humanitarian visas through the UNHCR and Australian Government, Mr Jurkuch and his brother and cousins flew to Australia thanks to more generosity – this time from the congregation at the Woolloongabba Lutheran Church, who paid for their airline tickets from Nairobi in Kenya, to Brisbane.
Another cousin who was already living in Australia also helped them make the move and settle in.
Mr Jurkuch studied English at two Brisbane schools, before completing Year 11 and 12 at MacGregor State High.
Having believed for many years that he was destined to be a teacher, he then enrolled in a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) at QUT, where he specialised in maths and science.
After graduating with his first university degree, he worked as a maths and science teacher at several state schools. He is now a teacher at Townsville State High and takes pride in supporting migrant and refugee students.
While working in Townsville he decided to go back to uni and pursue his Master of Education, so that he could specialise in inclusive education to better help students experiencing disadvantage.
“When I first went to school in 1995 in present day South Sudan, I was taught by volunteer teachers,” Mr Jurkuch said.
“Most of these teachers were not Year 12 graduates, however, they were volunteering to make a difference to the disadvantaged children due to the conflict in Sudan. They used to tell us that education is a key to success.
“When I came to the refugee came in Kenya in the early 2000s, it was always in my mind that I would one day be a teacher so that I could help other children, especially the disadvantaged ones, to succeed in the same way that I had been supported.
“Again, when I came to Australia, it was in my mind that being a teacher would be the best way to help if I wanted to contribute to wider society.”
Mr Jurkuch will continue working at Townsville State High in 2024.
“Every day starts with smiling faces and different stories about what they have done in the classroom or outside the classroom,” he said.
“When I graduated from QUT with Bachelor of Education in 2014, I regarded myself as a maths and science teacher. However, after I started teaching in 2015, I came to realise that I am not just a specialist content-based teacher. I learned that I need to know my students individually and be able to know what they are interested in. Teaching is all about building rapport with your students!”
Mr Jurkuch said his best advice for other refugee students interested in going to university was to not be afraid to ask questions.
“Do not to be discouraged if things do not go the way you anticipate – always seek clarity if you are not sure what to do,” he said.
“You lose nothing by asking questions.”
Mr Jurkuch said he had been fortunate to have great teachers support his own academic journey.
“I am very thankful for the support of MacGregor State High teaching staff and other support staff who helped me realise my potential,” he said.
“And I would like to thank all the QUT teaching staff and everyone who has supported me in one way or another in reaching where I am today in my academic journey.”
QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
- After hours, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
