First published 15 March 2021
Over a decade ago, Hazara teenager Raziq Qasimi fled his Afghanistan war-torn homeland due to ethnic persecution, seeking a better life with more opportunities and peace in Australia.
The Hazara are an ethnic group native to central Afghanistan that has been marginalised and persecuted for many years. They were particularly targeted by the Taliban and Islamic State forces, with mass killings documented by human rights groups.
Once he was in Australia, Raziq knew that he wanted to improve his education, embrace opportunities, and change his life for the better. After a high school scholarship supported him to complete senior years at Brisbane Grammar School, his next step was to study a double degree in Law and Justice at QUT.
Awarded the QUT Faculty of Law Founders’ Scholarship, a unique scholarship program that supports disadvantaged law students throughout their entire degree, Raziq was able to better focus on his studies. The scholarship provides financial support, mentoring and networking opportunities that can make all the difference in both the short and long-term future of QUT Law students.
‘With hard work, dedication, and commitment, you can achieve things. Lots of support is a big facet too, having good people encouraging you and pushing you when it’s needed,’ said Raziq.
His desire to pay forward the support he received has seen him volunteer with many Brisbane non-profit organisations working with refugees. This commitment to helping others saw Raziq receive a Student Leadership Excellence Award in 2019.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Justice at the end of 2019, Raziq has not stopped making the most of opportunities, becoming a Queensland District Court judge’s associate in 2020, before joining Legal Aid Queensland in early 2021.
‘It is extraordinary how lives can change. I didn’t know I had the potential to get into university, and I didn’t know I had the potential to become a lawyer.’
Thanks to the generosity of donors, Raziq can use his legal qualifications to help others.
‘I fundamentally believe law is about helping people and making the world a better place for everyone.’
Each year we have more students needing financial assistance. If you are able to support aspiring law students this QUT Giving Day, please visit the QUT Faculty of Law Founders’ Scholarship Fund page.
