Youth Profile - Jane Alia

Jane Alia’s journey through life has led her on a powerful path of leadership and passion.

By Tamara Howie

Alia, 24, arrived in Darwin in 2008 after growing up in a refugee camp in Uganda and has thrown herself into all the opportunities available to her. 

These days, Alia sits on the City of Darwin Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), is an advocate for the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network and is preparing to head down south to the National Student Leadership Forum (NSLF).

“The things I do are because of the experiences that I’ve lived,” she says.

“I want to help other young people who don’t have a voice.”

Alia says she was honoured to be selected for NSLF and will use the opportunity to talk about what’s important to her.

“Being a leader doesn’t mean you tell people what to do – you have to step back and listen and make sure everyone has a voice.”

In her early years Alia wanted to be an accountant, but that all changed when she was still young.

“I had a big cut on my left ankle,” she says.

“My aunty is a nurse so she cleaned up the wound and ever since then I’ve wanted to be a doctor.”

Alia studied to be a dental assistant, but moved into nursing after visiting Uganda for the first time since moving to Australia.

“My grandmother was very ill and I had the opportunity to go and visit the clinic she went to,” she says.

“I saw so many people laying there and there was only one nurse. That was a life changing experience.

“I never thought I’d be a nurse, but I love it.”

One day she would like to use her skills internationally.

“I don’t really know what tomorrow holds, but it will be definitely things to do with my passions around community and health.”