Dr. Jasmina Kevric, a 39-year-old breast cancer specialist at Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, is both a practitioner and a humanitarian.

She actively volunteers her medical expertise to assist refugees, motivated by her own past experiences of conflict and displacement.

Dr. Kevric's journey began in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she was a child when the Bosnian War erupted in 1992. "No one anticipated a civil war in the middle of Europe," she recalls, recalling the moment when a missile struck.

Her family fled to Bihać, where they sought refuge with relatives.

However, conflict soon followed them, culminating in a traumatic incident at their family farm where a missile caused severe injuries to her relatives.

Despite the horror of her childhood, the experience inspired Dr. Kevric to pursue a career in medicine.

She immigrated to Australia after spending four years in Germany, facing significant challenges, including learning to speak English.

"I embraced this new culture," she said, highlighting her determination to excel academically after missing years of education due to the war.

Dr. Kevric earned a scholarship to study medicine at the University of Melbourne, eventually specializing as a breast cancer surgeon.

However, many of the approximately 20,000 humanitarian arrivals in Australia face significant barriers to skilled employment, as documented in a report from the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

The research highlights a phenomenon termed 'occupational downgrading,' in which skilled migrants often cannot return to their original professional status even after a decade of residency in Australia.

The report indicates that women, particularly those with young children, experience the most significant difficulties in achieving and maintaining employment.

According to lead author John van Kooy, there exists a stark gender disparity in employment rates within families, with women with children under five being 84 percent less likely to be employed than men over a ten-year period.

In response to these challenges, many refugees turn to entrepreneurship.

The same study found that over one-fifth of participants engaged in self-employment, a rate that exceeds that of the Australian-born population.

Dr. Kevric now offers critical medical services at the Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub, which addresses the specific health needs of refugee populations.

She emphasizes the importance of culturally sensitive care, recognizing that many healthcare providers may lack an understanding of the complexities faced by those who have fled conflict.

The hub's clinical director, Professor Suresh Sundram, reinforces the value of specialists with refugee backgrounds, noting their ability to manage the unique mental and physical health challenges associated with trauma and migration.

He points out that refugees frequently encounter barriers to accessing healthcare, including language difficulties and traumatic pasts that impact their current health status.

Established in 2016, the Cabrini Health Hub represents a commitment to providing accessible healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees, many of whom cannot afford conventional healthcare services.

Founded on the principles first implemented by St. Francis Cabrini in the United States, the hub aims to meet the diverse needs of these vulnerable populations effectively.

Dr. Kevric, who is married and has a young daughter, continues to advocate for refugees, highlighting their potential contributions to society.

She hopes that Australians will understand the profound losses experienced by refugees and recognize their capabilities as future professionals in various fields, contributing positively to the nation’s fabric.