Bhutanese student named Young Australian of the Year 2019

A young Bhutanese resettled in Australia – Narayan Khanal – has been named the Young Citizen of the Year2019 by Wollongong City Council on the eve of Australia Day.

Born in a Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal where he lived for the first 12 years of his life, Narayan resettled in Australia oh a humanitarian visa. Now living in Wollongong, Narayan has become an inspirational advocate for young people in the community of refugee and migrant backgrounds.

Currently pursuing his medical studies in the University of Wollongong, Narayan is the founder of Multicultural Society of University of Wollongong (UOW), a club that aims to promote social inclusion and the sharing of cultures. With now more than 200 members, the club helps provide opportunities for international and domestic students to interact and form friendships.

Narayan is also the chairperson of the Youth Advisory Group for Refugee Youth Peer Mentoring Project which works to support youth within the Wollongong community.