From war's shadow to Darwin's light: Iryna’s remarkable journey to CDU

For most students at Charles Darwin University (CDU), the Casuarina campus is simply a place of learning. But for Iryna Vasylkova, a CDU TAFE Certificate IV Visual Arts student, it represents a safe haven – an embodiment of the peace and security she has always sought.

Iryna’s path from her birthplace in Ukraine to CDU, almost 12,000 kilometres away, is a long one.

Her fascination with the visual world blossomed when she studied graphic design at Kyiv's National Academy of Arts, just as the industry was taking flight in Ukraine. After graduating, she specialised in building brands, producing everything from "small business cards to billboards”.

But her life took a profound turn in 2010 when she gave birth to triplets, all daughters, sidelining her burgeoning career. Not long after, the shadow of conflict with Russia started to spread. Even though the rumbles of war were far away, Iryna felt uneasy.

“It was only in the east of Ukraine, but still, we feel it,” Iryna says. “We feel that something bad is happening. Sometimes you cannot explain, it's like intuition... when you become a mum or dad... you say it's better to do it like this [and leave].”

From Ukraine to Cyprus

Based on this instinct, Iryna and her husband, Maxim, decided to start a new life, uprooting from their homeland and moving their young family to Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean which, for many, has traditionally served as a stepping stone to Western Europe.

What started as a three-month trial evolved into a decade-long chapter. Life settled into a rhythm: Iryna juggled graphic design and parenting, while Maxim found work in IT.

However, Iryna’s sense of ease was shattered again in 2022 with the build-up to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Adding to her concern was Cyprus's own unresolved political divisions – the island is split between its Greek-controlled state in the south and the Turkish-controlled state to the north – and its large Russian expatriate population.

“All this occupied territory, for me, it's like a bomb which you blow, but you don't know when. I felt very unsafe,” Iryna says. They knew they had to move again.

Australia-bound

Iryna and her family were drawn to Australia’s size, job potential and a similar coastal lifestyle to that which they’d become accustomed to in Cyprus.

“We need the pines, we need the beaches,” Iryna says. “It gives me energy, inspiration.” 

After more than two years of waiting for an Australian visa, Iryna’s family sped up their application by choosing to settle in a regional area rather than a major city. The process moved fast, and weeks after receiving Australian visas, they landed in Darwin.

Starting afresh and knowing no one, they quickly found a home on the fringe of the city, and a school for the triplets.

But while the rest of her family were thriving – Maxim had quickly found another job in IT – Iryna struggled to find work. 

"My expectations and the reality were not aligned," she says. Recognising that she had to ‘Australianise’ her Ukrainian qualifications, she turned to Charles Darwin University.

“I thought maybe I will go back to study to have an Australian certificate, because I am planning to live here,” she says. 

“It's good to have an Australian education, because who knows where this Ukrainian degree is from, and what is it?”

Localised qualifications

Iryna chose the Certificate IV in Visual Arts, a fee-free course offered through CDU TAFE. It played to her strengths in graphic design, as well as a personal interest in photography.

Iryna says she has found her experience at CDU TAFE profoundly positive, providing artistic skill development, with photography emerging as a particular favourite, along with invaluable insights into the Australian education system and workplace culture.

The benefits of her decision to enrol in a Certificate IV in Visual Arts became clearer the more she studied. “It's like you try some interesting new fruit that you have never tried, and someone asks you how it tastes,” she says. “You will understand it only when you try.”

Iryna remains open-minded about her next steps once she finishes her Certificate IV. While she sees herself working online as a freelance graphic designer, she is now interested in exploring more creative avenues such as photography, and perhaps video or animation.

Her ultimate goal, though, is to find fulfilling work that allows her to utilise her creative talents and contribute to her family's settled life in Darwin.

Iryna’s time at Charles Darwin University should prove instrumental, equipping her not only with a recognised Australian qualification but also with the cultural understanding and local connections she will need to navigate the opportunities her newly adopted home will offer.

And at the same time, Iryna and her family will always feel safe.