As a valued member of his Afghan community, Cena was seeing friends and family suffer with their mental health and wanted to change the narrative. Ready to dismantle the stigma and raise awareness about mental health, Cena began researching how he could make a meaningful change and soon found his path to Chisholm.

This led him to enrol in the Certificate IV in Mental Health, where he began building his skills and knowledge to support others.

As he progressed through his studies, Cena developed greater emotional maturity, learning skills in mediation, strength-based communication and de‑escalation. These skills, combined with his growing knowledge of positive emotional behaviours, have strengthened his confidence to support his local community.

Beyond the classroom, Cena has applied his learning with confidence and professionalism. During his work placement at a residential care service, he received praise for his strong work ethic, proactive approach and thoughtful responses to resident needs.

Cena is also an active contributor to his local community. He volunteers for the Afghan Australian Development Organisation, attending monthly meetings and participating in key decisions on projects and budgets. His involvement supports the organisation’s compliance, sustainability and impact, strengthening services for Victoria’s Afghan-Australian community.

Reflecting on his journey, Cena says “I'm proud of the growth I have made, and I am excited to continue learning and contributing positively to the mental health field”.

Cena now hopes to continue his studies with a Bachelor of Psychology. His long-term goal is to establish a support organisation for Afghan and other Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.

Cena is a finalist in the 2026 Chisholm Education Awards – Vocational Student of the Year.

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