From Refugee to Community Lawyer: John Kon's Journey of Resilience and Community Impact

After arriving in Australia as a refugee, John Kon turned his challenges into a drive to give back. Now a Lawyer at Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre, he’s helping others navigate the legal system - showing how lived experience can lead to lasting impact.

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April 17, 2025

“There is nothing that is too late.”

John Kon is living proof of this. From fleeing the civil war in South Sudan to becoming a university graduate, youth worker, community advocate, and now a lawyer at Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre (a program of Comm Unity Plus Services), his story reflects unwavering determination and a commitment to uplifting others.

Born in Bor, South Sudan, John’s childhood was shaped by displacement and survival.

“We left our home in 1991, I was quite young at the time, it was a journey of unknowns,” he recalls.

“There was not really any access to schools because of the conflict - the main focus was surviving, trying to sustain lives.”

John and his younger brother spent years in refugee camps in Central Equitoria, Northern Uganda and Kenya. Hope arrived when they learnt a cousin had been granted a visa to come to Australia, and so began their own long process of applying for visas to start a new life in Australia.

“I arrived in Australia in 2004 with my younger brother. I was only 17 years old, and we settled in Sydney,” he says.

Determined to make the most of the opportunities he didn’t have growing up, John pursued a degree in medical science at the University of Western Sydney. His lived experiences as a refugee fuelled a passion for giving back and this led him to youth work, supporting African Australian youth.

“When we came from the refugee camp, a lot of us did not know what to do,” he reflects.

"I wanted to do something to give back to those in the community."

In 2016, John moved to Melton in Melbourne’s west with his wife, where he began a life-changing chapter of community advocacy.

John with his family

"I wanted to do something to give back to those in the community."

Stepping Up for Community

In Melton, John saw how the overrepresentation of South Sudanese youth and crime in the media led to harmful stereotypes and prejudice.

Determined to challenge these media narratives, John founded the Melton South Sudanese Community, a volunteer-based group aimed at empowering South Sudanese youth and fostering connections.

“I started the advocacy, talking to stakeholders like the local council - I had several meetings with the MP Don Nardella and management of shopping centres, talking about the issues we identified,” he recalls.

John brought the community together through informal gatherings, creating safe spaces where youth could share their hopes, struggles and find support with volunteers.

“We would eat together, we would laugh together, we would talk together - just to create that supportive atmosphere, to be able to identify what are the challenges that the young people are facing and also to actually connect them to the service that we thought would be able to help them,” he says.

He established a homework club, securing grants to provide South Sudanese children with a safe space to study and connect. His initiatives attracted media attention, drawing more volunteers and local government funding.

“Through this volunteer group, South Sudanese were able to access the services that they needed - school uniforms for kids, sport programs, financial help, family events, so much,” John says.

John’s work paved the way for a youth worker role with the Centre for Multicultural Youth. 

“My years of advocacy in Melton, they were positive, I loved it.”

A Newfound Passion

Despite his success in advocacy, John realised his ability to address community challenges was limited by a lack of legal knowledge.

“I always spent time talking to members of Parliament, people at the Council. I volunteered at [then-Melton MP] Don Nardella’s office - I always spoke about systemic policies that actually disadvantaged the newly arrived,” he says.

“I was trying my best, but at the same time, I didn’t have what it takes - I didn’t even understand the legal system.”

A pivotal moment came during his time volunteering at Don Nardella’s office when a refugee seeking legal advice approached John. Despite his extensive advocacy experience, he found himself unable to provide the answers they needed.

“When a client came to the office from a refugee background, asking some legal questions, at the time I did not have answers, as well as I did not know where to refer them,” he says.

This encounter stayed with him, igniting a deep sense of responsibility.

“Deeply in my heart, I thought even with all these questions, these clients go to some of the community legal centres or legal aid, and there might not be a definite answer - there is a lack of language because of being from a CALD background,” John reflects.

In that moment, everything became clear: studying law would be his next step. He recognised that legal knowledge could be the key to bridging gaps and creating more meaningful change for his community.

Choosing Victoria University, John took a leap that would redefine his future.

"I thought maybe studying law, I could do more, and also change the narrative about my community that is in the media," John recalls.

“I submitted my application, sent it to Victoria University, and I was offered the position to study,” he recalls with pride.

John in front of the Supreme Court after being admitted to practice law

“My life is shaped by the situations I’ve experienced. When we came to Australia, all the opportunities existed, but it became my responsibility to design my life into what I envisioned"

A Lawyer for the Community

By December 2019, John reached a significant milestone: he completed his Bachelor of Laws and was admitted to legal practice.

John describes the feeling with a big smile. “I was so happy. My passion has always been helping the community in any capacity, and I was excited to begin that journey as a lawyer,” he reflects.

After briefly working in private practice, John joined Victoria Legal Aid, where he provided legal advice, information, and referrals to clients seeking justice. In September 2022, he took on a role at Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre, a move he describes as deeply meaningful.

“The reason why I actually chose to move to this legal centre is because it is closer to the community, the community referrals come directly from the community,” he says.

As a community lawyer, John assists vulnerable clients with issues ranging from infringements and civil disputes to family law and criminal matters. He also facilitates Community Legal Education sessions, providing a platform for community members to voice their challenges and gain knowledge about their rights.

“When we are running the community legal education, it gives us the opportunity to hear from the community the challenges that they are facing,” John explains.

John’s commitment extends beyond legal advice; he leads the African Australian Assistance Project, an initiative funded by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner. This project aims to enhance access to justice and empower African Australians by building legal knowledge and addressing systemic barriers.

“We provide legal clinics to the people from the African background on Mondays,” he explains.

“A big thing we focus on is how the African community, especially African young people, spend over four years in Australia and are eligible to apply for citizenship, but because they don’t have access to the legal assistance they need, or don’t know how to access it, they don’t apply.”

“So we help them, and anyone who is not eligible for whatever reason, we help them to apply for Immicards to allow them access to work, use it as a form of ID to obtain a license, for them to have access to employment and so forth.”

John describes his lived experience as an asset to being a community lawyer and delivering these programs.

“Being a lawyer and already having that experience from the community helps a lot when dealing with clients,” he says.

“Being from the refugee background, being also someone who came to this country without much, without good English - I see these people and I know that once I was in that situation - I know that I can help them.”

Late last year, Victoria University recognised and celebrated John’s remarkable contributions by awarding him the Professional Achievement Award at the inaugural Victoria University (VU) Student Leadership and Alumni Awards in November 2024.

This prestigious recognition underscores the profound impact of John’s tireless efforts to advocate for marginalised communities and empower the next generation.

John remained humble about the award, attributing much of his success to the unwavering support of Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre.

"I was incredibly honoured to receive that award. It has inspired me to do more and continue providing my service to the community," he shares.

“I will always thank the Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre, the management teams, because without them, my abilities would not have been recognised.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Even with all his achievements, John remains humble about his efforts to support the community.

“I know I won the award, the University believes I do things to positively contribute to the community, but on my side, I feel like, okay, there is room for improvement, there is room to do more,” he says.

When asked about the future, John’s vision remains deeply grounded in serving his community and creating meaningful change. 

“I want to continue to help the community, provide my service to the community,” he says.

Every day, John works to help others envision and achieve brighter futures, knowing firsthand the transformative power of opportunity and perseverance.

“My life is shaped by the situations I’ve experienced. When we came to Australia, all the opportunities existed, but it became my responsibility to design my life into what I envisioned,” he explains.

This sense of responsibility fuels his dedication to others. Whether through direct legal support or connecting individuals with vital services, John opens his door to everyone who seeks his help.

“I open my door to anybody,” he says. 

“They know that I can or have helped them in one way or another, whether through me directly or through connecting them to another service.”

With unwavering conviction, he states, “Failure is not a stop sign.” 

He believes that challenges are opportunities to learn and grow. “You can’t stop from moving forward. You learn from where you fail, and you continue moving to improve your life and achieve what you want to do.”

“There is nothing that is too late. No matter where you are in life, you can still achieve whatever you set your mind to.”

John speaking at a panel for a Victoria University Student Leadership Conference
Cathy is a passionate storyteller from Good News Melton, using writing to inspire change, amplify voices, and explore themes of mental health and resilience.

“There is nothing that is too late.”

John Kon is living proof of this. From fleeing the civil war in South Sudan to becoming a university graduate, youth worker, community advocate, and now a lawyer at Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre (a program of Comm Unity Plus Services), his story reflects unwavering determination and a commitment to uplifting others.

Born in Bor, South Sudan, John’s childhood was shaped by displacement and survival.

“We left our home in 1991, I was quite young at the time, it was a journey of unknowns,” he recalls.

“There was not really any access to schools because of the conflict - the main focus was surviving, trying to sustain lives.”

John and his younger brother spent years in refugee camps in Central Equitoria, Northern Uganda and Kenya. Hope arrived when they learnt a cousin had been granted a visa to come to Australia, and so began their own long process of applying for visas to start a new life in Australia.

“I arrived in Australia in 2004 with my younger brother. I was only 17 years old, and we settled in Sydney,” he says.

Determined to make the most of the opportunities he didn’t have growing up, John pursued a degree in medical science at the University of Western Sydney. His lived experiences as a refugee fuelled a passion for giving back and this led him to youth work, supporting African Australian youth.

“When we came from the refugee camp, a lot of us did not know what to do,” he reflects.

"I wanted to do something to give back to those in the community."

In 2016, John moved to Melton in Melbourne’s west with his wife, where he began a life-changing chapter of community advocacy.

Cathryn Langley
is a journalist at Good News Melton. She ipsum ultricies aptent sollicitudin est congue. You can find her stories here.

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