Shaona was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania where she lived until her family moved to Australia when she was eleven. At that point Shaona spoke no English. Determined to master the language, Shaona used children’s television programs to practise.

Living in a refugee camp gave Shoana a desire to help others so, in her final years of school, she enrolled in a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance, delivered through her school.

When Shoana completed her course, she was offered employment with UnitingSA where she had done her work placements throughout her studies. She has enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing and hopes to realise her childhood dream of becoming a midwife and volunteering around the world in disadvantaged regions.