They are living a “half happy” life in Australia amid fears for family and friends left behind in Iraq, which is in crisis as militants seize large swathes of the country in the north.
Ali Mohamad told SBS his wife lives close to Mosul, but is safe for now as the military crisis unfolds.
“I call my wife [and] she say that it's OK,” he said.
“She says school is stopping, everything because [of] the situation.”
He said this country’s government was not strong, leaving him “half happy” as he waits for his wife to finish her studies and apply for a visa.
Australia is home to some 50,000 people who were born in Iraq, many of whom came here themselves as refugees.
Now some of those who have remained in Iraq through more than a decade of conflict are again facing displacement.
More than 500,000 civilians have fled the Mosul region since fighting began.
Essam Zaki is another local worried about his family, who are living in Baghdad.
“The place you're born, place you're raised, and you see it's collapsing,” he said.
The 29-year-old, who came here as a refugee six years ago, said many people in the country have grown used to conflict.
“Last 10 years ago, because bombing everywhere, assassination, killing people, everyone, the first time they were surprised they were shocked,” he said.
“But now during this time everyone's taking it like naturally.”
Though he can't believe the government capitulated so quickly in Mosul.
“This time they're taking over big cities, so that's a big concern to the Iraqi people,” he said.
Aid agencies in the region have been forced to suspend their day-to-day operations to respond to the growing crisis.
Mohammad Kandil from Islamic Relief Australia said his agency was already delivering non-food items, clean water and food to the displaced.
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