Armidale Ezidi Refugees Launch Six Thriving Businesses

Armidale's Ezidi refugee community has reached a significant economic milestone, with six businesses now operating across the city and local leaders praising the ventures as a model of successful integration and entrepreneurship.

The achievements represent a dramatic transformation for a community that arrived with limited English and few opportunities. What began six years ago with the initial settlement of about 650 Ezidis has blossomed into a thriving enclave of roughly 1200 people, with community members opening supermarkets, barber shops and restaurants that cater to both their own population and the broader Armidale market.

The story of this success traces back to 2018, when Armidale became the first new regional refugee settlement location in Australia in more than a decade. But the real momentum has built in recent months, with several key businesses launching or consolidating their operations.

Psychologist Salam Qaro arrived in Armidale in 2019 alongside his wife Fryal Khudaida, who has just realised a long-held dream. Khudaida's bakery, located in Beardy Street Mall, opened earlier in the year and now serves traditional Ezidi specialties including okra stew, fasoolia, sorba soup, fresh sweets and cakes. Qaro recalls the early days of cultural disorientation, describing how he and his wife turned to YouTube to decode their neighbour's "G'day mate, how's it going?" greeting.

"We didn't know a word of English when we came to Armidale," Qaro said. He now works as a community development project officer with NSW Health.

Qaro attributes the business surge to a fundamental shift in opportunity. "Many Ezidis arrived from countries such as Iraq, where they were not given the opportunity to extend beyond labouring work," he explained. "Armidale has allowed them to fulfil dreams of owning their own business, and for that, we are very appreciative."

The economic growth reflects careful observation and community needs. Mawali Ali, a 23-year-old barber who arrived from Syria in 2017, initially settling in Toowoomba before moving to Armidale, identified a gap in the local market. After passing his Certificate III in Barbering through TAFE, he and a business partner launched Golden 1 Barber in Armidale Central in March. The shop now employs four barbers.

"We came to Armidale, looked around and only saw one barber," Ali said. "So the pair set up shop." Between managing the business, Ali is also studying online at Charles Sturt University, part of his broader integration into Australian life.

"I came from Syria with my brother and sister, we now consider ourselves Australian," he said.

The retail sector has also flourished. Two supermarkets now stock groceries from the Middle East, catering to the Ezidi community while introducing local customers to Iraqi and Turkish food staples. Arkan Shahwan Jarullah and Waleed Alali launched Roj Supermarket on Jessie Street in 2020, selling Iraqi and Turkish delicacies, before expanding into the Armidale Food Emporium, where they now offer dried fish, fresh-baked flatbread and halva.

The community's contributions have drawn official recognition. Northern Tablelands MP Brendan Moylan wrote to Qaro and Khudaida, describing them as "a true refugee success story, sharing their Ezidi traditions and cultures with their local community."

Demographics underscore the settlement's stability. Over the past six years, about 70 babies have been born to Ezidi families in Armidale, signalling deep roots. What began as a modest intake has become a demonstration of how refugee communities can revitalise regional economies and contribute to local life.