Growing up as a child refugee from South Sudan, Beatrice Waran never imagined she would one day deliver a valedictorian speech at her graduation. But through a combination of lived experience, personal resilience and supportive study at ACAP, she turned adversity into a career focused on helping others heal.
When Beatrice and her family arrived in Perth more than two decades ago, they brought with them the hope of a safer life, but also the trauma of war, displacement and survival.
In her early years, Beatrice often experienced anxiety and a sense of otherness, but didn’t understand what those feelings were.
"I didn’t know how to make sense of what I had been through. I didn’t know how trauma was affecting me or how my mindset and even my dreams were linked to trauma.”
It wasn’t until Beatrice began studying psychology that things began to change. In her undergraduate course, she started to see her own experiences reflected in the material. The more she learned about mental health, the more she understood her own journey.
“I would regularly see myself in the stories we were studying. This made me want to learn more. I wanted to understand myself and help others understand themselves.”
As Beatrice continued to grow personally and professionally, working full time as an occupational therapist, she felt the urge to deepen her understanding. She wanted to be able to support people who, like her, had carried silent struggles for years.
That’s when she decided to enrol in the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy at ACAP University College.
"ACAP was different. It was supportive and gave me the flexibility to keep working full time while studying."
The course was more than just theory. It gave Beatrice the language, strategies and space to reflect on her own life. It also helped her realise how her experiences could support others in their journeys.
Some of the most powerful moments came during her clinical placement.
“I worked with young women from migrant and refugee backgrounds. They opened up to me because they knew I understood. Because of my experiences, I was able to create a safe place for others and for myself.”
In 2023, Beatrice was named valedictorian of ACAP Perth’s graduating class. Standing before her classmates and family, she reflected on how far she had come, from a child refugee not understanding her own trauma, to a confident professional using her experiences to uplift others.
After graduating, Beatrice began working at a multicultural women’s service, supporting people navigating complex trauma, disconnection and cultural adjustment. She now works in the disability sector, continuing to advocate for accessible, trauma-informed care that centres empathy and understanding.
Beatrice’s journey is one of transformation. It shows how early hardship does not have to define a person.
"We started with nothing when we came to Australia. Now I have a rewarding career and a great life I can share with my family."
If you’re interested in studying a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, please see more information here: https://www.acap.edu.au/courses/master-of-counselling-and-psychotherapy/