Retired public servant helps 1000 migrants settle after wife told him to stay
Kent Brown, now in his 80s, has helped over 1000 migrants and refugees settle in Australia since 2009.
When Kent Brown retired in 2009, his wife suggested he not waste time sitting at home. Brown took her advice and began 17 years of volunteer work with Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services.
He started as an English tutor and later helped with visa paperwork, school forms, and apprenticeships. Brown has helped refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Central America, and south-east Asia build new lives.
Than Soe, a member of the Karen community, remembers Brown as a parent figure when he arrived with his young children. Soe had lived in mountains before military conflict forced him to Thailand.
Brown helped him learn English and get his children into apprenticeships. Soe is now a pastor.
Brown won the 2025 VolunteeringACT inclusion award. The real reward, he says, is seeing people get outcomes.
- over 1000
- Migrants helped
- 17 years since 2009
- Years volunteering
- 2025 VolunteeringACT inclusion
- Award year
Why it mattersBrown's volunteer work shows something important. One person's commitment to helping others can make a real difference across generations.
AustraliaAcross Australia, volunteers like Brown quietly help thousands of newly arrived migrants and refugees find their footing in work, school, and community, often with no recognition or support.
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