In this episode, Ivana sits down with migration lawyer, author, and former refugee Adam Khaze for a wide ranging conversation about his own story, his family, and the realities of Australia's immigration system.

In this episode:

• Adam's family's escape from Iran as Bahá'ís facing religious persecution, the journey through Pakistan, and resettling in Perth as refugees
• Growing up between cultures, losing his mother to cancer in his early twenties, and how that shaped his path into migration law
• Meeting and marrying his wife, Dr Nina Markovic, who came to Australia from Belgrade, Serbia, as a teenager, and building a household across two cultures and two faiths
• Raising multicultural kids and balancing safety, independence, and identity as parents
• Breaking down the real legal definitions of emigrant, immigrant, migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker
• How Australia's permanent migration program actually works, including skilled, partner, student, and humanitarian pathways, and the legal hurdles applicants face
• Common myths around migration, housing costs, crime statistics, and government support, examined through Adam's professional experience
• A candid discussion of the current political climate around immigration in Australia, including differing views within migrant communities themselves
• Reflections on antisemitism, Islamophobia, and the importance of looking at issues individually rather than through a single lens
• Adam's advice for migrant and refugee families, and his closing message on empathy, self-reflection, and putting children first

A note on this episode: This conversation covers contested political topics, including immigration policy, Australian politics, and the war in Gaza. These are presented as Adam's professional views and lived experience; we encourage listeners to keep exploring these topics from multiple sources.

Website: solvemigration.com

Instagram: @adamkhaze (personal) · @solvemigration (firm)

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adam-khaze

Book: Australian Migration Files (2025)

Upcoming book: on migrant scapegoating, expected February 2027

Research paper: "Fleeing Communism: Yugoslav and Vietnamese Post-war Migration to Australia and Changes to Immigration Policy," co-authored with Dr Nina Markovic — https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nina-Markovic-4/publication/338474391_'Fleeing_Communism'_Yugoslav_and_Vietnamese_Post-war_Migration_to_Australia_and_Changes_to_Immigration_Policy/links/60b2438b45851557baa78f83/Fleeing-Communism-Yugoslav-and-Vietnamese-Post-war-Migration-to-Australia-and-Changes-to-Immigration-Policy.pdf

Podcast: Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Everything else: linktr.ee/ivanaalfonsoInstagram: @balkansispodcast · @ivanastrbacalfonso

Contact: [email protected]

Got a question for a future episode? DM Ivana or email [email protected]

Guest: Adam Khaze

Host: Ivana Strbac Alfonso Balkan Sis