AMONG those helping shape Logan into one of Queensland’s most inclusive and multicultural communities is Elijah Buol, a man whose life journey from war and displacement to advocacy and leadership has become a powerful story of resilience, hope and change.
Born in South Sudan during a period of civil conflict, Buol’s early years were marked by instability and loss. He lost both parents before the age of 10 and spent much of his childhood navigating uncertainty and displacement before eventually spending time in the United Kingdom.
In 2012, he arrived in Australia alone as a 16-year-old refugee seeking safety and opportunity, an experience that would later shape his commitment to helping others facing similar challenges.
Today, Buol is recognised as an emerging voice in Queensland’s multicultural and refugee advocacy sector, working across community leadership, youth justice and settlement support.
Through his role with the Asylum Seeker Centre and broader community work, he supports people navigating Australia’s often complex migration and settlement systems while advocating for stronger inclusion and understanding.
For Buol, the conversation around migration must move beyond politics and focus more deeply on people. “A lot of the conversation around migration misses the human side,” he said.
“It becomes about politics and division, rather than people and systems.
His advocacy has also contributed to significant reforms in Queensland’s youth justice system, including efforts that helped remove children under the age of 18 from adult prisons, a change aimed at better protecting vulnerable young people.
Across Logan and Ipswich, Buol believes sport has become one of the most visible and powerful pathways for belonging and representation, particularly for young South Sudanese-Australians including track star Gout Gout who are increasingly making their mark on the national stage.
“When young people see someone who looks like them succeeding, it changes what they believe is possible,” Buol said.
While he said Australia has made progress towards becoming a more multicultural nation, Buol believes inclusion must be reflected not only in talk, but in policy, opportunity and everyday community life.
“Australia is at its best when it is inclusive,” he said. “We are one society, and the question should always be how we support each other to thrive within it.”
