Amir Abdalla has only been in Australia for a year after living in a refugee camp in Iraq escaping Islamic State militants, but since arriving he has thrown himself into becoming an Aussie by playing sports.
The 18-year-old apprentice electrician was only about eight when the terrorist group targeted the Yezidi ethnic and religious minority in its brutal campaign.
They killed over 2000 men and notoriously forced hundreds of women and girls into sexual slavery a decade ago.
The United Nations described the IS war crimes as constituting genocide.
With only about 500,000 Yezidis, the siege of Sinjar which was broadcast globally affected the whole beleaguered community including Mr Abdalla, who lost 27 members of his family.
But he is trying to put that painful chapter of his life behind him when he steps on the hockey field as a goalkeeper.
"I like playing hockey and I'd say the best part is the people," he told AAP.
"It's about players on the field together and making decisions together."
He is part of a new program introducing Yezidi youth, including 17 young women, to the sport to help them make new friends, gain confidence, and establish roots in Toowoomba in southeast Queensland.
Partnering with the Toowoomba Hockey Association (THA), local resettlement group Multicultural Australia developed the psychosocial program to foster inclusion and improve the well-being of participants through a new sport.
"I really feel comfortable when I go to the field and forget all the bad stuff," Mr Abdalla said.
"It's really hard when you're at the house all the time and of course you're going to think about all the bad things you've been through before."
Yezidis began settling in Toowoomba in 2017 and other regional centres such as Armidale in NSW and Shepparton in Victoria as part of the Australian government's humanitarian scheme.
About an hour south of Brisbane, Toowoomba is now home to more than 4000 Yezidis, making it the largest community in Australia.
Taking a grassroots and holistic approach, the program has bought onboard TAFE Queensland, where many Yezidis are studying English, and Healthwise, a local primary healthcare provider.
Multicultural Australia's refugee health officer Elizabeth Laverty said team sports played an integral role in healing and resettlement.
"The benefits are innumerable. Beyond the physical, the program is breaking down cultural barriers, and enabling an evolution of gender roles," Ms Laverty said.
“Strong female hockey players serve as role models and coaches, empowering young Yezidi women to take on leadership roles with confidence, in a supporting and nurturing environment.”
For Diyana Al-Hamad, 18, who has been playing for only two months, the hockey field has become a sanctuary for fun and connecting.
"I like helping myself and my friends and meeting new people," said the aspiring hairdresser who has been in Toowoomba for five years.
"It (playing hockey) is about having fun and forgetting all these bad things."
Association manager Jessie McCartney has been humbled by the support from the hockey community who have donated their time and equipment to kickstart the program.
"THA aims to maintain a safe space for the increasing number of Yezidi refugees in Toowoomba to feel a sense of belonging in community and promote the benefits of a thriving multicultural society," he said.
The association is seeking support from businesses and government bodies to sustain and expand the program as the community grows.
