Yangi Uchalla reminisces on life between Sudan, Uganda, America and Australia

Born in what is now South Sudan, Mrs Uchalla's family left the wartorn country in 1989, when she was then only six years old.

The family was one of the fortunate ones, their passage out of the country was aided by Mrs Uchalla's father's vocation.

"We were able to go to the United States because Dad had a scholarship to do his masters in theology," Mrs Uchalla recalls.

While she spent less than five years in Pennsylvania, Mrs Uchalla retains her American accent, a remnant of her formative years spent travelling the world in search of a permanent home.

"It's something I haven't shaken off," she said of her distinctive voice.

After four-and-a-half years, the family of five returned to Africa as refugees in Uganda.

"It was not easy at all. We lived in Kampala and I was lucky that my family could provide an education for me," she said.

"But life was difficult, there was financial uncertainty, social uncertainty, you never knew when there would be unrest. I think it was hard for my parents because home [Sudan] was so close but they could not access it."

While living in Uganda, the family were ever aware of the conflict that continued to tear across the northern border.

Starting in 1983, the civil war would not end until 2005. A year later, Mrs Uchalla, then aged 24, made the move with her family to a new permanent home.

"One of our relatives had moved to Wagga, and he sponsored us to move here," she said.

Her displaced childhood, living across countries and continents, left Mrs Uchalla with some significant personal unpacking to do.

"It can mess with your identity a bit, I could be Sudanese, I could be Ugandan or Kenyan because my maiden name is Moi which people usually connect with a famous Kenyan politician," she said.

"I could be American with my accent, I could be Australian.

"But I have to think, how wonderful is it that I've had these experiences at all. I really am very fortunate."

Having begun her social work degree in Kampala, Mrs Uchalla continued her studies with a transfer to Wagga's Charles Sturt University campus.

Between 2007 and 2010, she completed her Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and in March this year, Mrs Uchalla has been appointed to a human services role within the university's faculty of arts and education.

While her formative years might have left some identity questions, life as a refugee has also impressed Mrs Uchalla with enormous compassion.

"I've always enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories. I've always been interested in helping people when I can," she said.

"I come from a Christian background, and social work did align with that.

"It doesn't matter where we're from, we all go through similar issues and everyone deserves access to support."

Living in Wagga with her husband and three children has not always been easy either. Mrs Uchalla recognises her experience of living in her new home may be unique to a lot of others who have come to call the city home.

"I cannot hide from my background. It's the first thing you see when you meet me and it's always in the back of my mind when I go to meet someone, are people going to accept support from me," she said.

"I've found that as long as I say that I am here to help, people in need don't seem to mind where the support is coming from.

"People will ask me though, they will say 'where are you from', and I will answer, 'Tolland', and then it's 'but where are you really from', that will always happen. But I've found an amazing community of people here."