(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)

Afghan asylum-seekers in Indonesia say despite the risks and regardless of Australia's change of government, they are still determined to get on a boat to seek somewhere to settle.

They say staying on in Indonesia costs them their health and money - sometimes more money than the cost of a boat trip.

Two asylum-seekers in Indonesia have spoken to SBS Radio's Pashto program about the difficulties they, and other asylum-seekers in Indonesia, are experiencing.

Toryalai started working with NATO forces in Afghanistan two years ago, after graduating from school.

Toryalai says he left Afghanistan after his family received a threatening letter from the Taliban.

"My family, my father, called me and told me, 'Quit your job because the Taliban sent some warning letters for you. They want to kill you and if you don't quit your job, maybe they will kill your brothers, maybe they will kidnap me and your brother'."

Fardin Wahidi fled Afghanistan and has been in Indonesia for four months.

He says his life was in danger after working with the United States in Kabul for about two years.

"After receiving many warning letters from Taliban I left Afghanistan. There was no option for me to live in Afghanistan. The Taliban are killing people very badly, badly they kill people and their families."

Fardin Wahidi says he wanted to get to Australia and he weighed the risks of the journey.

"I was checking the news, the TV, the internet, everything. I'm aware of all the dangers I face on the way but there was no way for me in Afghanistan. The danger in Afghanistan was more than the danger I would face in the ocean."

Fardin Wahidi says he's already tried twice to get a boat to Australia.

"First time, the Indonesian government caught us and we couldn't go to Australia. The second time we tried, after ten hours on the boat there were some problems so we stopped the boat on some islands and some fishermen saved our lives so we came back to Indonesia. After that there were some policy changes so now I'm waiting; I'm waiting."

Toryalai says people don't like staying in Indonesia to wait for their asylum claims to be processed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

He says living conditions are very poor, they can't get work, their health suffers.

"Too many people go by boat but they can't stay here. In here there's no job, there's no work and there's all the health problem so they want to go by boat."

And Toryalai says they often can't afford to stay indefinitely.

"Everyone wants to go by boat and some want to go to the camp just for money. They want money from their family but their family can't send them money for a plane. They have depression in here, they can't stay here, there's no job. Also their family doesn't want them to stay here - their family can't support their son to stay here."

Fardin Wahidi says people are well-informed about the journey and its perils, yet they still attempt it.

"I am seeing every day new people coming here. I think people coming from Afghanistan will continue and not stop. They know the new policy because in Afghanistan the journals all announced the new policy so they come here aware, not without information. They know everything but they're still coming."

Fardin Wahidi says Afghan asylum seekers all live in hope that their plight will be recognised.

"It's my opinion that this government that won the last election should bring some changes and think a little about refugees and think a little ... you know, like human beings. Treat asylum-seekers like human beings, not just to throw away. They have to think, think more about asylum-seekers. Not just throw out refugees and send them to other countries."

Feature by Abdullah Alikhil and Nikki Canning