Employment

Multicultural Australia connects new Australians with Queensland businesses through the 'Work & Welcome' Program

AMRC promotes employment through pathways such as training, volunteering and work experience.

The Common Threads Project promotes individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds to develop, share and extend skills within various textile fields by offering weekly group sessions.

Business Connect Multicultural promotes small businesses to grow expands, sell, succession plan or improve their overall business plans.

Mount Gambier MRC has been supporting Congolese artist and sculptor Sadiki Kamundele In various ways towards staring an enterprise through connecting Sidiki with various Australians, artists and organisations to enable him to volunteer as an artist, learn new skills and learn how to start a business.

The Mulberry Project is a pilot social enterprise operating as a volunteer-run community group with 35 volunteers (66% women) from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Syria and Australia. We are in the process of establishing our business structure in association with partners.

About Kaleidoscope Initiative The City of Stirling’s Kaleidoscope Initiative (KI) project aims to harness the economic benefits of its diverse cultural population by helping newcomers to secure employment in their field of expertise and supporting employers to benefit from this diverse workforce.  This project has been developed in partnership with Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) and funded by Office of Multicultural Interests, Government of Western Australia through its ‘Local Projects, Local Jobs’ Program. In its first phase, the initiative intends to develop bring the stakeholders together through

1. Employer Partnership Program
2. Professional Immigrant Association(s) partner network, and
3. Developing an online resource hub for newcomers to enhance their capabilities.

The second phase of the project would include the development of a mentoring program to match skilled newcomers with mentors in their chosen field. Through its Employer Partnership Program (EPP), the Initiative is looking to develop a network of Employers who are looking to benefit from the diverse and multicultural demographic asset.  For this, the initiative would provide the employers with tools, information and resources so that they can

1. Build stronger, more diverse teams
2. Enhance their leadership training for high-potential staff members
3. Help their staff gain coaching experience both within and outside their organisation
4. Find new and diverse sources of talent at a lower cost
5. Achieve their community engagement and diversity & inclusion objectives
6. Build their brand as a responsible corporate citizen

Through working with existing and new professional immigrant associations, the Initiative is looking to develop a network of such associations called Kaleidoscope Initiative Network (KIN) which would collaboratively work towards helping members secure employment in their chosen field.  Through this network, the associations can:

1. Build their association’s profile among newcomers, employers and key stakeholders
2. Access tools, information and training resources on job seeking, resume writing, Australian workplace culture, interview pitfalls, etc.
3. Access resources to help run their association and support their members
4. Participate in networking and other events that can help their members become job-ready and connect with potential employers
5. Be a part of a growing community of leaders and partners to further develop their leadership skills, sharing learnings and benefit from the expertise of others
6. Represent their association and serve as an expert on immigrant employment at policy consultations and in the media
7. Advertise their organisation and event on Kaleidoscope Initiative’s website.

The Initiative also looks forward to working with newcomers to enhance their job-readiness capabilities and skills through providing them with

1. Access to online hub of resources, information and business support services,
2. Networking opportunities to connect with professional immigrant associations from their professional, cultural or linguistic background
3. Networking opportunities with potential employers through jointly-held events, and
4. Opportunity to participate in a Pilot Mentoring Program later in 2018 where they would be matched with a professional in their chosen field and possibly from their own cultural and/or linguistic background.

 

SCoA member, Sydwest Multicultural Services has created an inspiring book which shares the stories of some of Australia's newest citizens. Exploring themes of employment, education, health, social engagement, family and many more, this collection of stories is a message of hope and a celebration of all that Australia stands to gain by welcoming refugees and helping them settle.

See the report here.

Work and Welcome offers new arrivals short-term work at a school or business, providing valuable work experience in a supportive Australian workplace. The program draws on the generosity of companies, their employees, community groups and individuals to pool together money to fund 12 week job placements for newcomers to Queensland. Both new arrivals and employers benefit from this program as job placements give people a foot in the door and employers benefit with access to the unique skills and experience new arrivals have to offer.

The Spice Exchange promotes multiculturalism in Australia whilst providing skill sets and work experience for migrant and refugee women. The Spice Exchange is a social enterprise initiative that utilises the culinary skills and traditions of refugee and migrant women to produce unique spice blends and condiments. The profit generated through The Spice Exchange is invested directly back into the program.

Working Beyond Boundaries helps refugees gain employment and language skills while connecting with their local community. Initially a group of volunteers from the Karen community helped to transform a dormant community garden in Weribee into a thriving kitchen, full of vegetables and herbs. The program provides work experience as well as fruit and veggies to the group of volunteers. The volunteer program has now expanded to other communities and the gardens have never been so fruitful!

Multicultural Small Business Program is a unique cross-sectoral partnership in Newcastle, NSW, that provides refugees and migrants with the basics about how to start up and run a small business. It is a free 10 week course delivered in English and in Arabic. The program covers business practices, cultural customs, rules and regulations.

Ignite Small Business Start-ups facilitates business creation for people from refugee backgrounds who are keen to establish or expand a small business facilitates business creation for people from refugee backgrounds who are keen to establish or expand a small business. Many recently arrived refugees face significant barriers to employment in Australia, in particular during the early stages of their settlement. The Ignite program is a viable alternative route to sustainable employment for new arrivals. Entrepreneurs are helped to overcome the challenges of starting a small business, and create income for themselves, their family and potentially, over time, employment for others.

Family Day Care Village Program Program empowers women from a refugee or migrant backgrounds to train for and own their own business while also accessing affordable housing. Newly arrived women face difficulties in accessing appropriate employment due to their family committments. This family day care program provides women with the skills and knowledge to develop their own family day care business which allows them to care for their own young children at the same time. Not only this, but the program provides them with a space to run their business as well as subsidised housing. The program has opened doors for many refugee and migrant women leading to sustainable employment.

Dress For Work is a free service that provides professional business attire to men who are unable to afford quality clothing. Having access to appropriate clothing helps people looking for work to make a good first impression for important appointments and job interviews.

Given the Chance assists marginalised job-seekers to find and sustain work in Australia. It is an initiative of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and supports local employers to grow and diversify their workforce, and foster social inclusion in workplace communities.