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
- Employer Partnership Program
- Professional Immigrant Association(s) partner network, and
- 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
- Build stronger, more diverse teams
- Enhance their leadership training for high-potential staff members
- Help their staff gain coaching experience both within and outside their organisation
- Find new and diverse sources of talent at a lower cost
- Achieve their community engagement and diversity & inclusion objectives
- 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:
- Build their association’s profile among newcomers, employers and key stakeholders
- Access tools, information and training resources on job seeking, resume writing, Australian workplace culture, interview pitfalls, etc.
- Access resources to help run their association and support their members
- Participate in networking and other events that can help their members become job-ready and connect with potential employers
- 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
- Represent their association and serve as an expert on immigrant employment at policy consultations and in the media
- 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
- Access to online hub of resources, information and business support services,
- Networking opportunities to connect with professional immigrant associations from their professional, cultural or linguistic background
- Networking opportunities with potential employers through jointly-held events, and
- 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.