In an environment where industries and employers are facing skills shortages, AMES Australia has launched a social enterprise that matches understanding and agile employers with skilled refugees and migrants seeking roles that match their ability and ambition.
Formally launched by Victoria’s Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education The Hon. Gayle Tierney, ‘Settling Into Work’ (SIW) aims to help employers understand the unique expertise, resilience and value which new arrivals bring to the workplace that is forged through their refugee and migrant journeys.
The service also aims to support newly arrived migrants and refugees to overcome the considerable barriers they face in re-establishing professional careers in Australia.
For employers, SIW connects them with qualified, skilled and skilling candidates as well as offering a range of support, training tools and pathways for their wider workforces.
For migrant and refugee jobseekers, SIW offers tailored job search assistance, career guidance and post-placement support to ensure candidates are well-prepared to succeed in their new jobs.
AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said SIW was a game changer when it comes to employment outcomes for professionally qualified refugees and migrants.
“SIW is a genuine and calculated initiative to help match understanding and agile employers with newly arrived migrants and refugees starting their journey in the Australian workforce in roles and in organisations that match their ability and ambition,” Ms Scarth said.
“We’ve all heard the stories of migrant and refugee engineers, programmers and architects driving taxis. SIW is a response to this egregious waste of talent. It will provide benefits for individual migrant and refugees candidates but also for the broader Australian economy.
“And it’s a social enterprise certified Social Traders, so it’s here to make a difference, not just a profit,” Ms Scarth said.
Minister Tierney said: “We’re proud to support AMES and the critical work they do in delivering accredited and pre-accredited training opportunities for their community.”
“This work continues to make a positive difference to people across the state and has vital social, cultural and economic benefits to Victoria.”
Business improvement professional, Vishal Sharma had 15 years of experience in global telecommunications before arriving in Australia as a skilled migrant. He told the launch that receiving guidance and support about Australia’s job market workplace culture was crucial to him being able to re-establish his career in Australia.
“When I arrived in Australia I had a Plan A to work in my field of expertise and was told by peers who had migrated to be ready with Plan B – such as driving a taxi. I applied for about 150 jobs in the first few months,” Vishal said.
“When I connected with AMES through the Skilled Professional Migrant Program it gave me clarity and direction and led to me being able to find my first job in Australia, with AMES supporting me to stick with my Plan A. Since then I have progressed into more senior jobs,” he said.
Vishal was enthusiastic about Settling Into Work being the service that closes out the loop for those like him trying to access and integrate into the Australian workforce. “I urge employers to consider someone’s ability to understand your organisation, rather than the workplace environment’.
Learn more about Settling Into Work here