More refugees and asylum seekers will be offered free or subsidised training to help them gain meaningful employment thanks to collaboration between the state government and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Footscray.
Skills and TAFE Minister Gayle Tierney on Tuesday 28 October announced that the ASRC would benefit from a $3 million investment in the Asylum Seeker VET program, which provides access to skills and training for people who have been forced to flee their home countries.
In the last year, the Asylum Seeker VET program has supported more than 950 asylum seekers to study at TAFE, with childcare, community and disability services, and nursing and allied health courses proving the most popular.
At the same time, the ASRC has been running its own version of the program, helping more than 250 refugees and asylum seekers to enrol in courses at a TAFE, university or training provider.
The investment will bring both together, allowing the ASRC to continue its work through the Asylum Seeker VET program and offer more wrap-around support and follow-up services.
Ms Tierney said the Asylum Seeker VET program helped more than just those who enrolled.
“This training is creating employment opportunities in areas where we know we have a high demand for skilled workers – like childcare, aged care and nursing,” Ms Tierney said.
Footscray MP Katie Hall said bringing the ASRC into the Asylum Seeker VET program would be particularly beneficial to her constituents.
“We’re proud to support this program and the ASRC, because it gives people in our local community the chance to build new skills, find meaningful work and contribute to the vibrant, diverse inner west we’re so proud of,“ Ms Hall said.
Founder chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM, thanked the government for its support and said the benefits would be long lasting.
“You have forever positively changed the lives of hundreds of refugee families by breaking the cycle of poverty, marginalisation and exclusion and championing social cohesion, inclusion and our multiculturalism.”
To learn more about the Asylum Seeker VET program, visit www.vic.gov.au/asylum-seeker-vet-program.
