Asylum seekers and refugees are finding a foot in the workplace door thanks to a successful mentoring program running in Footscray.
The first round of participants this month graduated from an Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Innovation Hub program which links jobseekers with mentors in their professional fields.
The Working Online Refugee Connections program aims to help the many asylum seekers who arrive in Australia with years of expertise in a profession but without the professional connections to land a suitable job.
Menghestab, a high-level health educator from Eritrea, says he has now found work in the disability sector thanks to the program.
“At the very beginning it was very difficult. You need to have your strategy,” he said.
Menghestab said his mentor was very patient, understanding the stresses he was under regarding his status in Australia as an asylum seeker.
“She came to understand my problems and explain Australian concepts. She became not only a mentor for my career but for my life.”
Program co-ordinator Dona Cayetana said the 18-month-old program helped with long-term career planning and gaining job- seeking skills specific to professions and networking.
“Mentors provide a bridge to employment opportunities for our members.”
Ms Cayetana said there had been 30 successful matches so far in fields as diverse as archaeology, medicine, cinematography and architecture.
