Employment pathways for newly arrived refugees

A newly announced partnership between Accenture and Australian Red Cross will support 200 recently arrived refugees in Western Australia with an opportunity to build the skills and confidence required to gain meaningful employment pathways.

WA businesses are facing an unprecedented labour shortage, exacerbated by extended border restrictions due to the pandemic. Many employers in the hospitality, agriculture, logistics and mining sectors cannot find workers, with Australian Bureau of Statistics data suggesting more than 65,000 positions need to be filled in WA.

Despite significant job demand levels, many refugees arriving in Australia struggle to find employment. Only 17% of refugees are in paid work 18 months after arrival, with a median income of only $31,000 after five years of being settled, compared with the national average of $60,000. Some of the barriers to stronger employment prospects include lack of work experience in Australia, industry knowledge, references and language.

Accenture and Australian Red Cross see a clear opportunity to help refugees build the skills they need to find meaningful employment pathways, while also assisting businesses across critical industries such as agriculture, hospitality and mining in filling their open roles.

The Red Cross Connect Match Support Program will leverage Accenture’s digital tools and resources to help refugees enhance their skills, provide job readiness support so they can develop CVs, increase their English language fluency and better prepare for interviews. The program will also provide career mentoring to address barriers to employment and enable active participation in the Australian economy and society. Accenture will provide professional mentoring, conduct mock interviews and host online training sessions to enhance the skill sets and confidence of refugees.

Scott Hahn, Senior Managing Director and Technology Lead for Accenture in Australia, said the program will empower individuals and make settling in Australia a less daunting experience.

“Accenture is pleased to be able to partner with Australian Red Cross to support refugees starting their new life in Australia. Setting up a new life in a foreign country and finding work can be difficult, especially with barriers like language and a lack of local work experience or references. We hope that this program will empower each person to enter the workforce successfully and make settling into Australian life easier, while also helping to solve the skills shortage crisis that a number of industries currently face.”

Red Cross Migration Support Programs Economic Participation Lead Shzan Plandowski said achieving meaningful economic participation is key to successful settlement.

“Meaningful economic participation is one of the most important aspects of a successful settlement journey for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. People with this kind of lived experience have an incredible amount to offer employers. They are resilient, industrious and keen to give back to the communities they now call home. We look forward to working with the Accenture team to assist our clients develop employment skills and to support them in achieving their employment and training goals.”

Through the program, which is co-funded through the Federal Department of Home Affairs, refugees will be offered employment pathway opportunities with a broad range of employers suited to their individual needs, potentially including Red Cross corporate sponsors, and Accenture.

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