How Deakin and the Hansen Little Foundation are transforming refugee employment
promotional article for Deakin University
Jaymie Hooper
Despite their existing skills and qualifications, refugees arriving in Australia are often relegated to basic, entry-level jobs rather than roles better suited to their personal experience and expertise.
Due to workplace discrimination and complex educational pathways, it can be difficult for refugees and asylum seekers to realize their potential; but this is something Deakin University’s Center for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Education and Training (CREATE) has been trying to change for the last seven years.
Founded in 2019, CREATE is an award-winning research center that helps displaced professionals and students rebuild their careers through meaningful employment and education.
Arya left Iran with her family to seek refuge in Australia when she was only 16 years old. While he dreamed of graduating high school and going to college, he found the cost of higher education too prohibitive.
This desire to learn eventually led Arya to CREATE, a connection that transformed her professional trajectory. Thanks to the program’s personalized mentorship-employment model, Arya was able to complete his bachelor’s degree in commerce and then his MBA.
Today he works full time at a private equity firm. Arya’s sister Ava followed in her footsteps, attending CREATE career clinics and now working as an environmental sustainability specialist.
“Not only does this program enable people to unlock their potential through work readiness opportunities, it also gives participants confidence, professional networks and a clear sense of direction,” says CREATE director Dr Karen Dunwoodie.
“When our participants arrive in Australia, their previous professional career paths are often blocked off and they are forced to take on low-skilled work that does not use them to their full potential,” he adds.
By offering a range of practical resources, scholarships and career clinics, CREATE has helped almost 1,000 participants access education, expand their networks and translate their skills into relevant employment.
Investing in a resilient economy
These stories of resilience not only highlight what can happen when systemic bias is replaced by ongoing, personalized support, but they also highlight the need for programs like CREATE to continue.
Despite successful collaborations with government and non-governmental organisations, CREATE also relies on donations and research grants in addition to matching investment from Deakin University. This makes partnerships with philanthropic groups such as the Hansen Little Foundation vital.
In fact, the Hansen Little Foundation recently announced it will invest $432,000 to help expand CREATE’s career clinic offerings. Free, eight-week clinics connect qualified refugees and asylum seekers with professional mentors; Approximately 70 percent of participants move on to stable employment or additional training within six months of completing the program.
Supported by the Hansen Little Foundation, CREATE will open nine clinics over the next three years, providing support to a further 150 people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds across Victoria.
“We support a stronger, more inclusive workforce by investing in people who are motivated to develop their skills and careers,” says Paul Little AO, co-founder of the Hansen Little Foundation.
“This program benefits not only the individuals who participate, but also Victoria’s wider workforce,” he adds.
“By equipping people with skills and support, we help create a stronger, more resilient economy.”
While Australia faces an ongoing skills shortage, collaborations such as those between the Hansen Little Foundation and Deakin University enable qualified refugees to highlight their unique perspectives and talents, benefiting both participants and the wider Victorian community.
“This partnership will allow CREATE to significantly expand its reach at a time when demand for our services continues to grow,” says Dunwoodie.
Jane Hansen AO, co-founder of the Hansen Little Foundation, agrees. “The program has shown that when young people and newcomer communities are given the right support, they can achieve remarkable things,” he says.
“We are proud to help more CREATE participants take their next steps with confidence.”
You can find more information at: together.deakin.edu.au/giving-through-deakin/areas-to-support/create/
