Working in Australia – Tips and advice for people looking for work – Spectrum media release
Practical advice for newly arrived migrants to help them understand their rights and responsibilities when entering the Australian workforce, this is the content of Working in Australia, the information session presented by the Refugee Action Program (RAP) Thursday 5th February from 4.40 to 6.30 pm.
“When people start looking for work in Australia for the first time, they often don’t realise how different the Australian working environment can be from what they are used to,” said Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre (MRC)’s RAP Coordinator, Mr. Jeremiah Temple who is also the facilitator of Working in Australia.
Not only all migrant workers are bilingual and bicultural, but they can also assist employers understand a different marketplace and tap into different networks.
“There is one simple message: you can’t just go on the internet and start looking for work because first you need your tax file number, a resume, referees, you must think about the translation and recognition of titles and diplomas. And these are just some of the steps involved. It is important to have the right expectation, to avoid frustration and disappointment,” explained Mr. Temple. The information session, tailored to newly arrived migrants and especially to asylum seekers, provides hands-on advice on how to get job-ready, as well as strategies and pathways to gain local experience. Part of Working in Australia is also devoted to the analysis of success stories, with the testimony of newly arrived migrants who share the technique they have used to secure employment. During the session, open to people from all backgrounds, there will be a Farsi interpreter available.
Thinking about real job opportunities for the newly arrived, Mr. Temple is optimist. He explained how the skills brought in by migrants can make a real difference when working with Australia’s multicultural population: “Not only all migrant workers are bilingual and bicultural, but they can also assist employers understand a different marketplace and tap into different networks. A win-win situation for someone, for example, wishing to attract customers from a particular community,” explained Mr. Temple.
Working in Australia is a workshop with an innovative approach, presented in collaboration with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and the Salvation Army. Working in Australia is funded by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (OMAC) through the Refugee Action Program.