Giving opportunity through employment

Arriving in a new country potentially knowing no one and not speaking the local language is a stark reality facing many refugees who come to Australia looking for a better life.

For some, finding work becomes an impossible task – qualifications from their home country may not be recognised and language barriers make face-to-face interviews even more difficult and nerve wracking.

“Asylum seekers and refugees come across with various skills which companies can use to grow.” - Ahmad

Over the past 12 years, ANZ has worked with the Brotherhood of St Laurence to recruit staff through the Given the Chance program - designed to assist marginalised job seekers into work and foster social benefit and inclusion in workplace communities.

For organisations seeking to grow and diversify their workforce, the program offers a strong support model for both employees and employers.

Brotherhood of St Laurence Recruitment & Field Officer, Ahmad Raza, came to Australia as an asylum seeker in late 1999. He says asylum seekers and refugees come across with various skills which companies can use to grow.

Ahmad is himself one of over 200 job seekers that have been provided opportunity at ANZ through the program.

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ANZ Credit Support Analyst, Valentina Olivero says she hopes her placement teaches Australians that refugees and asylum seekers can be responsible, reliable and financially intelligent enough to work in the banking industry in Australia.

Lucinda Tamburrino is Inclusion Australia Talent Manager at ANZ