CREATE – Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education

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Since 1945 Australia has accepted over 800,000 refugees for resettlement [1]. With such a large number of displaced people in our history, Deakin’s Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education (CREATE) is committed to creating positive outcomes for the refugee community by establishing best practice for how we can support them in re-establishing their livelihoods and fulfilling their potential.

The Centre, a first-of-its-kind, was established by Deakin Professor Alex Newman and Research Fellow Dr Karen Dunwoodie with the bold vision of leading the world in refugee advocacy and creating practical solutions for people from a refugee background integrate back into the workforce or access vocational and higher education.

“Finding work is one of the highest priorities for refugees in Australia and unfortunately many employers do not value work experience or qualifications gained in homeland countries,” explained CREATE Director, Professor Newman.

“People who are highly qualified, committed and keen to work are not given the opportunity to do so because many organisations assume hiring refugees is fraught with challenges,”

“There is a lack of understanding around the working rights attached to different visas and typically people from a refugee background are forced into minimum wage ‘survivor’ jobs that leave them feeling socially isolated” he said.

Generous philanthropic support ensures CREATE can continue its vital work in advocacy, working with government bodies and policy-makers to reduce the barriers faced by refugees in obtaining employment and deliver research-driven training and workshops to bring about positive change in this space.

 

CREATE Pilot Careers Clinic Team

Success Story – Sharnaz

Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce, Sharnaz was struggling to find employment in Australia. For a few hours a week she worked with a food delivery company but was only making enough money to pay her rent at a women’s hostel.

A referral from the Red Cross led Sharnaz to CREATE’s Careers Clinic where mentors were able to connect her with employers who understood the benefits of hiring people with diverse backgrounds and the rights attached to her bridging visa.

Supported in her search for meaningful employment, Sharnaz was soon offered a position as a disability support worker at a leading University.

*Name has been changed to protect her identity.