CareerSeekers

Since 2015 we’ve used the terms “refugee” and “asylum seeker” to describe our participants. We now realise this hasn’t fully respected who they are or the value they bring. In using these terms, we didn’t always put our participants at the centre; instead we risked defining them by their refugee status. Moving forward, we are committed to using language that celebrates each person’s identify, resilience and talent, while also educating and collaborating with our employment partners. To all our participants and our broader community, we see you, we hear you and we are dedicated to honouring the unique journeys each of you bring. CareerSeekers is determined to learn and grow. Our mission continues, with respect and inclusion at the heart of it all. #Inclusion #Empowerment #Diversity #IdentityMatters #RespectfulLanguage #CommunitySupport #ResilienceJourney #CelebrateTalent #CollaborationForChange #CareerSeekers #InclusiveLanguage #Empowerment #RefugeeBackground #StrengthInDiversity

🌟 Brisbane & Melbourne Kick-Off: Empowering Growth and Connections! 🌟 A couple of weeks ago, we hosted our Brisbane and Melbourne Kick-Off, marking an exciting new chapter for our latest cohort of talented students as they prepare for their 12-week internships! 🙌 Here’s what made the days so special: 🔹 Guest insights from Brisbane alumni: A huge thank you to Frank Kabalu and Jawed Sarwary for sharing your invaluable experiences and advice. In Melbourne, returning students shared their own insights and experiences, providing inspiration and practical tips to their peers. 🔹 Building confidence and communication: Our teams focused the conversations on instilling confidence, knowing their worth, effective communication, navigating the workplace, and building professional relationships. 🔹 Strengthening connections: Each event provided a unique environment for connection. In Brisbane, the intimate setting allowed for meaningful discussions, while Melbourne’s larger gathering fostered energy and a sense of shared purpose among the students. Special shoutout to our amazing team members -  Dung Tran, Jessica Lay, Kati Regan, Laalanne Rind and Rooz Shakeri - for facilitating these connections and making the events a success. Many thanks to Madison Bailey from Ashurst and Cameron Yorke from RMIT University who graciously provided the space for our events and have been steadfast supporters of our participants and mission. Your belief in the power of these opportunities means the world to us. We’re excited to see how this internship journey unfolds in the coming weeks, as our participants step into their host teams ready to learn, grow, and contribute. This structured learning opportunity not only allows students to develop professionally but also enables workplaces to benefit from their unique perspectives and dedication. #CareerSeekers #InternshipJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #WorkplaceInclusion #CareerDevelopment #DEI #HumanitarianEntrants #SocialImpact

🌟 Kick-off Day: A Celebration of New Beginnings and Professional Growth! 🌟 On the weekend we held our Sydney Kick-off officially launching our latest cohort of talented students as they prepare for their 12-week internships! 🙌 This special day was filled with energy, excitement, and connection, as our participants—taking time off from their studies to focus on their professional journey—came together to learn, share, and grow. 🔹 Returning student insights: It was inspiring to see our returning students lead discussions, sharing their invaluable experiences and advice. Our new interns had the chance to ask questions, gain perspective, and learn from those who have walked this path before them. 🔹 Training sessions: With a focus on workplace communication, networking, and making the most of internship opportunities, the participants received expert-led guidance to ensure they step into their internships with confidence and preparedness. 🔹 Building connections: The energy in the room was palpable—witnessing the enthusiasm, nerves, and motivation of our participants reminded us why this work matters. It’s not just about the internships; it’s about creating meaningful connections and genuine growth. A big thank you to Stephen Tanoni and Fiona Versey from University of Technology Sydney for generously providing us with the space to bring this event to life. We’re also deeply grateful to the employer partners who are hosting our participants and helping them take this exciting next step in their careers. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes our participants and the impact they’ll have on their teams over the next 12 weeks. Here's to new beginnings! #CareerSeekers #InternshipJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #WorkplaceInclusion #CareerDevelopment #DEI #HumanitarianEntrants #SocialImpact

🌟It was an honour to be part of a powerful Macquarie Group Foundation Week event last week focussed on human rights and the strengths of people from refugee backgrounds in Australia. A huge thank you to Natascha Woolliams, Tanya Sara Saddhasena, Liam Pattison, and Sophia Katsinas for your passion and hard work in hosting this event. Representing CareerSeekers alongside other giants of our sector (Australia for UNHCR, Human Rights Watch, and SSI), our brilliant board member and alumni, Chantal Mousad, highlighted the immense skills and potential people with refugee backgrounds bring to the workforce, with the ability to contribute $9 billion to the Australian economy. The dignity of work is a human right for everyone, and we’re proud to deliver REAL impact through our paid internship program, thanks to the collaborative efforts of our employment and philanthropic partners. Together, we are setting new standards for diversity and inclusion as well as uplifting refugee participation within their organisations. https://lnkd.in/gXYzMEBv 🚀 EMPLOYERS - ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR MISSION?  Take the next step toward building a more diverse, innovative workforce by partnering with CareerSeekers. You will take a hands-on approach to building meaningful careers and enhancing your team’s capabilities while contributing to Australia’s economic and social progress. Please reach out to anne.shimada@cs.org.au to get started. Daniela Gavshon, Anyier Yuol, Naushin Khan, Anne Shimada #RefugeeSupport #DiversityAndInclusion #CareerSeekers #MacquarieGroupFoundation #HumanRights #CommunityImpact

Exciting news! 🎉 CareerSeekers has officially kicked off the Engineering Pathway Industry Cadetship (EPIC) Program work readiness training. We’re proud to have been appointed by the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) to deliver a three-day training session and support 15 EPIC cadets throughout the first three months of their cadetship. A big thank you to Angela Brown, Joel Teague, and Eva Tsurlis from LXRP for their support. 🙌 Special thanks to guest speakers John Cilia, Mel Alessandrini, Rene Nogueira, and Rebecca Dickson for sharing their invaluable insights into the Australian construction industry and their inspiring career journeys. We are thrilled to be part of this program and look forward to supporting the cadets on their career paths! #Socialimpact #EPIC #Diversity #WorkReadiness #LXRP

 🎉 Celebrating a long-term partnership that makes a real difference! 🎉 Since 2017, CareerSeekers has collaborated with CPB Contractors to provide meaningful internship opportunities for the next generation of professionals. Over the years, this partnership has empowered 92 talented interns from refugee backgrounds to gain hands-on experience, develop new skills, and make impactful contributions to the Australian construction industry. Thank you to the many many CPB Contractors staff who have embraced our interns. Special thanks to Sharon Gray, Sarah O'Neill Andrew Nolan, and Corey Hannett. We are proud of all our interns including Stakeholder and Community Relations Coordinator, Hamidullah Hussainzada. Check out his story below.

We are excited to share that for the second time CareerSeekers has been awarded a 2024 Inclusive Employment Grant from Westpac Group ! This support strengthens our commitment to connecting people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds with meaningful professional opportunities, while fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces across Australia, and underscores Westpac’s ongoing commitment to CareerSeekers. A big thank you to Westpac Group for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Together, we’re building pathways that benefit individuals and businesses alike, driving positive change for a more inclusive future. Learn more about this grant here 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/gYv5b4W8 #InclusiveEmployment #DiversityMatters #CareerSeekers #WestpacFoundation #CreatingOpportunities #RefugeeEmployment

Congratulations Feraidon! Thank you to Alex Cockerton, Laurell McLean, and Loes Westerbeek-Veld for facilitating Feraidon's internship with Ventia and recognising his talents and expertise. ❤️ It means the world to us and also to Feraidon Salaatin when he passionately shared with us that "a first job for a refugee is not just a job but a ray of hope to continue".

Celebrating the skills and talents of people with refugee backgrounds 💫 Join us in congratulating Tenzin Phakdon as she secures a professional role with Ventia, Australia’s largest essential services provider. With her overseas training as a clinical respiratory therapist specialising in public health, Tenzin brings a wealth of expertise to Australia, particularly in critical care management and large-scale public health initiatives. During her 12-week CareerSeekers internship at Ventia Facilities, supporting the public-private partnership at Royal North Shore Hospital, she demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication. Last week, Tenzin (second from the left) delivered a standout end-of-internship presentation to the Facilities Management Team. Her leaders and peers describe her as flexible, curious, and always willing to go above and beyond! Thank you Ventia for enabling pathways for recent humanitarian arrivals to restart their professional careers in Australia. A big thank you to Ashley Ubrihien, Matthew Lancaster, Rose Mazar, Sami Koussa, and the entire team for supporting Tenzin throughout her internship and beyond. Special thanks to Loes Westerbeek-Veld and Ruvina Dissanayake at Skout Solutions for their invaluable support in making Tenzin’s achievements possible! #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #inclusion #socialimpact

 🌟A Journey Worth Celebrating! 🌟 We were so proud last week to witness the remarkable achievements of jawed Rahimi, a mid-career participant from Brisbane, who recently completed his 3.5-month internship with John Holland’s Activate Alliance team, contributing to the planning, design, and costing of a major bid. Jawed’s story is nothing short of inspiring. Having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in Afghanistan and working for 6 years as a project manager building military bases for the US Army Corp in Afghanistan, he arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2021 with his wife. Despite facing countless challenges, including a lack of local experience and limited English proficiency, his unwavering passion for engineering never faltered. Through persistence, resilience, and with the support of the CareerSeekers program, Jawed’s determination led him to join the talented Activate Alliance team. He has learned how to apply Queensland and Australian construction standards and guidelines, honed his communication skills, and expanded his professional network. From working across a range of civil works (incl. earthworks, drainage, retaining walls, and fencing) to mastering GIS markups and Blue Beam, Jawed has made a terrific contribution to the team in a short period. His future is just as bright! Jawed dreams of furthering his education with a Master’s and Ph.D. and continuing to shape the engineering landscape of Queensland, Australia, and the world! A big thanks to Tanja Ercegovac, Sevan Simonian, Zac Blavius, Christopher Chant, and Andrew McDougall for supporting Jawed on his internship. We wish the Activate Alliance all the best with the bid, winning it would provide Jawed the opportunity to continue his learning journey with the incredible mentors he's met over the last few months. Congratulations, Jawed – your dedication and drive are truly inspiring! #CareerSeekers #JohnHolland #CivilEngineering #RefugeeSuccess #ActivateAlliance #EngineeringDreams #Inspiration