Who We Help
Refugees
and Migrants
Young People
Women
Long Term
Unemployed
Age range of participants
19 – 60 years of age
Gender
males (47%) and females (53%)
Cultural backgrounds of participants
Brhane, a 26 year old Eritrean man, had been in Australia for one and a half years. Brhane had been underemployed for six months in Australia and through Community Corporate’s intervention services, he is now employed full-time as a Data Reporting Analyst in a Local Government Council in Queensland.
“It is a unique opportunity opened to me to grow and help others. This was the best experience so far I had in this country to work with the diverse group of people and help my community. My work with the Council opened many opportunities not just to me but also became a huge support to my family.
You guys at Community Corporate helped me not just to get this job, but to be appropriately trained and inducted so I can achieve my dreams. You believed in me, trained me and it strengthened my confidence. So, thank you!”
“Having a tough and unfair life is something everyone will want to overcome. For me, Community Corporate is the angel who believed in me, helped me to get rid of some disappointed thoughts from the past, encouraged me to get my confidence back and trained me to perform well in my new job.”
Naomi, Syrian
Industries
Hospitality
Care Sector (Aged and NDIS)
Construction
Agribusiness
Admin
Cleaning and House Keeping
Retail and Sales
Warehousing / Logistics
Results in Review
97.5% percent of refugees were unemployed or receiving welfare benefits prior to commencing the program
64% of refugees secured their first job in Australia through the program
On average, the retention rate at 26 weeks was 92%
On average, the retention rate at 52 weeks was 90%
98% of refugee participants reported increased knowledge and confidence through completing the program
100% of refugees felt the program was culturally appropriate to bridge the gap of working life in Australia
100% of refugees who were accepted into the program would recommend it to friends and family
100% of refugees reported increased confidence in speaking English after completing on-the-job work experience
The main employment barriers reported by refugees included:
- English language barriers
- Lack of local work experience
- No local references
- No local contacts
- Transport barriers
- Discrimination and racism in the labour market
- Lack of recognition of overseas qualifications
Karim, a 22 year old Syrian has been in Australia 3 years. Karim applied for hundreds of jobs with no response, but after only 5 months since he started his paid role, he was promoted to Acting Team Leader, and went on to win a state employee award as a shining star! He is now employed full time as Department Manager one year on.
“It is very important to me to improve my language and to get experience in Australia and also to save money for the future. I am so grateful for the opportunity from Community Corporate, coz it was after I did their training program, and met my work experience manager, that I started to believe – I may have found the start to life in Australia I was hoping for.”
“It was obvious from the beginning, Karim’s attitude, reliability and desire to learn and succeed would make him a huge asset in my team. I nominated him for my store’s employee Shining Star award, which he won, and went onto win the award for the group. He was then selected and he actually won the state award for February as well.”
Karim is just one of many shining examples of the amazing team members to come through this Woolworths Refugee Employment Program and our partnership with Community Corporate – he is the perfect example of how we can influence the conversation on refugees and showcase that they are in fact a real asset to this country and will help build Australia’s economic and social prosperity – said Panetelis Archontides, Woolworths Store Manager.
“The Woolworths refugee program is the best for new refugees who seek a work placement and to be part of the Australian community. I thank Woolworths for the opportunity to work and I can’t believe I now have three jobs in Woolworths Metro stores! I tell all my friends who need a job and can’t find one to apply for the refugee program because they will help you and believe in you.”
Sara, Afghani
Sara, is a 24 year old Afghani who has been in Australia for 7 years) Sara had applied for over 100 jobs in NSW before securing work with Woolworths through Community Corporate’s intervention services, she is now working over 30 hours per week since 2017, which enabled her to complete her studies at University of Western Sydney in Mathematical Science.
“It was only with the Woolworths Refugee Employment Program and the support of Community Corporate that opened the door, gave me relevant skills, built my confidence and believed in me that I got this job! I found a love of bakery and even though it was an hour and a half commute for me from Mt Druitt, to make my 5am starts this opportunity has been life changing and enabled me to have a sense of purpose to earn money and give back to Australia.”
Range of years participants had been living in Australia 6 months – 11 years
What our employers say
- 86% of employers reported satisfaction with participants’ punctuality and presentation
- 85% of employers rated participants‘ attitudes and desire to work as excellent
- 81% of employers rated participants’ ability to learn, follow instructions and
reliability as very good to excellent - 94% of employers reported satisfaction with the level of customisation and suitability of the program to meet their work force needs
- 86% of employers would recommend participants for a job
Services breakdown
Our Impact at a Glance
800+
Individuals supported and serviced
We had reach in: WA, NSW,
QLD, SA, VIC, ACT
75% of people we helped came from a refugee background
91% of people who completed our pre-employment and coaching support programs secured paid work
Annual average retention rate for refugee hires was 93% at 6 months, 89% at 12 months
We doubled income earnings for our participants on average
The highest candidate placement earned a salary at $120,000 per annum into a skilled business role
64% of refugees we supported into work were in Australia 5 years or less
97% of employers reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with our partner service offerings
Our return on investment was assessed at a rate of $4.20 for every $1 investment
Over 300 executives, line managers and on-the-job buddies, participated in cultural confidence training delivered by Community Corporate
Over 36 employers engaged with Community Corporate through hiring, corporate volunteering and community engagement initiatives
Community Corporate engaged with over 90 NGOS, employment service providers and community groups
Who We Helped
Diversity Cohorts
Nature of Job Outcomes
Unemployment Rates
Participants were unemployed when prior to engaging with Community Corporate
Were receiving income support payments from Centrelink
Were under-employed working casually
Participants secured their first job through Community Corporate
We supported people from over
47
different cultural backgrounds
Refugees we supported had arrived in Australia between 1 month and 23 years
Referral Sources
Word of Mouth / Alumni
Employment Service Providers
NGOs and Settlement Organisations
Other Misc
Economic Impact: Return on Investment for our Partners
Benefits for our Employer Partners
As a majority migrant nation, our employer partners have committed to building the workforce of the future that reflects the diverse communities they serve. By embracing a focus on refugees and migrants, they have unleashed human potential and created opportunities for all Australians, from all walks of life. Our retention rates reflect this with the annual average for refugee hires retaining work at 93% for 6 months, and after 12 months in employment some 89% remained employed.
97% of employers reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with our service offerings
Our Return on Investment was assessed at a rate of $4.20 for every $1 investment
Referral Sources
In FY2023 Community Corporate reported over 66% of income from commercial sales, evidencing a strong financially viable business model not reliant on government grants or philanthropy.
Low absenteeism rates among refugees and migrants sourced through our programs.
Increased access to a hidden pool of talent through a targeted location-based attraction strategy to fill genuine workforce needs.
Highly engaged and value-aligned workforce with strong retention results through ongoing off-the-job coaching and customised pre-employment training support.
Greater employer value proposition by activating a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility contributing to ESG credentials.
High conversion of hires into promotions and career advancement in the company’s they are originally placed in.
“They have this incredible desire to want to add value from the minute they step through the door. They have longer tenure with us and they’re just an absolute delight. For anyone who hasn’t taken the leap I would say don’t hesitate for a moment, just jump straight in…. particularly if you’ve got a partner like Community Corporate then you can’t go wrong.”
“Our experience at Woolworths Group has just been phenomenal. I think all of the refugees who are part of our team bring something extra. Many of them are highly qualified. They have incredible advocacy.”
Catherine Hunter General Manager Inclusion Woolworths Group
CASE STUDY Yuliia Woolworths Digital and Tech Cadet
Yuliia, a 33-year-old woman from Ukraine, who sought refuge in Australia in May 2022, along with her husband and their two school-aged children. Given the devastating realities of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Yuliia and her family made the difficult decision to leave their homeland, seeking safety and a more stable future.
In Ukraine, Yuliia earned her Master’s degree in Economic Cybernetics in 2011. Following this achievement, she embarked on her professional career at Raiffeisen Bank, working as a Junior Specialist from 2010 to 2012. She was promoted to the position of Chief Specialist in 2012 which she held until 2019, Yuliia not only upheld her exceptional reputation for customer service but also played a crucial part in the successful achievement of the bank’s set targets.
Motivated by a desire for change, Yuliia chose to redirect her career towards her passion for IT. From 2021 to 2022, she enrolled in a Full Stack Developer Bootcamp. She assumed developer roles in various projects, which included the creation of a website, development of a movie search and personal library application, design of an image search platform, and the development of a phonebook application. However, the escalating situation in Ukraine presented pressing concerns for her family’s safety resulting in the family seeking refuge in Australia.
Upon her arrival in Australia, Yuliia wasted no time pursuing her career and enrolled in an English course at TAFE. Alongside this, she undertook a Full Stack Developer Course, both to refresh her IT expertise and to gear up for potential IT opportunities in her new home. Yet, according to Yuliia, breaking into the Australian IT industry posed its own set of challenges, primarily due to her lack of local work experience.
Yuliia was referred to the Refugee Digital Cadetship by the Ukrainian Council of NSW. Through this program, Yuliia underwent pre-employment training with Community Corporate, which aimed to equip her for potential employers interested in honing her tech talents and enhancing her skills through a cadetship.
Yuliia expressed her enthusiasm about securing a place in the cadetship program, stating, “This cadetship is an incredible opportunity for me. It offers a fresh start in a new country, allowing me to grow personally and professionally. I’m wholly dedicated and eager to work with a team that prioritises both personal growth and positive impact. I’m keen to leverage my expertise and play a role in the company’s success.”
Yuliia completed her on the job cadetship with the Woolworths’ WIQ team. During her 6-month cadetship with Woolworths, Yuliia made notable strides in her professional development. She enhanced her coding abilities by undertaking complex projects and learning from experienced developers. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in product delivery and significantly contributed to her team’s successes.
This local experience allowed her to immerse herself in various areas, from project management to software development, and improved her teamwork skills. Moreover, her communication skills were refined, enhancing her interactions with colleagues.
“I deeply value the unwavering support from my team throughout these six months. The journey has been an invaluable learning curve, significantly enriching my skills.” “I’m excited about the journey ahead and look forward to the next chapter in my career with great enthusiasm!”
Yuliia was offered an ongoing permanent full-time role with the Woolworths’ WIQ team, as an Associate Engineer. Yuliia said “I am profoundly grateful to Community Corporate for setting the foundation of my IT career and unveiling new opportunities.”
Yuliia, Ukranian
CASE STUDY Natalia OTR SA
Natalia is very happy and grateful to be able to have gained a stable role with OTR, and at the same time is able to start planning and saving for her future in Australia. During a visit to Natalia at her store, she talked of her gratitude and pride she takes in her work, “Thank you so much for all your help and support, you have always made me feel like I can do it. I am very grateful to be part of the program and work at OTR.”
Natalia says “the program [New Beginnings] is really nice because it opened the doors for my work in Australia”.
Natalia, Brazilian
Natalia is a 35-year-old Brazilian woman who came to Australia with her husband in March 2023 on a Secondary Student Visa.
In Brazil, Natalia completed her Post Graduate Degree in Portuguese Language at the Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo in 2011. Natalia has over 5 years teaching experience in Brazil and was a Portuguese and English Teacher at Dom Macario Schmmit Education of Excellence. Working as an English teacher was her passion, and she would like to pursue her career as an English Teacher in Australia.
Natalia was unable to secure employment in Australia since arrival and then she was connected to Community Corporate for job support. She participated in the OTR New Beginnings program, as a stepping stone towards pursuing her interest and expertise in teaching and training, with a large national company that can offer career pathways.
After completing in the OTR New Beginnings Program, Natalia stated, “I love working at the OTR Drive-thru store. I am learning lots, meeting new people and getting experience. The team here are very helpful and the manager has been teaching me lots. I am having fun. I get to work the hours I can and OTR don’t mind about my Visa restrictions.” After completing the paid work trial placement at OTR South Plympton Drive-thru, Natalia was offered ongoing employment and is working an average of 20 hours per week. She actively encourages other new arrivals to Australia she meets to contact Community Corporate if they are looking for work.
