Career Clinics for people from a refugee background

Deakin create careers clinics

Careers Clinics have been designed to help those from a refugee background to navigate and gain a greater understanding of the employment landscape in Australia.

The Careers Clinic program is based on a mentor-mentee program. The Mentor (someone with experience in the Australian employment landscape) and mentee (person from a refugee background) work together to explore pathways to meaningful employment for the mentee.

Who is eligible to attend? Anyone who has arrived in Australia as a refugee or seeking asylum. We will be running nine clinics for people in Victoria in 2020. Due to the current COVID-19 situation, for the foreseeable future these clinics will be run online.


Careers Clinics have been designed to help those from a refugee background to navigate and gain a greater understanding of the employment landscape in Australia. We work with people from a refugee background to identify career pathways; we give them the tools to build their networks as well as assisting in sourcing employment opportunities, to prepare job applications, resumes, cover letters, and responses to key selection criteria.

Our Careers Clinic program is based on a mentor-mentee program. The Mentor (someone with experience in the Australian employment landscape) and mentee (person from a refugee background) work together to explore pathways to meaningful employment for the mentee. Throughout the program at our weekly Zoom catch ups, we engage expert speakers to share their experience, knowledge, and tips as well as working with participants to educate employers on the benefits of hiring someone from a refugee background.

One thing to note is that we are not an employment agency; we are here to facilitate, educate, and support our participants to aid in the re-establishment of their livelihood by giving them the tools to apply for and hopefully be successful in securing meaningful employment.

Who will be running the Career Clinics?

Deakin University’s CREATE (centre for refugee employment, advocacy, training, and education) assists newly arrived refugees who may be highly qualified, committed, and keen to work but whose qualifications may not be recognised in Australia. We also work with individuals to access higher education opportunities if required.

Who is eligible to attend?

Anyone who has arrived in Australia as a refugee or seeking asylum. We have no restrictions on visa types, country of origin, or mode of arrival to get to Australia. However, we do request mentees are ready to enter the workforce, have a good level of English, have post-secondary qualifications, and possibly some relevant work experience.

Where/how are the careers clinics run?

We will be running nine clinics for people in Victoria in 2020. Due to the current COVID-19 situation, for the foreseeable future these clinics will be run online. Mentors and mentees will work together throughout the week on variety of activities. At the end each week, we will all come together for an hour-long Zoom catch up to discuss the progress of that week’s topic/activities. Please see page 3 for up and coming clinics.

How does the mentee/mentor model work?

Please complete the online form by clicking this link:

Deakin CREATE Careers Clinic Form-2020

After we receive your expression of interest, we will assess your suitability for the next careers clinic. Acceptance will also depend on the number of applications, at present we can only take 16-20 mentees and 8 mentors per program. We will match 2-3 mentees to one of the mentors. Mentees will get to meet their mentor online in week one and they will work together throughout the 7-week program to support the mentees in potentially finding employment. We do not guarantee that at the end of the 7-weeks mentees will have a job but if they apply themselves, attend all the clinics, and work with their mentor they will be much better informed about the employment landscape in Australia.

Does it cost?

There is no charge to attend the clinics. However, please ensure you have access to the appropriate technology to participate (e.g. internet connection, computer or smartphone).

How do I go about applying to attend a clinic?

1. Please speak to your referring agency, for example the ASRC, Diversitat, or the Salvation Army asylum seeker support service who can advise if you are eligible.
2. If they suggest you are eligible to apply please complete the expression of interest form: Deakin CREATE Careers Clinic Form -2020. In case of an error, please follow this link https://researchsurveys.deakin.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_38Z2SFtOOy7ln6d
3. The team at Deakin CREATE will advise your referring agency as to whether you have been successful in attaining a place at one of our clinics.
4. Please note, numbers are limited for each clinic so if you don’t make the first round please speak with your referring agency about applying for the next one.

Next Clinic

Week Zoom Catch Up- Wednesday Evening 6pm – 7pm
Week One 29/7
Week Two 5/8
Week Three 12/8
Week Four 19/8
Week Five 26/8
Week Six 2/9
Week Seven 9/9

Deakin CREATE will provide all materials.

For further information, please contact Luke Macaulay: l.macaulay@deakin.edu.au

 

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Career Clinics for people from a refugee background

 

 

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