Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello recently announced Skill ME, a pilot project which will help around 300 migrants and refugees each year to find employment in NSW.
Mr Dominello said the Baird Government had committed $450,000 over three years for the project, delivered in partnership by Multicultural NSW and Metro Assist, which will help new migrants to develop job skills and get their overseas qualifications recognised faster.
Member for Strathfield Charles Casuscelli and Liberal Candidate for Summer Hill Julie Passas joined Mr Dominello in making the announcement at Metro Assist in Ashfield.
“Each year NSW receives over one-third of all migrants arriving in Australia and Skill ME will help new migrants to maximise their existing skills and qualifications so they can be matched with job opportunities faster,” Mr Dominello said.
“Metro Assist, which specialises in settlement and family services, will help around 300 clients per year to get their qualifications recognised by appropriate industry associations and the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition.
“The initiative comes as a result of recommendations made during the NSW Government’s Roundtable on Diversity. During the consultations we found that a lack of ‘soft skills’ presented a major challenge for new migrants entering the job market.
“They include a lack of local knowledge, unfamiliarity with workplace culture, limited English proficiency and limited understanding of colloquial language.
“SkillME will address these challenges by mentoring around 300 migrants per year, helping them to learn about local work environments and expectations, training them in interview skills, and providing people with clothing suitable for job interviews and formal work.”
Mr Casuscelli said Metro Assist would work with employment services providers MTC Australia and Jobfind to promote clients’ skills through a workplace diversity program, targeting key shortages identified by the Commonwealth Government.
“I encourage jobseekers with overseas qualifications to contact Metro Assist in Ashfield to take advantage of the additional support services available through the Skill ME project.”
Ms Passas said SkillME had the support of TAFE OTEN’s Skilled Migration Internship Program in accounting, where migrant jobseekers from an accounting background can be helped to find internships and further training if required.
Metro Assist Chief Executive Officer Lou Bacchiella said the organisation had a wealth of experience in helping skilled migrants to secure employment.
“For example a refugee who had been orphaned during the conflict in Burma, was referred to us recently. After completing Year 10, he was interested in pursuing employment in the transport and logistics industry.
“Metro Assist was able to help him secure a job at a logistics business in the Port Botany, where he has been employed for over 12 months.
“Our staff also arranged for him to receive subsidised driving lessons. This led to him obtaining a driver’s license, making it easier for him to travel to and from work, where he works variable shift hours.”
For further information about the Skilled ME pilot project please contact Lou Bacchiella at Metro Assist on 0411 133 039 or lou.bacchiella@metroassist.org.au.
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