Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, today announced the Albanese Government’s $7.5m commitment to Victorian social enterprises that provide pathways to employment for refugees.
The Government’s Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration grant program will deliver much needed financial security to eight social enterprises that deliver employment opportunities for refugees and humanitarian entrants, like Space2b in Melbourne’s south-east.
In St Kilda today for the announcement, Minister Giles visited Space2b, which has provided secure employment for 95% of its refugee participants over the last 5 years, including through its on-site café, Flavours of Syria.
In line with the Government’s commitment to providing certainty to all Australians, this announcement will enable vulnerable members of the community to continue their lives with financial security while helping to foster social connections between refugees and their local communities, an official press release said.
“This program will ensure that we are able to harness the potential of our diverse community, whilst also helping to address acute skills shortages being felt across the country right now,” Giles said.
“These grants will enable innovative organisations to provide tangible pathways and opportunities for meaningful employment and enterprise. This will alleviate anxiety and reliance on welfare in the short term whilst maximising economic contribution to Australia in the medium to long term,” said Huy Truong, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Thrive Refugee Enterprise, Refugee and Migrant Settlement Advisory Council Member.
For more information on the EPRI grant program, click here
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