Two years ago, Areej Fatima migrated to Australia on a skilled migrant visa.<\/p>\n
She arrived with a master’s degree in science and a background in teaching and administration, but finding employment has not been easy.<\/p>\n
“I was fortunate enough to get a job last year, but it was a casual job [not in her field]\u2014 so there still is a long way to go,” Ms Fatima said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite her experience, Areej Fatima has struggled to find full-time employment in Australia. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
With aspirations to work full time, Ms Fatima said the struggle had been demoralising.<\/p>\n
“It’s quite demotivating when you’re not getting jobs, and [when] you are not getting the right job you are aiming for,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Wherever you go, they’ll ask for experience and I didn’t have any experience from Australia.<\/p>\n
“I had to start from scratch.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Upon finishing the course, participants will have the skills to seek employment or look at further study. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
This year Ms Fatima took part in the Dream Again Mentoring Program \u2014 an initiative by non-for-profit organisation Be Hers Foundation, delivered in partnership with TasTAFE.<\/p>\n
Tailored for women from diverse backgrounds, the 14-week program provides accredited training in two employment pathway options: sewing and retail cosmetics.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The program aims to support women from migrant and refugee backgrounds in finding employment pathways. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
Overseas qualifications not recognised<\/p>\n
Ally Levinson, the general manager of Be Hers Foundation, said many women from diverse backgrounds were either unemployed or “underemployed” \u2014 meaning they were working “survival jobs” that did not utilise their expertise or passions.<\/p>\n
“A lot of our participants come from highly skilled backgrounds,” Ms Levinson said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got midwives, nurses, people that have masters [degrees] in so many different skill sets, yet they’re unable to get a job because of the lack of the recognised qualifications in Australia, and also the lack of work experience.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ally Levinson says migrant and refugee women often work “survival jobs” unrelated to their expertise or passions. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
“We look at how we can help those women to diversify their skill set and have those opportunities for financial independence moving forward.”<\/p>\n
TasTAFE teacher and program mentor Nikola Colls said the Dream Again program helped to reduce barriers to employment.<\/p>\n
“It is really targeted [to] a group of women who otherwise miss out on a lot of these opportunities” Ms Colls said.<\/p>\n
Nikola Colls says the program provides women with valuable skills. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
“It’s created as something specifically for them to feel safe enough to give things a go.<\/p>\n
“I’m really excited to show them all the possibilities of where they can go with those skills \u2014 whether it’s seeking employment, being self-employed, or looking at further study.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ms Colls trains participants in sewing and retail cosmetics. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
Participants spend weekly sessions creating products and developing skills such as customer service and managing cash flow.<\/p>\n
Ms Fatima said the experience had been helpful for her retail work.<\/p>\n
“Whatever we are learning, I can relate it to what I’m doing at my work,” she said.<\/p>\n
Gender disparity in the workforce<\/p>\n
The study found less than 50 per cent of CALD women were employed. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
A 2023 report found Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women had a lower rate of workforce participation than their male counterparts.<\/p>\n