Refugee or migrant women who are looking for job opportunities or want to build their skillset can now seek support as part of MercyCare’s recently launched SETS Innovation program.
Launched under MercyCare’s Settlement Engagement Transition Services (SETS) service, the SETS Innovation project is designed to provide refugee and migrant women who are resettling in WA with opportunities to envision their future and create goals to enter the workforce through skills development, undertaking training and work placements, or starting an enterprise.
Not only does the project work with the women to help them develop new skills, it also aims to show them how to repurpose skills from their home country, learn about Australian workplaces, build skills to apply for jobs, start their own small businesses and microenterprises, and place them in work experience roles in an Australian workplace.
“SETS Innovation is a great opportunity to provide additional support to women in their resettlement journey and start them on the pathway to employment,” MercyCare Senior Project Officer Jacqui Whelan said.
“It will give them the tools to envision their future, and create a plan, and we will work with them to implement the steps to reach their goal – big or small.”
The program has been designed for migrant and refugee women who arrived in Australia on a range of eligible visas, but mostly under humanitarian resettlement, who have been living in the country for less than five years and reside in Perth’s north metro area.
Those who take part in the program will be provided with tailored support based on their needs, family situation and future goals.
Support includes learning vocation-specific English through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), work experience in a workplace, support to set up a small business and workshops that help get women job-ready, as well as supporting women to look for employment.
Currently in its pilot stages, it is hoped that the project – which is funded until December by the Department of Home Affairs – will be a success and offer long term opportunities for women from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
For more information, contact Jacqui by emailing jwhelan@mercycare.com.au or calling 0408 051 976.
