Many employers don’t value experience or qualifications gained overseas. Refugees with engineering, finance and senior management experience struggle to get accepted into even entry-level jobs.
Hiring practices can also raise unfair barriers. Many employers demand that candidates be citizens or permanent residents, rather than having the right to work in Australia.
It can also be hard to enter the workforce if you have no industry contacts or mentors to help you seek and apply for jobs, or if you cannot access childcare or other social supports for people who are dependent on you.
Finally, many people seeking asylum have their income support cut if they study, even if it’s to help them find work. This leaves them in a situation they cannot change.
Read three real-life accounts of trying to find work in Australia.