Congratulations to 5 Global Skills participants who, after completing the Woolworths Refugee Employment Program in July last year, have now reached their 6-month employment milestone.

The program, a partnership between Woolworths Group and Community Corporate, provides pre-employment training and employment opportunities to help refugees transition into the workforce. On completion, all participants secured roles at the Woolworths Moorebank National Distribution Centre and have successfully settled into their roles.

We recently caught up with Barbara, 32, who completed the program and secured a full-time pick packer role. She is “happy to be a team member in a great company like Woolworths.” 

Barbara joined Global Skills Fairfield in July 2023, after arriving in Australia as a refugee from Iraq less than a year earlier. She shared, “I have been in Australia for two and a half years. I had limited English when I came. When I arrived in Australia, I had a case manager who helped me enrol in an English course at TAFE. I trained and listened carefully because I wanted to learn the language. It was so hard at the beginning. Then I was connected with Global Skills and my consultant Anita helped me a lot. She was very nice and explained everything very clearly.

“Anita helped me to study at Navitas*, she then told me about this training program. She helped me find the location for the first meeting and for the three days of training in Yennora. Anita was always helping me with emails and things. If I didn’t understand something, I asked her, and she explained it to me. She was always happy to help. She even showed me how to use the travel apps on my phone. When I was accepted into the program, Global Skills provided the PPE I needed to do the training and start work, including safety shoes. They also helped me with petrol.

“It was hard for me when I came to Australia, not knowing what I would do in the future, but now I know. I am not worried anymore. I like my work, and I can buy what I need. Going to work has also really helped me with my English skills. 

“I always try to support my friends who are new to Australia to find work because I know it makes everything easier.

Congratulations to all participants and a special thank you to Barbara for sharing your story.

*Navitas Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program provides support and training in language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills.