Deakin University, Australia

The Deakin Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education

The Deakin Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education (CREATE), was established in 2019 to help people from a refugee background rebuild their careers through access to education and meaningful employment. CREATE develops research-based practical solutions to support refugees, including running career clinics and online courses, and developing information guides and interactive workbooks. 

In such initiatives Deakin CREATE works collaboratively with partners such as the Refugee Council of Australia, vocational and higher education institutions, social enterprises, and refugee support agencies. All the materials it creates are provided to partners free-of-charge. 

In 2019 CREATE obtained philanthropic funding to run career clinics for 450 people from a refugee background over a three year period. Out of the participants completing the career clinics in 2020, over 60 percent found meaningful employment. CREATE’s flagship guide for employers looking to employ individuals from refugee backgrounds, is currently being utilised by over 30 community sector organisations.

What the Judges Thought

With little funding, but with impressive leadership, this project's employment benefits are impressive and show clear impact. Truly fitting with the spirit of the Award, it is scalable and replicable. 

Top 3 Learnings

1. It is important to engage with corporates to foster pathways to employment for refugees.
2. The provision of mentoring supports the transition of refugees into meaningful employment.
3. In program and material design it is important to take refugees’ lived experiences into account.