Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

In recent years, refugee and asylum seeker (RAS) intake to Australia have increased. RAS face substantial barriers engaging with higher education, labour market, and local community. This paper explores engagement of the private sector, the challenges and positive outcomes experienced. Including Victoria University (VU) redefining new life opportunities through education. We outline the targeted responses that provide a life cycle response to ensure impactful interventions and approaches adopted by universities and organisations to promote the self-reliance and integration of RAS. Public and private sector partnerships have potential in developing innovative corporate social responsibility solutions. We review Australian research and policy development and argue that a collaborative approach is critical in achieving integration solutions. Literature on migration and settlement, inclusion in the workplace and academia, and the effect on social and economic participation is considered. We analyse the results and impact of over the corporates engaged by Settlement Services International (SSI) to deliver outcomes to clients; case studies from SSI’s Refugee Employment Support Program and Allianz’s Sustainable Employment partnership; VU’s response to RAS challenges by ensuring strong educational outcomes. Interventions include English language support, scholarships, housing, and community outreach. The literature and lived experience review identify refugees face disadvantage and discrimination, which plays a role in unsatisfactory employment outcomes in Australia. The University’s Character is shaped by its diversity and ambitions to access education in transforming lives; engagement between the NGO, academia, private sector on cultural diversity and inclusion is critical in addressing barriers for refugees through collaboration and person-centred approaches.