Refugee employment pilot
Information about our refugee employment pilot project that is set to start in October 2023.
Refugee employment pilot project
We recognise that former refugees bring a wealth of experience and skills with them when they resettle in New Zealand, however they can face barriers to securing employment that is meaningful and durable. In October 2023 we announced our refugee employment pilot in Palmerston North.
This pilot will support former refugees into employment that is meaningful and sustainable. The pilot will be tailored to support refugees to access employment and development opportunities relevant to their skills and aspirations. It will also be a way to engage with the private sector to reduce barriers to refugee employment.
Workbridge — Te Arawhiti mō Mahi, a nation-wide provider of employment services, will be implementing the Refugee Employment pilot. Workbridge — Te Arawhiti mō Mahi has a long history of mahi with both jobseekers and employers bringing them together to develop employment opportunities that are both durable and meaningful.
Workbridge — Te Arawhiti mō Mahi website
Opening date
Referrals are open now. Referrals to the service are made by government agencies and community organisations, such as:
- The Ministry of Social Development (MSD)
- The Ministry of Education
- Manawatū Chamber of Commerce
- Palmerston North City Council,
- and more.
Refugees who wish to access the services can also self-refer by emailing us.
Email: rs@workbridge.co.nz
Who can apply
The programme is open to:
- Quota refugees
- Convention refugees
- Refugee Family Support Category visa holders
- Community Organisation Sponsorship (CORS) visa holders, and
- Afghan Response and Afghan Interpreters.
Refugee employment pilot infographic
Text-only version of image
A new employment service for former refugees is now in Palmerston North
Here are some of the support services that may help you on your employment journey:
After arrival in New Zealand
You might have learned about the New Zealand job market before you arrived, or during an orientation through a service provider.
This can be a period of significant change and information overload.
MSD-funded employment
Pathways 2 Employment
Refugees who receive a benefit are eligible for the MSD-funded employment service which helps working age refugees prepare for employment, and matches job seekers with conversational English classes for a maximum of 6 months.
The first job
61% of working age refugees who arrived in 2018/2019 were receiving an unemployment-related benefit 1 year after arrival.
This number steadily decreased over time, to around 25% by year 5.
Where to from here
Once you are in employment, it can be hard to know where to go for career planning and development advice, networking, or to understand what opportunities are out there.
This can lead to feeling trapped in employment situations, and not knowing how to find alternative work that is secure, and meaningful.
Career planning and development
Workbridge will work with refugees to identify employment that is sustainable and meaningful, including:
- individualised career and development planning,
- a development fund to support refugees to remove some of the barriers to employment (for example driver licensing fees, training opportunities), and
- engagement with employers and the private sector to reduce stigma and remove barriers to employing refugees.