Senator Anne Ruston Visits Sonder

Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston took time to visit Sonder and learn how we are supporting migrants and refugees into employment

Australia’s population is culturally and linguistically rich and has been re-shaped over many years by migrants. In 2015, approximately 28.2% of the population was born overseas. For migrants and refugees, employment is a crucial step towards successful settlement in Australia. Finding secure and stable employment enables economic security and a positive sense of identity in their new host country.

Sonder’s Employment Solutions (SES) program offers free services to support migrants and refugees to find meaningful employment to achieve economic security, experience feelings of belonging, and be empowered to fully participate in Australian society.

The program is supported by the Try, Test and Learn Fund — an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

On Friday 11 October, Senator Anne Ruston visted Sonder’s Edinburgh North site. The Minister heard from Sonder’s Employment Manager, Andrew Cenuich about the success of the SES program. Since the commencement of service delivery to clients in April this year, the program has supported 98 clients clients into 52 job placements.

To facilitate these placements, the SES team engaged in 651 face-to-face employer contacts with or on behalf of clients and 749 occasions of service.

During her visit, the Senator also had the opportunity to meet with some of the clients from the program and hear first-hand how the client’s Career Coaches and Wellbeing Coaches had provided invaluable support and guidance towards finding employment. The support provided to the clients included identifying potential jobs and career pathways, providing help with writing resumes and preparing for interviews whilst helping to manage their Centrelink and Job Service Providers.

Sonder Employment Solutions is a free program and getting involved is easy, learn more