Heikma jumps hurdles as leadership calls

Heikma Siraj, a trainee administration officer at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, has been selected to participate in a national leadership program in Canberra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gP2VvdFk5k

"I was very happy when I was nominated, it feels great," says Heikma in a short Brotherhood video .

Heikma works with a Brotherhood program that helps asylum seekers who have work rights into employment.

The program, Given the Chance for Asylum Seekers, has helped 155 asylum seekers into work in the past two years.

Heikma, from Ethiopia, was an asylum seeker herself before gaining her Australian residency in 2014.

The leadership program is run by Group Training Australia, which represents training organisations that employ trainees and apprentices.

It will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport from August 16–21.

You can learn more about Given the Chance for Asylum Seekers, as well as hearing Heikma's story, in the above video »

If you are an asylum seeker with work rights and are looking for employment or training, or if you are an employer who would like to find out more, email gtc(at)bsl.org.au .

Or visit the Given the Chance website: giventhechance.bsl.org.au

Heikma jumps hurdles as leadership calls

13 August 2015

Heikma Siraj, a trainee administration officer at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, has been selected to participate in a national leadership program in Canberra.