Jobs program gives refugees the chance of a new life
The Brotherhood of St Laurence and ANZ are celebrating a 10 year partnership which has supported 170 people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds into paid job placements at ANZ.
Brotherhood Executive Director Tony Nicholson says Given the Chance is one of the organisation’s longest running and most effective employment programs, and the 10 year partnership with ANZ has yielded outstanding results.
"Almost all of those who have done work placements have gone on to gain employment at the bank. Ongoing employment has not only provided them with economic security, but has allowed them to overcome a major hurdle in settling into life in a new country, so different to the places from which they have come,” he said.
ANZ CEO, Shayne Elliott, has recognised the quality of the participants and how they thrive when given the opportunity.
“Since becoming CEO, I’ve visited many branches and, on being introduced to our best performing customer service staff, I noticed something consistent – many of these people were new to Australia and were part of the Given the Chance program. These people are doing terrific work and are proud to work at ANZ, and we’re proud to have them,” he said.
“It’s important for ANZ to build a workplace that reflects the diversity of our customers and the communities we operate in. It’s all part of our commitment to understanding our customers and their needs better than anyone else,” said Mr Elliott.
Eski is a refugee from Ethiopia, and could not find work for a year before joining the program. Read his story .
At the recent Migration and Settlement Awards, run by the Migration Council Australia, ANZ took out the business inclusion award, in recognition of the outstanding results achieved over the past 10 years of the Given the Chance program.
Find out more about Given the Chance at www.bsl.org.au/services/work-and-learning/given-the-chance/
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Brotherhood Communications 0499 300 982 or ANZ Media Relations 0400 556 287