Behzad 'Behz' Pourdarab is celebrating a career milestone that he never believed possible.
This month marks two years since he landed his dream job.
"I feel proud of myself. Despite many challenges. I am truly happy," said Pourdarab, 33.
He works as a functional designer in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for a large multinational company.
"Now I have enough income to support myself on my own without leaning on my family or friends to survive," he said.
It's a big turnaround for Pourdarab, who holds Australian technology qualifications and a construction diploma from Tehran. He arrived in 2013 as an asylum seeker from Iran.
Behz Pourdarab works as a functional designer in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for a large multinational company. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
"And until today, after 12 years, I still have nightmares about being on a boat in the middle of the ocean."
After a stint in detention, Pourdarab moved to Adelaide and found work in food delivery and taught swimming classes while reskilling.
"I applied for almost 100 jobs and when you do not hear back, you lose your confidence and you question your ability," he said.
"You can feel close to a breakdown when trying to look for a skilled role with no success."
Jahidullah Tokhi, an IT expert and refugee from Afghanistan, sent 50 applications before landing a job. Source: SBS / Sandra Fulloon
Bridging the skills gap
Pourdarab is not alone. The Australian Institute of Family Studies found only one quarter of refugees secure employment within the first two years.
What changed Pourdarab's life was meeting Carmen Garcia, the founder of an Adelaide-based employment service, Community Corporate. It connected him with an employer.
"As someone who didn't have a hope and was suffering and didn't know what to do, she [Carmen] picked me up and put me on a track to success," he said.
Behz Pourdarab with Community Corporate founder and CEO Carmen Garcia, who helped him connect with an employer. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
"And 91 per cent of those were from migrant or refugee backgrounds.
"The key to our success is we have an employer-led model. We listen to our employers, we understand what challenges they face."
Building on more than a decade of success, Garcia recently opened a new Skilled Migrant Job Support Centre to ramp up recruitment for in-demand sectors across the country.
With state government backing, Garcia aims to assist at least 120 skilled migrants in the first year, filling gaps for workers in sectors like ICT, engineering and health services.
"We see so many [skilled migrants] who have given up on any chance of financial independence," Garcia said.
"So this service is a one-stop shop that connects employers looking for talent and skilled migrants that have never known where to get started."
Carmen Garcia launched the new migrant job centre in April. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
"It was great to hear you [Carmen] speak up for us skilled migrants," he said.
"You said the things we all want to say: getting a skilled visa is not easy, and not having local experience is the number one reason employers say we don't win the jobs."
Among employers partnering with Community Corporate is a 900-outlet strong retail convenience chain On The Run (OTR).
OTR COO Mark Smith said: "Our commitment this year is to try and land at least 500 placements from Community Corporate into the workforce.
"Since 2019, we have taken on more than 230 people through our partnership with Community Corporate. The retention rate of 83 per cent last year is far higher than the usual application and interview process," he said.
"Our vision is to become Australia's number one convenience retailer so this year, we would like to hire many more candidates from Community Corporate."
Mark Smith is COO of the convenience retail group On the Run. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
'Discrimination and unconscious bias' in workplaces
Like OTR, many Australian employers are keen to "do the right thing" but Garcia said significant barriers persist.
"The prevalence of discrimination and unconscious bias, particularly in the workplace, is unfortunately still alive and well," she said.
Garcia said a lack of local experience remains the top reason skilled migrants do not get job interviews.
"We want to prove that experience from overseas absolutely adds value to companies in Australia," she said.
"Behz Pourdarab is typical of our many success stories. He is so motivated, resilient, and has a huge curiosity to learn.
"With training and contacts, many candidates like Behz go on to achieve their goals."
Pourdarab is thankful for the helping hand that has turned his life around.
"As someone who didn't have a hope and was suffering they picked me up and put me on the track to success," he said.
"Community Corporate trained me and that gave me confidence, which helped me to secure my first ICT role.
"Asylum seekers and refugees are not asking for a favour, just a chance," he said.
