Employment Assistance

MRC Tas Employment Assistance is committed to multicultural community members becoming job-ready and establishing careers in Tasmania.

Multicultural community members can join the Migrant Network, Career Coaching group, work experience shifts with our social enterprise, Women’s Conversation Club, Driving Program and Migrants into Small Business to support employment goals.

Humanitarian entrants during their initial 5 years of settlement can access individual support for employment pathways, participate in targeted skills groups and language supported workshops in addition to the opportunities for the wider multicultural community.

State-sponsored visa holders are invited to use the online information from the Industry Insights and Migrant Talent project currently underway for one cohort.

For more information
People from a migrant or refugee background are invited to discuss employment with us on 03 6221 0999. Phone 131 450 for an interpreter.

You can also email settlement@mrctas.org.au. Practice the email skills you’d use with an employer.

Appointments for eligible clients are delivered by phone, in our office in Glenorchy or video call.


Migrant Network Tasmania

Establishing or transitioning a career is hard work, that’s why we do career development together!

Migrant Network members take turns doing an internship and hosting a Meet Up each month in the Glenorchy office. You can expect guest speakers, networking, and career stories from established migrants.

And no matter where you live, the Migrant Network website has information for job seeking, career tips, industry information, and stories generously shared from fellow migrants so that we can learn from their experiences.

Ways of connecting with the network:


Career Coaching

Are you actively applying for positions? You’re invited to join Career Coaching for information and support. The weekly group is facilitated by an expert occupational therapist from the employment service industry. Each participant is invited to share or raise a question – this is how we learn together.

What you can do at Career Coaching:

  • Ask for feedback on your job search approach, resume or application
  • Discuss cultural norms and understanding employers
  • Practice interviews and sharpen your networking skills

Registration essential at the event calendar.


Migrants into Small Business

Are you thinking about starting a small business? Or maybe you have started trading and need help? If you would like help to navigate the information and support available, let’s talk it over!

Next steps:

  • Tick small business when subscribing to Migrant Network updates to be invited to relevant workshops
  • Explore the Small Business resources on the Migrant Network website
  • Talk it over with a Settlement Team member on 03 6221 0999.

Work Experience in the MRC Tas ‘Kitchen’

Are you applying for jobs in the hospitality industry? Would some work experience and a reference help your resume and interviews?

The MRC Tas kitchen is managed by a professional Food Manager and hosts work experience three days a week.

Interested?

  • Phone the Settlement Team on 03 6221 0999 to schedule an initial meeting
  • A ‘taster’ shift and 20 hours of work experience followed by a review
  • A work reference if your performance can be recommended to an employer

Humanitarian entrants

During the first 5 years of settlement humanitarian entrants are invited to use individual employment support sessions of the Settlement Engagement Transition Support (SETS) program funded by Department of Home Affairs.

To arrange a SETS employment support session:

  • Phone the Settlement Team on 03 6221 0999. Call 131 450 first if you need an interpreter.
  • Visit the office to arrange an appointment
  • Email settlement@mrctas.org.au 

If you arrived more than 5 years ago as a humanitarian entrant you are no longer eligible for SETS.

We can help you link to other programs to support your employment goals such as:

  • Migrant Network
  • Career Coaching
  • Kitchen work experience
  • Driving Program
  • Migrants into Small Business
  • Conversation Club
  • Women’s Conversation Club

Jobs in Civil Construction

There are jobs waiting in Southern Tasmania for people to work as a:

These jobs are an opportunity to start in the civil construction industry.

To be ready for work, you are healthy and fit. You’re also able to:

  • Communicate in English
  • Drive to work to start at 7am
  • Work full time

To be ready for employer-matching, you will do workshops and assessments focusing on:

  • Career advice & support
  • Communication techniques
  • Interpersonal interactions
  • Safety in the construction sector
  • Accredited training ‘tickets’/ licences

Training for tickets and personal protective equipment (PPE) is free for candidates assessed as ready for employers.

Migrants on temporary visas, permanent residents and citizens from multicultural communities are eligible. Both men and women are encouraged to apply.

Antony generously shared his story about starting in civil construction. (If you wish to share a migrant story about your work experience, please let us know!).

This project is delivered in partnership with Searson Buck and is funded by Skills Tasmania’s Energising Tasmania Training Fund.

Phone the Settlement Team on 03 6221 0999 or email settlement@mrctas.org.au 


Hear Tasmanians talk about their first job

Are you getting ready for your first job? Listen to Tasmanians talk about how they got their first job, what it was like, and what they learnt.

First Jobs Stories and Tips Playlist (audio interviews)

Thank you to our volunteers who generously shared their story. If you’d like to share your first job story to help humanitarian entrants please email settlement@mrctas.org.au


Your rights in the workplace

Migrant workers and visa holders have the same workplace rights as all other workers in Australia. The Fair Work Ombudsman can give you information and advice about your workplace rights and obligations.

Their website has information translated into different languages and a Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) where you can calculate pay rates, shift calculations, leave, and notice and redundancy entitlements. Keep track of the number of hours you’ve worked with their Record my hours app, available in multiple languages.

There is also a help for Visa holders and migrants page, with information about pay and conditions for visa holders, and about the types of visa protections that can apply for employees who work with the Fair Work Ombudsman as part of an investigation process.

The Migrant Network Hub has information about your rights, tax and more.