CareerSeekers New Australian Internship Program

CareerSeekers New Australian Internship Program Unlocking the power of careers for humanitarian entrants 🌏 We believe in the power of inclusion to create lasting change.
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People with refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds arrive in Australia with a wealth of experience, knowledge, and potential, yet they often face barriers that prevent them from accessing meaningful employment. Our mission is to break down these barriers by connecting these talented individuals with organisations that value diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our work is about more than just jobs—it’s about creating opportunities for mutual growth and transformation.

Last week our cohort of experienced professionals completed their two-day Internship Preparation Program (IPP) in Melbou...
27/05/2026

Last week our cohort of experienced professionals completed their two-day Internship Preparation Program (IPP) in Melbourne, hosted by Ventia. What started with morning tea and a room full of ambition finished with something far more tangible: real interview experience, real feedback, and real readiness.

The mock interview sessions were the centrepiece of Day 2, with volunteers from across our employment partner network stepping up to give participants the kind of honest, constructive practice that makes a genuine difference. These aren't simulated conversations for the sake of it. They are professionals sitting across from other professionals, taking each other seriously.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time:
Paige Van Every and Aaron Blazic (Suburban Connect), Axiom Blackman and Milan Johnstone (Ventia), Ben Lody and Luke Grakovich (ACCIONA), Maleena De Silva (Aware Super), Tamara Barber (DTI), Gabrielle Camilleri (CarSales), and Philip Kane (Fulton Hogan).

Special thank you to Loes Westerbeek-Veld for her continued and generous support of CareerSeekers and this cohort.

And a shoutout to the CareerSeekers team members behind the planning and faciliation of IPP. The experience our participants have across these two days doesn't happen without your hard work.

The professionals in this cohort are ready. And the organisations in this post represent just some of those who invest in humanitarian talent.

CareerSeekers can facilitate paid internships, placements, traineeships, and cadetships for experienced professionals with refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds. Our participants are also recognised as priority job seekers under social procurement frameworks. If you would like to know more about how a partnership with CareerSeekers can support your organisation's social impact commitments, get in touch.


Our curated Internship Preparation Program (IPP) kicked off this week in Melbourne, welcoming 10 talented experienced pr...
20/05/2026

Our curated Internship Preparation Program (IPP) kicked off this week in Melbourne, welcoming 10 talented experienced professionals from diverse sectors, including engineering, IT, finance, business, and HR, for two days of focused career preparation.

Day 1 set the tone perfectly. Paul Stratford and Loes Westerbeek from Ventia joined for morning tea, welcoming the cohort with the kind of warmth that matters. Then participants got to work: interview skills, CV strategy, and how to present years of hard-won expertise to Australian employers.

Thursday is where it gets real. One-on-one mock interviews with volunteers from our employment partner network. Real questions, real feedback, real readiness.

Thank you Ventia for being such a consistent, generous host, and to Loes for always making our participants feel so welcome.

CareerSeekers proudly supports the Activate Australia's Skills campaign. This is an important step toward improving skil...
12/05/2026

CareerSeekers proudly supports the Activate Australia's Skills campaign. This is an important step toward improving skills recognition for new arrivals in Australia.

Every day, we see firsthand the remarkable skills, qualifications, and expertise that people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds bring to the Australian workforce. We wholeheartedly back this initiative, which will help remove barriers and empower these individuals to contribute economically to their full potential.

Get involved here 👉🏾 https://activateaustralia.org.au/

A Million Stories.That's the theme of this year's Refugee Week (15-21 June) and it's a powerful reminder that behind eve...
06/05/2026

A Million Stories.

That's the theme of this year's Refugee Week (15-21 June) and it's a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a person with skills, ambition and a professional story to write.

We acknowledge that current global events are causing increased displacement and affecting members of our community. This Refugee Week carries additional weight as we honour both professional achievements and the resilience required to maintain them during these uncertain times.

We're inviting our employment partners and supporters to join us. We've created tailored assets for both partners and advocates. To recognise the contributions people with refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds are making in Australian workplaces.

We've put together an asset pack and messaging guide with everything you need so participation is simple.

Contact us and we can share the asset pack and messaging guide that's right for you or your organisation 👉🏾 https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/0zPOtBB2j7bzmIVEGsz0

Whether you've hired through CareerSeekers or you're an advocate for inclusive employment, there's a role for you to play.

Let's make sure we continue creating opportunities where people with refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds can continue writing their career story this week and beyond.

Callout for professionals with overseas qualifications and/or work experience and based in QLD (Loganlea, Gold Coast, Su...
16/04/2026

Callout for professionals with overseas qualifications and/or work experience and based in QLD (Loganlea, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane) 📣

We are inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from skilled professionals with refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds for structured 12-week paid placements designed to support entry into the Australian workforce.

We're looking for individuals with experience in:
🟣 Engineering & Technical - Junior Engineer (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical) | QA/QC | Site Engineer | CAD/BIM
🟣 Project Controls & Administration - Document Controller | Project Coordinator | Contracts Admin | Scheduler | Project Support
🟣 Commercial & Finance - Procurement | Accounts | Payroll | Cost Control | Junior Quantity Surveying
🟣 Support - HR | Admin | Compliance | Customer Service
🟣 Government & Infrastructure - Project Support | Asset Mgmt | Planning | Community Engagement
🟣 Logistics, Utilities & Operations - Supply Chain | Logistics | Warehouse | Utilities roles
🟣 IT & Digital - Data | PMO Analyst | IT Support | Cybersecurity
🟣 Safety & Environment - WHS | Environmental | Compliance
🟣 Field & Trades (Entry Access) - Labourers | Trade Assistants | Operators

You're eligible if:
🟣 Live in QLD (Loganlea, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane)
🟣 Arrived within the last 4-5 years on a humanitarian visa
🟣 Have attained at least a bachelor's degree from a university overseas
🟣 Have at least 2 years overseas professional experience
🟣 Have not worked professionally in Australia for more than 6 months
🟣 Have business-ready English

Register your interest by 30 June 2026.

If this sounds like you (or someone in your network) we’d love to hear from you:
https://careerseekers.org.au/mid-career-professionals

Callout for professionals with overseas qualifications and/or work experience and based in Perth 📣We are inviting Expres...
14/04/2026

Callout for professionals with overseas qualifications and/or work experience and based in Perth 📣

We are inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from skilled professionals with refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds based in Western Australia, for structured 12-week paid placements designed to support entry into the Australian workforce.

We're looking for individuals with experience in:
🟣 Engineering & Technical - Junior Engineers (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical) | QA/QC | Site / Project Engineer (entry-level)
🟣 Project Controls & Administration - Document Controller | Project Coordinator | Site Administrator | Contracts Administrator (junior)
🟣 Commercial & Finance - Procurement Officer | Accounts / Payroll | Commercial Administrator
🟣 Support - HR Coordinator | Business / Administrative Support | Project Support Officer | Customer Service

You're eligible if:
🟣 Live in WA/Perth
🟣 Arrived within the last 4-5 years on a humanitarian visa
🟣 Have attained at least a bachelor's degree from a university overseas
🟣 Have at least 2 years overseas professional experience
🟣 Have not worked professionally in Australia for more than 6 months
🟣 Have business-ready English

Register your interest by 30 June 2026.

If this sounds like you (or someone in your network) we’d love to hear from you:
https://careerseekers.org.au/mid-career-internship-registration

10/03/2026

A couple days ago it was International Women’s Day.

We're using this moment to recognise some powerful women in our programs.
Women working across engineering, IT, law, architecture, finance, and operations.
Women who are leaders, carers, mentors, advocates, and community builders.

Many are starting a fresh chapter or reclaiming hard earned careers while navigating new systems, sustaining communities, and supporting families.

The capabilities shaped through lived experience and responsibility often go unnamed. But we see them clearly:
🟣 Strategic thinking (the big picture)
🟣 Negotiation and influence (getting things done)
🟣 Adaptability (thriving in change)
🟣 Emotional intelligence (reading the room)
🟣 Crisis management and endurance (staying the course)

These are not “soft” skills. They are leadership capabilities.

Your care is crucial.
Your ambition is powerful.
Your experience matters.
Your strength is undeniable.

Advancing equity in careers, workplaces, and opportunity requires commitment far beyond a single day. We also acknowledge the women across our employment partner organisations who champion inclusion, recognise strength, and create space for talent to thrive. Your leadership, advocacy, and belief matter more than you know.

LDI 2026 | Conference Wrap-Up🟣 3 cities🟣 35 sessions🟣 138 university students🟣 73 volunteers from employment partners an...
03/03/2026

LDI 2026 | Conference Wrap-Up

🟣 3 cities
🟣 35 sessions
🟣 138 university students
🟣 73 volunteers from employment partners and supporting organisations
A powerful reminder of the potential students hold when they are equipped to shape their own futures.

LDI 2026 has officially concluded, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to its success.

The Leadership Development Institute builds skills, networks and industry insight for university students in the CareerSeekers program. Each student brings lived experience, capability and ambition. LDI strengthens their confidence, expands their access to opportunity, and equips them to actively shape their own professional futures.

The support of the Bruce Wong Foundation made this work possible. A special thank you to the Bruce Wong Foundation for sponsoring this year’s conference. We were honoured to welcome Nasiba Akram-Haidari in Sydney and Melbourne to present awards to high-achieving students. As Nasiba shared:

"The mission of CareerSeekers and the aim of the Bruce Wong Foundation are deeply aligned, both are about creating opportunity through education, opening doors to meaningful pathways, empowering individuals to reach their full potential, and encouraging them to give back when they are ready."

To the volunteers representing employment partners and other supporting organisations who shared their time and insight, to the CareerSeekers team who delivered 35 sessions across three cities, and most importantly to the students who showed up with curiosity, ambition and generosity of spirit, thank you.

LDI is not just a conference. It is an investment in future leaders and in a more inclusive professional landscape for Australia.

For organisations seeking fresh perspectives and high-potential emerging talent, CareerSeekers participants are ready to contribute, grow, and add value. If your organisation is curious about hosting a CareerSeeker, we’d love to start a conversation.

LDI 2026 | Partner Spotlight – CPB ContractorsFrom hosting our Brisbane conference to showing up across sessions in Melb...
03/03/2026

LDI 2026 | Partner Spotlight – CPB Contractors

From hosting our Brisbane conference to showing up across sessions in Melbourne and Sydney, support was both visible and deeply felt.

In Brisbane, Vince Sanfilippo, General Manager Queensland and PNG, alongside Sharon Gray, presented awards to high-achieving students, which was a clear message that industry recognises and values their talent.

In Melbourne and Sydney, Veronica Duran and Kerry-Anne McGee challenged students to be brave and flexible as they navigate their careers reminding them that growth begins just outside their comfort zone.

This is not new support. Since becoming an Article 23 partner in 2017, CPB Contractors has hosted 156 internships. This summer, seven students contributed across major projects including Spark NEL, Eastern Tunnelling Project, Melbourne Airport and SRL Work Package E. Two experienced professionals also stepped into roles over the past year.

Together, we were proud finalists in the 2025 Social Traders awards a crucial recognition of what long-term, values-aligned partnership can achieve.

To Sharon Gray, Hamidullah Hussainzada, Sandy Vines and the broader CPB team, thank you for backing our participants and building pathways into Australia’s infrastructure future.

When people think of “career pathways,” the image that often comes to mind is a fresh‑face university student stepping i...
25/02/2026

When people think of “career pathways,” the image that often comes to mind is a fresh‑face university student stepping into their first internship. That story is essential, but it’s only half of ours.

The other half is our Experienced Professionals stream (formerly “Mid‑Career Professionals”).

Who is an Experienced Professional?
🟣 A humanitarian entrant who has arrived in Australia with tertiary qualifications and solid work experience from abroad.
🟣 A seasoned professional that already holds tertiary qualifications and professional experience from overseas bringing global expertise, leadership potential, and fresh perspectives.
🟣 Ideal for entry-level or project roles with scope to grow into senior positions.

Meet the individuals that make up the Experienced Professionals team who ensure every Experienced Professional is matched with the right opportunity and help employers see the depth of knowledge, experience, and skill that sits right in front of them:

Aditi Medhekar, Program Director
Rouzbeh Nabipourshiri, Program Manager
Angelica Tavares, Advisor

If you’re an employer curious about hosting a CareerSeeker visit 👉🏾www.careerseekers.org.au/employers-registration

Address

Two Melbourne Quarter/Suite 312, Level 3, 697 Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC
3008

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

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