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CareerSeekers New Australian Internship Program

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CareerSeekers New Australian Internship Program

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Unlocking the power of careers for humanitarian entrants 🌏 We believe in the power of inclusion to create lasting change.

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.

29/09/2026

💙 35+ volunteers. One very important Friday.

Day 5 is the day our CareerSeekers participants put their preparation into practice.

After four days of learning, discussion and preparation, Day 5 focused on one-on-one mock interviews with 35+ employment partner volunteers who generously gave up their Friday to join the experience.

A special shout-out to Anne Shimada, who generously gave her time to survey and reflect on the week’s impact. As always, Anne’s insights, lived experience and encouragement were on point!

Thank you to Macquarie Group for generously hosting us and creating the space for our participants and volunteers to connect, practice and learn.

A huge thank you to every volunteer who showed up, shared their expertise and helped bring the real world of work to life. Most importantly, they gave participants something incredibly valuable at this stage of their journey: growth, confidence and constructive feedback.

DT Infrastructure | Gamuda Engineering Australia | GHD | Goodman Fielder | HCF | John Holland | Laing O’Rourke | LinkedIn | Macquarie Group | PICA Group| Reserve Bank of Australia | SBS | Siemens Mobility Ltd | Westpac | Jen fielding — and many more.

For our Experienced Professional participants, it’s an opportunity to experience an interview in a supportive environment, with people working in Australian organisations and gain practical feedback for their next interview.

For our volunteers, it is a chance to see first-hand the depth of skills, experience and potential that CareerSeekers participants bring.

To our wonderful Alumni Panel — Tim-Alex Kaze, Honey Htun, Baraah Hashem and Jack (Yevhen) Ishchenko — thank you for sharing your reflections on grabbing every opportunity to bridge the gap to professional opportunities, building hope, networks, and continuing to ask what more you can do. Your journeys and insights are such a powerful reminder that every opportunity can be a stepping stone towards what comes next.

To the SSI team, we hope this was a valuable experience for your clients. It was a pleasure to host and learn alongside them throughout the program!

Special thanks to the Macquarie Group Guest Relations Team for hosting us across Days 3–5 at your Elizabeth St offices, generously with catering, keeping our participants, volunteers and team well-fed, energised and so well looked after.

Five days.
New connections.
New confidence.
And the beginning of many new opportunities.

Thank you to our employment partners for opening doors and to our participants for walking through them. 🤝

Today

28/09/2026

💡 Communication. Confidence. Connections.

Days 3 and 4 of CareerSeekers’ Internship Preparation Program were all about navigating the Australian workplace and preparing for interviews.

We were delighted to have Susan Clear, Director, Social Impact Investing at Macquarie Group, open the session and share Macquarie’s commitment to creating pathways and opportunities for CareerSeekers participants.

Susan also shared her own transformational “mosaic” career journey — a powerful reminder that careers are rarely linear, and that different experiences, relationships and opportunities can come together to shape a meaningful career.

Day 3 focused on communication through real workplace scenarios. After 10 years of running the program, we know many workplace challenges can come down to communication, so participants explored how to navigate different approaches, expectations and situations in Australian workplaces.

A big thank you to Rita Badin from LinkedIn for inspiring participants to build their professional presence and start creating their first professional network in Australia.
Day 4 turned the focus to interviews.

Thank you to Suzanna Mason, Talent Acquisition Lead ANZ, People & Culture, for leading “What is an Interview?” and sharing practical advice on preparing for success — what to discuss, what not to discuss, and how to navigate different interview styles and expectations.

Participants then drew on the wisdom and expertise around their tables, refining their pitches and practising responses ahead of Friday’s mock interviews.

The preparation is not just about answering questions. It is about building the confidence to bring your experience, capability and story into the room.

And on Friday, they put it all into practice. 💪

And to our incredible volunteer table moderators across Days 3 & 4 from DT Infrastructure | GHD | Goodman Fielder | John Holland | Macquarie Group | Reserve Bank of Australia | Siemens Mobility Ltd | Ventia | Ward Civil& Environmental Engineering| Westpac and our wider community—thank you. Your generosity, encouragement and expertise help create opportunities that change lives.

Communication builds confidence.
Connections build networks.
Practice creates possibilities.

24/09/2026

"What they bring to employers is not just expertise, but resilience, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to success."! 🎉

Our latest cohort of Experienced Professionals is ready to make an impact.

Bringing expertise across engineering, infrastructure, banking and financial services, technology, project management, business administration, marketing, data analytics, finance and environmental disciplines, these talented professionals offer a wealth of global experience, fresh perspectives and strong technical capability.

Like many skilled humanitarian entrants, they have overcome significant barriers to rebuilding their careers in Australia. What they bring to employers is not just expertise, but resilience, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to success.

Over the course of the first 2 days of the program, we explored what it takes to thrive in the Australian workplace, including:
✅ Building adaptability, collaboration and a commercial mindset
✅ Understanding workplace culture and confidently contributing your voice
✅ Treating every interview as a learning opportunity and continuously refining your approach

A huge thank you to CIMIC Group for generously hosting us at your North Sydney office and for your ongoing commitment to creating pathways for skilled humanitarian talent.

Special thanks to:
💡 Sharon Gray and Hamidullah Hussainzada (CIMIC Group) for championing social impact and supporting initiatives that create meaningful employment opportunities.
💡 A special thank you to Jarrah Catering for keeping our participants and volunteers well-fed throughout the day. As part of Jarrah Integrated Services, a proudly Aboriginal-owned enterprise, they are creating opportunities through Indigenous business development, employment pathways and career advancement.
💡 Krisha Kalra (Aware Super) for sharing practical insights on superannuation and financial wellbeing.
💡 Chantal Moussad (Westpac) for inspiring participants through her personal career journey and advice.

And to our incredible volunteer table moderators from Bloomberg, CIMIC Group, ConnectSydney, Downer Group, DT Infrastructure, Gamuda Engineering Australia, GHD, John Holland, PwC, Westpac, Laing O’Rourke, Ventia and our wider community—thank you. Your generosity, encouragement and expertise help create opportunities that change lives.

18/09/2026

📣 Callout for professionals with overseas qualifications and/or work experience based in QLD, for projects in Biloela, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Jambin/Smoky Creek, and wider Central Queensland QLD

CareerSeekers is 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
🟣 Safety & Environment - WHS | Environmental | Compliance | Business admin

You may be eligible if you:
✅ Live in QLD and are open to FIFO, DIDO and relocation
✅ Arrived within the last 4-5 years on a humanitarian visa
✅ Have attained at least a bachelor's degree from an overseas university
✅ Have at least 2 years of overseas professional experience
✅ Have not worked professionally in Australia for more than 6 months
✅ Have business-ready English

Register your interest by 30 September 2026 👉🏾 https://careerseekers.org.au/application-form-experienced-professionals

06/08/2026

Most of our conversations about hosting a CareerSeeker start with "do you have an opportunity?"

We wanted to try something different.

Fresh Perspectives: Summer Interns is CareerSeekers' first ever online session, designed for employers who want access to a new pool of emerging professionals.

What we will cover:
🟣 This year's cohort of university students with refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, ready for paid summer internships
🟣 Hear from a couple host employers about what they have gained from hosting and how they won internal buy-in
🟣 The logistics and milestones of the internship period, so you know exactly what hosting involves
🟣 Find out how our program reduces recruitment and onboarding pressure to support your strategic workforce talent and inclusion goals.
🟣 A chance to hear directly from a past participant about their own experience

Who this is for:
Any employer considering hosting a University Student CareerSeeker this summer. Whether you have hosted before or you are exploring it for the first time, this session is for you.

SESSION DETAILS:
📅 Wednesday, 19 August
⏰ 12pm to 1pm AEST
💻 Online via Microsoft Teams (link sent prior to the session)

Register 👉🏾 https://events.humanitix.com/fresh-perspectives

Cannot make the time? Register anyway and we will send the recording through afterwards. If you have colleagues or connections who might also be interested, please feel free to share the event link with them.

16/07/2026

Two cohorts. Two goals. One foundation. 🏗️

Every CareerSeekers placement is working toward a specific outcome for the participant.

🟣 For our Experienced Professionals, the goal is converting the placement into an ongoing role, allowing participants to re-establish careers that were already in motion overseas, with continuity and momentum in Australia.
🟣 For our University Students, the goal is securing a role in their field of study after graduation, giving participants a clear line from placement to profession.

But every placement, regardless of outcome, delivers three things: recent local experience, expanded professional networks, and new skills and knowledge. This is the foundation participants take with them into whatever comes next.

That is why we do this work. And that is why every placement matters, whether it converts, catalyses, or contributes.

Is your team ready to host a CareerSeeker? Get in touch to find out how a placement could work for your organisation 👉🏾 https://careerseekers.org.au/employers-registration

06/07/2026

📣 We're looking for Experienced Professionals in WA/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

What's on offer through our Experienced Professionals Program:

🟣 12 week paid placements with leading organisations

🟣 Real projects and genuine local Australian experience

🟣 Dedicated coaching from the CareerSeekers team

🟣 A pathway to long-term professional employment

If this sounds like you (or someone in your network) we’d love to hear from you:

https://careerseekers.org.au/mid-career-professionals

Please note: submitting an Expression of Interest is not a guarantee of a placement, but it allows our team to consider you as opportunities arise.

03/07/2026

Guiding young people through internships that transform into professional careers 🧠

CareerSeekers has just delivered three powerful student training days across Queensland, Melbourne and Sydney, hosted by GHD. Every training session equip our students with the professional skills and knowledge to build successful careers in Australia with confidence.

Training is a key milestone in our University Student Program that gives participants a deeper understanding of:

🟣 what the CareerSeekers student program offers

🟣 how to strengthen their professional brand

🟣 insights into interview skills and techniques

🟣 how we forge partnerships that unlock local experience and opportunity in their field of study

A highlight of these sessions is the Alumni Panel, where former participants shared program insights, advice on navigating Australian workplaces, and how to make the most of every opportunity. Their stories show students what is possible when the right opportunity meets existing capability. Thank you to , Danny Khalqa, Michelle Aung, Eyob Solomon, Michleen Sayar, Fares Aldhem, Mahdi Fasihi, Hanieh Ebrahimi, and Rose Sanhir for coming back and sharing your experience.

We also do a deep dive into interview techniques, equipping students with the tools to communicate clearly, structure strong responses, and understand what employers value. These sessions help students translate their skills and experience into compelling narratives.

Training days are not just workshops. They build the mindset, behaviours and confidence that turn internships into long-term career pathways.

A huge thank you to GHD for hosting us across all three cities and coordinating the details that made these sessions run smoothly, especially Taijan Gan, Marvin Bedary, Sian Frisina, Karen Lee, Taryn Hayler, and Sofie Mason-Jones.

Visit www.careerseekers.org.au to explore how your organisation can partner with CareerSeekers.

01/07/2026

What does hosting a CareerSeeker look like?

If your organisation is considering a placement, you might be wondering how it works in practice. The answer is simpler than you may think.

Placements are designed to integrate CareerSeekers into real teams and real work. While each opportunity is different, most placements follow a similar rhythm.

Here is what you can expect:

🟣 A defined role or project, with learning objectives co-designed by the participant, your team, and CareerSeekers

🟣 A team supervisor or manager, supported by a briefing session before they start

🟣 Ongoing check-ins from our team throughout the placement

🟣 Professional skill development on both sides, including your team's cultural literacy and inclusive practices

🟣 A genuine pathway to ongoing employment or future placements

Our participants bring qualifications, professional experience, and perspectives that strengthen the teams they join. Hosting is not about doing a good deed. It is about unlocking untapped talent while building a more inclusive workplace.

Interested in hosting a CareerSeeker? Get in touch to find out how a placement could work for your team 👉🏾 https://careerseekers.org.au/employers-registration

30/06/2026

We are proud to announce that CareerSeekers and Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) have officially signed a partnership agreement, with our first placement set to commence on 24 July.

RLB is a global construction, property and management consultancy that helps shape the built environment across 36 countries. Their Sustainability Team plays a critical role in advising clients on sustainability strategy, carbon measurement, and the social value that the built environment can deliver to communities.

The partnership forms part of RLB Victoria’s ESG Strategy and reflects their commitment to creating meaningful employment pathways and strengthening its social impact. Aleysia Leonard has been instrumental in bringing the partnership to life, with support from RLB Victoria’s ESG Committee, including Naomi Coslovich, Ewen McDonald, Drita Corazzi and Betty-Anne Clark.

Partnerships like this matter because they are built on mutual value. RLB gains access to talented, experienced professionals who bring qualifications, fresh perspectives, and global experience into their teams. Our participants gain the opportunity to demonstrate what they bring in a workplace ready to recognise it.

Here is to a successful partnership and the impact we will create together.

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

Website

http://www.careerseekers.org.au/

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