EVERY year, hundreds of refugees come to Tasmania seeking a better life. Many need work experience to demonstrate that they are capable workers.

It is the key reason behind the decision by the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Community Development Division (Multicultural Tasmania) to initiate the Creating Connections and Opportunities (CCO) project, where local businesses provide up to eight weeks work experience to humanitarian immigrants.

James Alimu Bada gets some advice from Richo Business Centre's IT manager, Paul Rosenzweig, (standing), and Graham Legg, right.

James Alimu Bada, who arrived as a refugee from Sudan in 2002, is undertaking work experience through the CCO project at the Ricoh Business Centre in Hobart.

“I escaped Sudan and spent four years in a refugee camp in Uganda. While there I did a short course in computing,” James said.

“That sparked my initial interest in IT and I am currently completing my Bachelor of Information Systems at University of Tasmania.

“I have been with Ricoh for three weeks now and have already learned a lot. They have been very friendly and really showed their trust in me.”

Judith Andrews, studio director of Ricoh Business Centre, said when she heard about the project, she wanted to support it.

“It is an important project and we are just very pleased to be involved,” Judith said.

“James has been a great asset. We are not a programming company, but we had a real need. James is working with our IT specialists setting up programs to improve our internal communications.”

Modulo Software director Graham Legg, who has been helping supervise James’ work at Ricoh Business Centre, agreed.

“James has good prospects as a systems engineer or project manager. There are many spheres in which he could excel given the right opportunity,” he said.

By offering work experience through the CCO project, employers are able to help refugees gain valuable work experience, and assess the qualities and skills of potential candidates should a position arise.

Ms Andrews said the experience had been a very positive one for everyone at the Ricoh Business Centre.

“As a company we have gained as much as James. The cultural awareness training organised by Multicultural Tasmania beforehand was very valuable,” she said.

“We would love to be in the position to offer James a job but his skills are way beyond our needs. I know he will do well wherever he goes.”

James, who hopes to work in telecommunications or systems administration, has two small children.  He met his wife Betty, also from Sudan, since arriving in Hobart.

While the CCO project is not specifically intended to find permanent jobs for participants, if there is an opportunity for continued employment after the work placement, grants of up to $7000 may be available to assist with additional training or supervision costs.

Chief economist at the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) Richard Dowling said the TCCI strongly endorsed the project and would offer a work experience opportunity to a project participant.

“In particular I have been impressed with Multicultural Tasmania’s commitment to providing the right candidate for work placement positions,” he said.

“While we are already committed to offering work experience in the TCCI offices, agreeing to offer work experience to a humanitarian immigrant was an easy decision to make given the potential benefits for both the TCCI and the work experience candidate.”

Multicultural Tasmania is holding free information dinners in Hobart and Launceston so that participants can hear from others who have benefited from similar programs. For further information visit dpac.tas.gov.au/cco.  Registrations close October 21.