JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has a proud history of supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.
Zaki Zaki is a 2020 Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Hero, an Ambassador for the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), a leading refugee legal centre, and works at the Jesuit Refugee Service as an Employment Support Worker, helping people seeking asylum and refugees find work. Zaki, himself a refugee, is also a highly respected community leader and advocate. He fled Afghanistan after being targeted to be killed by the Taliban. He survived a terrifying boat journey and arrived in Australia seeking asylum in 2012. Since then, despite social, legal and financial obstacles, he has thrived. First, he learnt English, then he transformed into a human rights advocate, courageously sharing his experience with schools and the wider community, speaking out about the cruel regime of permanent temporariness faced by people like him who came by boat seeking safety.
Tamana Tamana started in the Employment Coordinator role in January 2021. Previously, she had worked with various organisations within the settlement and humanitarian sector. Tamana has worked on capacity building programs for refugee and migrant communities, supporting youth by developing innovative solutions to access employment and education opportunities in Australia. Recently, she worked with a not-for- profit in Afghanistan, as the Program Development Manager with Afghan Women Educational Centre in Kabul. Tamana really values the work carried out by JRS, as it not only serves the community, but also works hard to ensure their rights are met and duty bearers are held accountable. This approach to development is important when working with refugees and people seeking asylum, as they deserve to live with the same dignity as others in society. In particular, Tamana uses her role as Employment Coordinator to focus on ensuring refugees and people seeking asylum have the same access to opportunities as other members of society, which includes challenging perceptions of newly arrived communities.
Key programs include emergency assistance, a food bank, professional casework, community activities, employment support, school and community engagement, hosting legal clinics and a project to empower women seeking asylumwho are at risk or have experienced violence. JRS Australia conducts research, contributes to policy development, engages decision makers and campaigns on issues affecting the human rights of forcibly displaced people, in collaboration with a range of partners. The service helps thousands of people every year. PAYCE Foundation support Compelled by the massive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, the PAYCE Foundation reached out to the Jesuit Refugee Service, which works with some of the most vulnerable people in society. The Foundation supported JRS with funding for a foodbank and emergency money. In FY21, the PAYCE Foundation continued supporting JRS by providing $83,600 in funding for an employment coordinator to help clients secure training and employment opportunities. JRS used the funds to employ two staff, Zaki and Tamara.
Employment program outcomes 69 55 work readiness sessions conducted 26 clients gained employment clients registered for employment support
5 people participated in accredited training programs.
Zaki (left) and Tamana.
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