It’s a big turnaround for Pourdarab, who holds Australian technology qualifications and a construction diploma from Tehran. He arrived in 2013 as an asylum seeker from Iran.

Behz Pourdarab works as a functional designer in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for a large multinational company. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton

“I travelled here from Indonesia in a small wooden boat with 169 people on board, including newborn babies. Can you imagine how devastating that was? At times, we had no hope,” Pourdarab said.

“You can feel close to a breakdown when trying to look for a skilled role with no success.”

Jahidullah Tokhi, an IT expert and refugee from Afghanistan, sent 50 applications before landing a job. Source: SBS / Sandra Fulloon

Bridging the skills gap

“As someone who didn’t have a hope and was suffering and didn’t know what to do, she [Carmen] picked me up and put me on a track to success,” he said.

Behz Pourdarab with Community Corporate founder and CEO Carmen Garcia, who helped him connect with an employer. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton

Garcia said: “Last financial year, Community Corporate supported more than 1,600 people across Australia.

“So this service is a one-stop shop that connects employers looking for talent and skilled migrants that have never known where to get started.”

Carmen Garcia launched the new migrant job centre in April. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton

The centre’s launch has encouraged skilled migrants like Kumar Singaraj, an ICT professional from India with over 19 years of experience.

“Our vision is to become Australia’s number one convenience retailer so this year, we would like to hire many more candidates from Community Corporate.”

OTR CEO Mark Smith aims to hire 500 more workers through Community Corporate this year. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton

‘Discrimination and unconscious bias’ in workplaces

“Asylum seekers and refugees are not asking for a favour, just a chance,” he said.