A new guide has been launched to help employers who are interested in hiring refugees.

Produced by the Migration Council of Australia’s Friendly Nation Initiative, the ‘Australian Employers’ Guide to Hiring refugees’ is a practical toolkit intended to help employers who want to hire refugees but don’t know how to go about it.

It contains essential information about the logistics and practicality of hiring refugees in Australia and guidance on how to design and implement refugee employment programs to be maximally successful for employers and refugees alike.

The guide points out that Australia has consistently ranked among the top three permanent resettlement countries, playing a crucial role in international efforts to provide protection and offer people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and make a positive contribution to the country.

And the county benefited immeasurably from the contributions of people who arrived as refugees, across all aspects of society: Frank Lowy, Richard Pratt, Tan Le, Huy Truong in business and Sir Gustav Nossal and, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki in science, the guide says.

“Hiring and integrating refugees strengthens and enriches the welcoming community and brings a myriad of economic benefits,” the guide says.

“Refugees contribute as workers (in a range of jobs), entrepreneurs, consumers, taxpayers, volunteers and investors,” it says.

“The International Monetary Fund calculates that investment in supporting refugees brings a return more than 1.8 times the initial investment within five years.

“Modelling in Australia shows that a ten per cent improvement in labour market outcomes is worth $175 million to refugees in income and $65 million to the government in reduced welfare expenditures and increased tax revenue over 10 years.

“Employers have a significant role to play in improved labour market outcomes for refugees. Leading Australian employers around the country have already recognised the benefits to their operations and the broader societal role they can play in supporting people into a safe and productive future within a new and welcoming community,” the guide says.

Employment is a vital part of refugees becoming self-reliant and building a future for themselves and their families.

Along with economic security, a job creates feelings of belonging, being valued and being recognised as an individual. People are proud to contribute to the society that has given them freedom and safety,” the guide says.

Laurie Nowell 
AMES Australia Senior Journalist