Employment Plus Local – when a job is more than income
A pay cheque is only the beginning. For someone rebuilding their life in a new country, a job is more than income – it’s a pathway to economic independence, stability and belonging. It’s also a powerful source of hope. Through the Salvos EPlus Local program, that hope is being turned into action for many refugees and asylum seekers – changing life trajectories, turning barriers into breakthroughs, and building confidence for new beginnings.
In her ongoing series on The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus agency, Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH spoke with Paul Green, General Manager of Strategy and Partnerships, about why creating positive, inclusive employment pathways is changing lives for those often unseen and unheard in the community.
There’s one moment Paul Green never tires of seeing.
It’s a moment that captures the true meaning of a fresh start. It’s the moment an asylum seeker or refugee has money in their pocket earned through their own “blood, sweat and tears”, achieving economic independence along with a renewed sense of pride and self-esteem.
“The smile and the independence that you see on people’s faces is what gives me an enormous amount of joy,” reflects Paul.
“It’s about seeing people achieve economic independence. The pride and self-esteem lift when they’ve got money in their pocket that they’ve earned through their own blood, sweat and tears. It’s also about recognising ‘It’s my money and I can go and spend it how I like’.”
But the impact doesn’t stop with a job.
“We’ve got quite a few emails and responses from people who have just been so grateful and so thankful,” he says. “We’ve changed their lives.”
And that is the driving force behind the EPlus Local program – a life-changing initiative that meets a vital need by helping refugees and asylum seekers overcome barriers, find pathways into employment and build a future in Australia.
Born out of the Auburn Corps in Sydney in 2018, the program began after the corps recognised that many people from migrant backgrounds, classified as refugees or asylum seekers, were struggling to survive because they were ineligible for government programs or benefits and needed some form of income. The local corps invested in part-time support and engaged with Employment Plus to get the program off the ground.
Today, that small beginning has grown into a thriving program supporting communities across two states in Australia. It operates across Parramatta and Merrylands in Sydney, as well as Dandenong, Epping, and Craigieburn in Melbourne, with the program’s objective to support refugees and asylum seekers on the pathway to employment.
Yet finding employment is only one part of the journey – first, many barriers must be overcome.
Some of the major barriers are around language, specifically English proficiency. EPlus Local staff will connect clients with English language courses and other relevant services to help build their confidence and communication skills.
The program’s bespoke approach, tailoring support to each individual’s circumstances, also includes help with housing, transport, and connections to other community services where needed.
“What we find is that the settlement services in Australia are inundated, and they just can’t deal with and respond to all of the needs,” Paul remarks. “So, we pick up a lot that fall through the cracks, focussing particularly on employment.”
The scale of that need is reflected in the numbers.
Over the past year, EPlus Local supported 454 participants, with 254 new commencements and 157 people placed into employment. Another 234 people were connected with The Salvation Army and additional services including housing, support with domestic violence, alcohol and other drug services, food and furniture.
The team also works alongside 35 community partners, many of them multicultural organisations.
“There is a huge need out there, a huge demand,” Paul says. “Many of our referrals come from The Salvation Army services who they connect with corps, or some other services. Referrals go both ways. They come from services to us, and we might then refer them to other services.”
The opportunities created through the program span industries and backgrounds. Employment opportunities cover a wide range of sectors. They include delivery driving, landscaping, gardening, home cleaning services, administration, reception, sales, marketing and aged care.
For some participants, delivery work provides an important first step.
“Most don’t do that long term,” Paul explains. “They just really need money, and that gets them started, and then money goes straight into their pocket from each delivery they do. In the meantime, we’re looking for something more permanent and more akin with their skills.”
For many, the pathway forward also means overcoming the challenge of having overseas experience that isn’t immediately recognised. That pathway can be challenging, particularly when people arrive with qualifications – sometimes highly advanced qualifications – and experience that are not recognised in Australia. Formal qualifications can be costly to have accepted in Australia.
A diverse range of employers across a range of industries have employed EPlus Local clients from National Aluminium and Garden Plastics to Mainland Receptions, DoorDash, Vivo Energy and aged care provider, Mecwacare.
The right connection can often make all the difference. A key factor in connecting people with the right employment opportunity is placing people in their own communities.
“If they’re from Vietnam, for example, and they speak Vietnamese, then we try to connect them into that community, and we generally find you’ll get employment support,” he says.
“It’s not always the way, but it’s often what we do as a focus to leverage connection with communities that help with language and getting them started.”
For refugees and asylum seekers, employment is often just one piece of rebuilding a life. Many people arriving from Afghanistan and other war-torn countries have experienced significant trauma.
“That’s one of the things that has to be addressed up front because ultimately someone with that level of trauma is very difficult to place and, in many respects, struggling and suffering,” Paul adds.
To help the migrants, the program works alongside other social services, including Salvos Doorways, and to focus on their community where they have supports.
The difference EPlus Local makes is often best seen in the stories of the people it supports.
One client from Myanmar illustrates EPlus Local’s tailored approach. His wife and son were still overseas when he arrived in Australia. After illness, job loss and accommodation problems led to a decline in his mental health and hospitalisation, EPlus Local supported his recovery, helping him return to his former job, secure accommodation and access a vehicle.
Today, the client is happier and more positive about the possibility of having his wife and son in Australia.
To read this story about Ben, click here.
But despite these successes, many refugees and asylum seekers continue to face significant challenges and misconceptions. They are often misunderstood, struggle to assimilate into the Australian community – and are not made to feel welcome.
That is where The Salvation Army comes in, says Paul, offering a place where asylum seekers and refugees are welcomed, supported and given the chance to start again.
Looking to the future, the ambition is simple: to reach more people with the support they need to rebuild their lives.
“Every person who walks through the doors of EPlus Local carries a unique story, often marked by loss, uncertainty, and resilience,” Paul remarks.
“Through practical assistance, community connection and employment pathways, The Salvation Army is helping turn those stories into new beginnings. And for refugees and asylum seekers seeking a fresh start in Australia, that can change everything.
“We’re trying to expand in any way, shape, or form. And that’s a challenge – trying to find funds to expand because it’s a program that’s not funded by government. The program is funded by The Salvation Army, and the resources are not finite. We’re trying to find philanthropic funds. But that’s the dream – to expand the program and offer more services across the country.”
For more information on EPlus Local, click here.
READ MORE: Tattoos, transformation and trust
