For Carmen Garcia, Community Corporate’s founder, her work is a labor of love. She is directly engaged in assisting refugees and migrants build a special life in Australia. Headquartered in Adelaide, her rapidly growing social enterprise seeks to match skilled workers seeking flexibility with businesses needing expertise on demand, enabling both to achieve life-changing outcomes. Behzad Pourdarab—better known as Behz—has taken this dream role for himself. He currently works as a functional designer in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for a multinational firm, all because of her initiative.
The work Community Corporate has accomplished in a short period of time is laudable. In a typical financial year, it reaches more than 1,600 people in all parts of Australia! Importantly, 90% of those served included people of refugee or migrant origin. Garcia’s mission is clear: she seeks to demonstrate that overseas experience holds immense value for Australian employers. This year, Community Corporate is committed to finding sustainable employment for 500 skilled migrants. In turn, they are zeroing in hard on industries like ICT, engineering, and construction.
Behz’s travels to get to Australia were incredibly dangerous. He made a perilous journey on a leaky wooden fishing boat with 169 other asylum seekers, including newborn babies, over the world’s most dangerous sea route from Indonesia. His painful recollections of that nightmarish ordeal still linger.
“Imagine 169 people on a small wooden boat with newborn babies. Can you imagine how devastating those moments were? When we had no hope and until today, after 12 years still I have nightmares being on a boat in the middle of the ocean.” – Behzad Pourdarab
After reaching Australia, Behz faced another battle: the job market. In fact, he applied to almost one hundred jobs before getting an offer for his current position. The lengthy process knocked him down in terms of self-esteem.
“I’ve applied for almost a hundred jobs and when you do not hear back, you just lose your confidence, you are close to breakdown. That was how I felt when I initially started to look for an IT role.” – Behzad Pourdarab
Just ask Carmen Garcia, who knows the challenges refugees and migrants such as Behz encounter. Raised in Adelaide by a single mother from the Philippines, she experienced firsthand the challenges of recognition of overseas qualifications. This personal journey inspires her passion for equipping others to discover dignity and community through meaningful work.
“I was born here in Adelaide and raised by a single mum from the Philippines. And she’s definitely influenced me being skilled as a lawyer but having to start again in entry-level jobs and not having her overseas qualifications recognised. It reminds me how important work is for that sense of belonging and freedom and a sense of human dignity.” – Carmen Garcia
Garcia is all too aware that discrimination and unconscious bias still operate in workplaces everywhere in Australia. At Community Corporate, she’s committed to addressing these fundamental problems at their root. She is now a powerful advocate for the importance of recognizing the value of overseas experience.
“The prevalence of discrimination and unconscious bias, particularly in the workplace is unfortunately still alive and well. One of the challenges for refugee and migrant employment is that people consider it a charity and we’re not asking for charity, we’re asking for that chance.” – Carmen Garcia
Mark Smith, Chief Operating Officer of OTR (On the Run), emphasizes the importance of partnerships with organizations like Community Corporate. His firm appreciates the array of multi-disciplinary skills that trained migrants contribute.
“We are a national business and we’ve got a large expansion program underway. Our commitment this year is to try and land at least 500 placements from community corporate into the workforce. Our vision is to become Australia’s number one convenience retailer. I would love for Community Corporate to continue to be by our side.” – Mark Smith
The key to Community Corporate’s success is its employer-led model. Garcia understands that in order to better position skilled migrants among employers, bridging the knowledge gaps about employer’s needs is key.
“Last financial year, Community Corporate helped over 1600 people all across Australia. 90% of them came from a refugee or migrant background. I think the key to our success is we have an employer-led model. We listen to our employers, we understand what challenges they face.” – Carmen Garcia
Looking back on the experience, Behz is grateful to Garcia and her staff, recognizing that without their help, he wouldn’t be where he is today.
“For someone who didn’t have hope or was suffering who didn’t know what to do and picked me up from that route and put me on a track of success. I am grateful to Carmen and her team for the rest of my life and I do whatever I can to pay back their favour.” – Behzad Pourdarab
