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I was born in Cameroon and I grew up there.
We don't have the same opportunities, because it is a developing country,
so we don't have the same oportunites there, so we are very very practical.
So we really like hard work and we're very practical because
we don't have everything like the infrastructure that people have here in Australia for example.
So we're more like, when we come and there's something to do, we're not afraid of going for it,
we're very motivated, we're not afraid and we work hard.
So that's the thing, they really bring that, that motivation, they really want to start,
they are ready, ready, to do anything, anything to deliver.
One of the main barriers for migrants and refugees here in Australia
is the lack of local experience
and the Work Ready program is really to address that barrier.
Many people who come here are on a Humanitarian Visa,
they were highly skilled in their country -
they were doctors, they were nurses,
they were even higher than that.
Some people have that idea that
migrant or refugees do not have any skills, but that's not true at all,
there are people out their who are highly skilled
and they just need to be given a chance to start somewhere.
And what we do is really try to do is
match their skills to a need because sometimes
people come and tell me "I will do anything"
but I say no, we cannot just say we'll give you something because you will do anything,
we want to give you a chance to achieve a job in your area
not because - we know you would like to do anything,
but we would really like to give you chance.
So that's what we do. For example, someone who has IT qualifications,
we try to place him in a IT department to maximise
his chances to get a job in that area.
When people come and see me because they are
looking for work experience
they are very stressed, and I say "hey - relax - it's me".
"I was there, I've been there, I know how you feel".
If you want something, go for it and do everything you can do,
because I didn't just
stay at home doing nothing,
I had to get out there and find a job
and just really work hard for it.