Australia Post to mentor young refugees
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
A group of 13 young refugees will receive mentoring and access to social and business networks through the launch of Ucan2, a collaboration between Australia Post and Foundation House, one of Victoria's leading support organisations for refugees.
The refugees, aged between 16 and 24, will be mentored by 13 Australia Post staff with the goal of increasing education, training and employment opportunities in their first 15 months of settlement into Australia.
Australia Post's CEO and MD, Ahmed Fahour, and Foundation House Executive Director, Paris Aristotle, will today sign an MOU that signals Australia Post's intention to provide ongoing in-kind support of the Ucan2 program to achieve social inclusion goals for the refugee community.
Australia Post's support of Ucan2 began during last year's busy Christmas period, when it employed ten young refugees at its Melbourne mail-sorting centres in Ardeer and Dandenong, and the MOU signals an expansion into mentoring.
Mr Fahour, who has called Australia home since arriving from Lebanon at the age of three, says participation in Ucan2 is an example of the practical way that businesses can assist the integration of refugees into Australian life.
"Our workplaces, and our employees, at Australia Post provide a magnificent window on the role that business can play as an enabler of social integration," Australia Post CEO and MD, Ahmed Fahour says.
"We want to lead by example, and I appeal to other corporations to open up their networks for the refugee community to access new social, education and employment contacts."
The Hon. Minister Lindsay Tanner, who has a deep and long term interest in the social inclusion of refugees, will officially launch the program at Australia Post HQ.
Minister Tanner said the "The Ucan2 program demonstrates strong business and community leadership. For minimal financial investment, this high social return partnership between business and community delivers enormous benefit for refugees and has ripple effect for generations to come."
Foundation House Executive Director, Paris Aristotle said, "The Australia Post partnership is far more valuable to us than any cheque, and symbolises the way that business can make a real and lasting difference to the refugee community."
"Half of the 13,750 refugees who arrive each year are under 18 and upon arrival most have incredible aspirations for their careers and lives. It's important to engage with them at this pivotal time and facilitate connections with the community.
"The support Australia Post is providing in allowing access to its staff and its workplace is something that money can't buy," said Mr Aristotle.
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Launch of Ucan2 program, Tuesday 20 July, 9.45am for a 10am start Location: Australia Post Headquarters, 111 Bourke Street, Melbourne Photo opportunities: Ahmed Fahour, Australia Post CEO, and Foundation House *Opportunities to chat to special guests, mentors and refugees |
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