For Iraqi refugee Hind Yousif, studying at Kangan Institute, experiencing a work placement and gaining qualifications in Business were integral factors in enabling her to build a new life in Australia.
And it couldn’t be more ideal – the 30-year-old has recently gained employment as a client support worker at AMES, a role where she gets to use her business skills and knowledge to support other new refugees to settle comfortably in Australia.
“I like my job a lot because it was exactly what I was planning to do since arriving in Australia. We had to leave everything behind and find safety in another country. AMES helped me to settle down in the new country and linked me with different services and organisations,” said Hind.
“What I like most is seeing the happiness of the people I’ve assisted and knowing that our assistance was helpful.”
Hind began her business studies with a certificate III before progressing to a higher qualification, a move inspired by her passion to learn and great experience on campus.
“I love the friendly staff at Kangan Institute, the campus location, the library and the opportunity to use technology to learn rather than just papers and books. My teachers were serious about teaching but encouraged us to have fun at the same time,” she said.
“The computer skills that I gained during my study at Kangan Institute helped me very much as my job requires a lot of computer work. Other useful business skills include administration, prioritising tasks, minute taking at meetings, organising conferences and time management. The course has given me confidence to handle this all.”
Hind gained more than a qualification through her studies. It was the course’s work placement program that led her to AMES where she was eventually offered a job.
“During my placement at AMES I had the chance to show them my ability to learn and how they can rely on me. They offered me a temporary job in reception and when the position for client support worker emerged, I applied and got the job. Without the work placement and opportunity to apply what I’ve learned, I would have never been able to get what I have now.” Work placements are an integral part of Kangan Institute’s business program.
“Students have access to our partnering host employers across a wide range of industries. Through these work placement opportunities they get to apply their business, management and office skills within a real work environment,” said teacher Vera Maljevac who also coordinates workplace experience and traineeship opportunities.
“This enhances our students’ resumes, helps them to build a network of industry contacts and could even lead to permanent roles, like in Hind’s example.”
Hind hopes to progress into case management in the future and looks forward to building her skills and knowledge for the role.
