Porirua City Council Supports Refugee Services’ Pathways to Employment Programme
When Naing Aung (at right) arrived in New Zealand as a former refugee from Myanmar, his spoken English was limited. But with his diploma in agriculture from his home country, strong work ethic and desire to contribute to his new community, he was exactly the kind of worker Porirua City Council's (PCC) Parks and Reserves department were looking for. Now, three years after they first employed Naing, PCC is partnering with Refugee Services’ Pathways to Employment programme to do what they can to support more former refugees on their journeys toward meaningful, sustainable employment.
Bill Inge, Parks and Reserves Manager for Porirua City Council, has been a key supporter of Naing and is looking forward to the opportunities that the council might be able to provide. “Naing's friendliness and willingness to work is a good example of how former refugees appreciate opportunities they are given,” says Bill. “We welcome diversity in our workforce, and Naing brings his own special ways to our organisation and the community. Our experience with him means that if we have work that other former refugees are suitable for, we would happily give them a go.”
By way of support, Porirua City Council hopes to work with Refugee Services’ Pathways to Employment programme to provide work experience for former refugees when possible. They have also offered to invest in former refugees by providing certain work tools, like work boots, and allowing them to keep the tools when they finish their work experience, thereby decreasing their costs when looking for new work. In addition, Bill has personally offered to provide mock interviews to former refugees who might benefit. “Interviewing can be one of the more stressful points for people who are looking for work,” says Bill. “For example, many potential employees I have met don’t look at you face to face. If I can help them improve those skills and get good jobs, it will help the wider community as well.”
For Naing, the opportunity with PCC has brought on a wealth of professional and personal development. “Having this job has helped to develop my English, and dealing with customers has been good for my English and helped me develop my confidence,” he says. “I did agricultural work back in Myanmar, so this was familiar to me. I feel really lucky to have a job here. It is an easy, good job. I am very happy!”
Bill feels that by supporting former refugees in Porirua, PCC is also supporting the wider community. “It’s always good to employ local people,” he says. “The community also benefits from enabling refugees to become financially independent and from the different perspectives each person brings culturally. The Council’s prime responsibility is to the residents of Porirua,” adds Bill. “Where former refugees are able to help us carry out these responsibilities, we are always keen to have them as part of our team – especially if they are like Naing and want to do a great job always with a smile!”
This work ethic is something Naing advises all former refugees to develop. “I’d tell them to give it a go, learn to do something new and this can lead to better things,” he says. “The main thing is to start in a job or work experience and the boss will look and see if you are good or if you are lazy. If you do good things, everyone will see you are a good worker, and they won’t want to let you go.”
For Pathways to Employment Manager Judi McCallum, Porirua City Council’s commitment to supporting former refugees is very significant. “What PCC is offering goes far beyond just providing employment opportunities,” she says. “They are supporting former refugees to learn New Zealand systems and values, become acclimatised to their new communities and develop their employability, all within the context of a healthy work environment with good employment practices. This is really important for former refugees, who are often so keen to work that they can sometimes be taken advantage of. PCC are supporting former refugees not just to be more employable but also to know their rights and to be familiar with what a good work environment should be.”
Judi is also grateful for the Council’s effort to lead by example. “They are showing other businesses and organisations how beneficial diversity is in the workplace and how that diversity can positively affect the whole community,” she says. “Former refugees have a lot to offer, and this support from PCC will enable more newcomers to become financially independent and to contribute back to their communities.”
Bill Inge, Parks and Reserves Manager for Porirua City Council, has been a key supporter of Naing and is looking forward to the opportunities that the council might be able to provide. “Naing's friendliness and willingness to work is a good example of how former refugees appreciate opportunities they are given,” says Bill. “We welcome diversity in our workforce, and Naing brings his own special ways to our organisation and the community. Our experience with him means that if we have work that other former refugees are suitable for, we would happily give them a go.”
By way of support, Porirua City Council hopes to work with Refugee Services’ Pathways to Employment programme to provide work experience for former refugees when possible. They have also offered to invest in former refugees by providing certain work tools, like work boots, and allowing them to keep the tools when they finish their work experience, thereby decreasing their costs when looking for new work. In addition, Bill has personally offered to provide mock interviews to former refugees who might benefit. “Interviewing can be one of the more stressful points for people who are looking for work,” says Bill. “For example, many potential employees I have met don’t look at you face to face. If I can help them improve those skills and get good jobs, it will help the wider community as well.”
For Naing, the opportunity with PCC has brought on a wealth of professional and personal development. “Having this job has helped to develop my English, and dealing with customers has been good for my English and helped me develop my confidence,” he says. “I did agricultural work back in Myanmar, so this was familiar to me. I feel really lucky to have a job here. It is an easy, good job. I am very happy!”
Bill feels that by supporting former refugees in Porirua, PCC is also supporting the wider community. “It’s always good to employ local people,” he says. “The community also benefits from enabling refugees to become financially independent and from the different perspectives each person brings culturally. The Council’s prime responsibility is to the residents of Porirua,” adds Bill. “Where former refugees are able to help us carry out these responsibilities, we are always keen to have them as part of our team – especially if they are like Naing and want to do a great job always with a smile!”
This work ethic is something Naing advises all former refugees to develop. “I’d tell them to give it a go, learn to do something new and this can lead to better things,” he says. “The main thing is to start in a job or work experience and the boss will look and see if you are good or if you are lazy. If you do good things, everyone will see you are a good worker, and they won’t want to let you go.”
For Pathways to Employment Manager Judi McCallum, Porirua City Council’s commitment to supporting former refugees is very significant. “What PCC is offering goes far beyond just providing employment opportunities,” she says. “They are supporting former refugees to learn New Zealand systems and values, become acclimatised to their new communities and develop their employability, all within the context of a healthy work environment with good employment practices. This is really important for former refugees, who are often so keen to work that they can sometimes be taken advantage of. PCC are supporting former refugees not just to be more employable but also to know their rights and to be familiar with what a good work environment should be.”
Judi is also grateful for the Council’s effort to lead by example. “They are showing other businesses and organisations how beneficial diversity is in the workplace and how that diversity can positively affect the whole community,” she says. “Former refugees have a lot to offer, and this support from PCC will enable more newcomers to become financially independent and to contribute back to their communities.”
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