By Russell Eldridge
If there is an accountancy firm out there willing to offer a job to a highly qualified Afghan refugee, you may be saving two lives.
Amir and Sahar (not their real names) are a young couple living as refugees in Iran after escaping the Taliban. Thanks in large measure to the efforts of Ballina woman Sue Milne, the Australian Government has recognised their humanitarian visa application as valid – but there’s a catch: Amir must have a job offer before the visa is issued.
The clock is ticking for Amir and Sahar. They face deportation back to Afghanistan within months.
Amir is an experienced accountant.
Enter Talent Beyond Boundaries, a global non-profit organisation which works with governments to match skilled refugees with jobs in a new country. They succeeded in having Amir’s application validated based on his accountancy skills.
But someone has to offer Amir a job first before they are granted permanent residency. He speaks perfect English and comes with strong references.
I spoke with Amir on a WhatsApp call about their circumstances. “It will be very hard for both us if we are sent back to Afghanistan,” Amir said.
“We are living on our savings, and only have enough for a few more months. We have run out of options.”
Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) has relocated hundreds of refugees globally under their skills matching scheme. They have been active in Australia since 2021.
TBB team leader Vincent Tackoen explained how a prospective employer could help Amir and Sahar.
“Anyone who can offer Amir a job simply needs to contact us and we explain how it works. Once he gets a job offer, that’s it; he meets the requirements of the skilled migration program.”
The person instrumental in helping Amir and Sahar is Ballina woman Sue Milne, who is already involved in settling refugees in the Northern Rivers. She heard about the couple through a young Afghan man who stayed at her home as part of a home stay program run by Ballina Region For Refugees.
The Afghan man told Sue he was concerned for his friends, Amir and Sahar. Sue then set in motion the long train of events which led to Amir and Sahar now being just one step away from being issued their visa.
“Over the last two years I’ve found Amir to be an intelligent man with high integrity and I believe he’d be a fantastic employee,” Sue said. “These are very vulnerable people and it would be a wonderful thing if someone could offer Amir a job. They wouldn’t regret it.”
There is a cost involved in getting refugees such as Amir and Sahar to Australia. But this is where Ballina Region for Refugees comes in. They have agreed to raise substantial funds to settle the family.
So, if you run an accountancy business and can offer a job to a refugee in a desperate situation email Vincent Tackoen at info@talentbeyondboundaries.org
Ballina Region For Refugees contact President Marilyn Leeks at president@br4r.org.au