The Australian Refugee Association Inc. (ARA) is a community-based organisation providing settlement, migration, and other forms of assistance to refugees, migrants and other people of concern.
As a member of our team, you will be supporting new arrivals in South Australia to achieve their social, economic, cultural and community participation goals. You will be making a difference in the lives of individuals and families as they re-establish themselves in a new home.
ARA's Inclusive Employment Australia Service helps people from refugee backgrounds with a disability, injury or health condition to become active participants in Australia's workforce.
The IEA Engagement Manager drives engagement with migrant and refugee communities, employers, and recruitment of participants for ARA's Inclusive Employment Australia program by building strategic relationships and promoting inclusive hiring practices that support refugees and migrants into meaningful employment.
The IEA Engagement Manager sources vacancies, shares knowledge, insights, and employment opportunities with IEA staff (Employment Coaches, Area Coordinators, etc) and helps connect IEA participants with suitable and sustainable employment. The role collaborates closely with Employment Coaches and stakeholders, responds to local labour‑market needs, and operates in line with the IEA Guidelines, IEA Deed and ARA's policies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
* Source, service and retain employer relationships across metropolitan and regional SA.
* Canvass employers for suitable employment, apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities.
* Build networks via industry bodies, partners, expos and events; represent ARA professionally and promote disability inclusion and cultural safety.
* Build effective referral pathways with Services Australia, training providers, NDIS providers, health and community services.
* Understand workforce needs and local labour‑market trends; discuss job design and tailored duties/hours and reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
* Promote wage subsidies and relevant incentives; maintain working knowledge of Federal/State funding available to employers hiring priority cohorts.
* Reverse‑market suitable participants to employers; coordinate work trials/observational experiences/volunteering as appropriate, ensuring WHS and screening checks.
QUALIFICATIONS:
* A relevant qualification such as Certificate IV in Employment Services, Marketing, Business, or similar is highly desirable, or equivalent gained through experience and micro-credentials in business, marketing, recruitment, employment, and/or working with people with a disability or community services.
DESIRED SKILLS:
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with individuals from a refugee background.
* Strong employer-facing presentation and negotiation skills.
* Ability to create inclusive partnerships with employers and collaborate with other organisations.
* Administrative accuracy and data quality.
* Strong time and calendar management.
* Digital proficiency with common productivity, collaboration and remote‑service platforms; confident use of common IT tools and software platforms.
* Understanding of Social Media platforms and marketing.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE:
* Experience working with people from a refugee background, ideally including experience supporting people with a disability secure employment.
* Demonstrated success building employer relationships and sourcing/placing candidates into sustainable jobs.
* Evidence of meeting/exceeding KPIs.
* Experience running information sessions, interview coaching and industry awareness activities.
* Administration with multiple software platforms.
* Employment services experience (DES, Workforce Australia, recruitment)
This position is being offered as a full-time position (1.0 EFT) on a Level of the SCHADS Industry Award depending on qualifications and experience, based at ARA's IEA Salisbury office. ARA is a Public Benevolent Institution and able to offer salary packaging benefits.
Why work for ARA?
ARA's employees love the sense of belonging from being part of a welcoming and caring team with a strong sense of purpose. ARA doesn't just list its values on posters but lives by them: We Care; We Are Courageous; and We Are Community.
We have a highly diverse workforce of over 90 people, working from modern facilities in the northern suburbs of Adelaide across three sites in Salisbury, with outreach services in the south, west and east of Adelaide. The diversity of the team covers many cultures, ethnicities, religions, and languages to create a truly multicultural workplace with most staff bringing lived experience of being a refugee or recently arrived migrant. We celebrate our diversity because it lies at the heart of our mission: building inclusive, welcoming communities where people from all backgrounds especially refugees and migrants can thrive.
In addition to industry standard salaries ARA offers employees generous salary packaging opportunities as a not-for-profit PBI (salary sacrifice), flexible working arrangements, support with ongoing personal and professional development, and cultural leave in support of religious and cultural observances.
How To Apply
Applications can be lodged by clicking on the "Apply" button below. Please provide a cover letter addressing the position description, along with your resume.
A copy of the Position Description can be downloaded from ARA's career's portal on ARA's website:
All applications will be treated in strictest confidence.
ARA is committed to equal employment opportunity. Individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply.