Purpose & Growth, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Armidale and supported by Transport for NSW and TAFE NSW, has launched a Pathways to Employment Program aimed at empowering Ezidi refugees settled in Armidale, NSW. This initiative provides training in civil construction skills, including the operation of loaders and excavators, to equip participants for potential employment opportunities.

Through practical learning and guidance on job application processes, the program aims to integrate Ezidi refugees into the local community and address skills shortages in regional NSW. With the support of Minister Jenny Aitchison and the Rotary Club, the program highlights the opportunities available within familiar industries, fostering a sense of belonging and contribution.

Testimonials from participants like Khalaf attest to the program’s impact, demonstrating the potential for refugees to become valuable assets in community development. This collaboration underscores the commitment to building inclusive communities and leveraging vocational education to support regional growth.

Purpose & Growth, in response to Australia’s commitment to welcome approximately 1000 households of refugees from Afghanistan, provided essential support to newcomers who arrived in hotel quarantine in Sydney. Recognising the imminent transition to the community and the challenges they faced in seeking employment due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with the Australian job market, Purpose & Growth offered freely available job training and AI-enabled practice interview sessions online.

Working in collaboration with Settlement Services International (SSI) and other Humanitarian Settlement Program participants, dedicated case workers facilitated the integration process. Generous donations enabled Purpose & Growth to provide durable, basic Chromebooks to families, empowering them to learn English, acquire job skills, search for employment opportunities, communicate with their caseworkers, and more.

At Purpose & Growth, we envisioned a future where equitable healthcare access was a reality for all, even in the most vulnerable communities. Our collaboration with architect Robert Barnstone led to the development of purpose-built, drive-through testing stations housed within shipping containers.

This innovative approach aimed to expand testing capacity and facilitate a coordinated public health response, essential for safely resuming daily activities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from lessons learned in previous disease outbreaks, we recognised the importance of widespread testing and contact tracing in mitigating the spread of infectious diseases.

By prioritising accessibility, equity, and safety in testing orchestration and facility design, we strived to contribute to a healthier, more resilient global community.