When war broke out in Ukraine, Alona Adunbi, her husband George, and their young son Asaf fled to Australia, seeking a safer future. But while they were grateful for a fresh start and willing to work hard, they struggled to find secure employment—until Alona connected with Civik People.
Civik People was launched in 2019 with a clear mission: to create sustainable employment for refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australia.
According to the 2021 Census, over 57% of humanitarian entrants over 15 years of age who arrived in Australia since 2000, are not in the workforce. To tackle this issue, Civik is taking a two-fold approach. It prepares new Australians with the skills and support they need to succeed in the workplace, while also providing employers with workforce management solutions that improve diversity, retention, and productivity.
To date, Civik People has created 103 jobs across 11 industries, and supported 225 participants through career coaching programs. Key to this success is its partnership with organisations like Australia Post.
Partnering for success
Australia Post has a deep commitment to refugee inclusion. Earlier this month, Australia Post launched its first Refugee Employment & Engagement Action Plan, which outlines strategies for recruiting and retaining refugees in meaningful roles. The organisation has also set a 1.5% refugee employment target over three-years.
Faiza Shakori, Refugee Inclusion Partner at Australia Post, credits support from organisations such as Civik People as crucial to achieving these goals.
“We don't want to have just one program. We want to make sure that our organisation is refugee friendly,” Faiza says.
“The role that Civik People has played in supporting us has been amazing.
“That wraparound support, the sourcing of the candidate and the quality of the candidates, have been really good, and I believe that's because of the connection that Civik People has with the community and the settlement support organisations. They can bridge that gap.”
By working closely with settlement organisations and community leaders, Civik People ensures that candidates are well-prepared for the challenges of the Australian workplace. Once placed, ongoing support helps employees adjust, settle in, and remain in their roles, ensuring long-term success for both the employee and employer.
Faiza, who came to Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan herself, said the amount of support was unique.
“I have to highlight the openness, the professionalism, and the readiness to be able to support the candidates—even if it means going with a candidate at six o'clock in the morning to do a tour of the facility, to be there when they're starting their induction. The amount of support that comes from Shannon Price and his team has been amazing. It's quality work,” she says.
Alona’s journey
For Alona, the partnership has allowed her to find stability and a new sense of purpose through her work with Australia Post.
She was one of five refugees who secured employment at the Brisbane Parcel Facility in August 2024 via the partnership with Civik People.
It came after years of struggling to secure stable work.
“We are so grateful that Australia opened their doors for us,” Alona shares. “But we struggled when we arrived.”
“We applied for so many jobs, but employers wouldn’t accept us. We didn’t get any response at all. It was hard to understand why, especially since my husband had completed his qualifications as a support worker.”
Through the Work and Welcome Program with Multicultural Australia, Alona was able to find a short-term job as a library aid at St Rita’s Collect. But the role was only for a few months.
Her husband found casual work as a cleaner, but the instability of his job made it difficult for them to plan for the future.
Everything changed when Alona’s mother saw a post on social media about Australia Post, in partnership with Civik People, offering jobs for people on humanitarian visas. Alona immediately applied, and within minutes, Shannon, from Civik People, called her back.
“I was so happy. I had worked at DHL in Ukraine, so I knew the work. It was a perfect match,” she says.
Alona began working as a mail sorter at the Redbank Parcel Facility in Brisbane on the night shift. Although physically demanding, the job has given her the security and stability she and her family needed.
“I have a great team. I have a great supervisor. She enjoys my work and my attitude. It’s so nice. When I'm working, I’m trying my best all the time,” she says.
“I feel settled now. With this permanent job, I can think about things like applying for rent or a mortgage.”
As Alona reflects on her journey and looks ahead to the future, she’s optimistic.
She has been able to find a childcare place for her son which he loves. Though she currently works night shifts, she hopes to transition to a day shift role in a position more aligned with her skills, such as customer service or in a post office.
When reflecting on the collaboration between Civik People and Australia Post, Faiza says it goes beyond placing candidates in jobs. It’s about creating an environment where refugees can thrive.
“It is about finding the right position for the right candidate,” Faiza says.
“Whether it’s a permanent role or a three-month internship, seeing them grow and build their careers, even if it looks different to what they had done before, that means success to me.”