Unlocking Refugee Skills for Australia’s Future

On World Refugee Day, 20 June, Tawasul Foundation was proud to be represented at the Refugee and Migrant Jobs and Skills Summit 2024 through our Vice President and Billion Dollar Benefit Campaign Ambassador, Sam Matti. Sam joined industry leaders Betsy Gregg, Laura Angus, Mark Morey and moderator Lesleyanne to discuss the barriers migrants and refugees face in having their overseas qualifications recognised – and how Australia can build a fairer, more efficient system.

The summit brought together 150 leaders from business, government, unions, refugee-led organisations, NGOs and community groups, all committed to unlocking the skills of refugees and migrants. A new Deloitte Access Economics report commissioned by SSI shows that if 146,700 underutilised migrants and refugees were employed at a level that matches their skills, Australia could gain an additional $9 billion in GDP each year, and $70 billion over the next decade.

Tackling the migrant skills gap is a national responsibility that requires coordination across government, industry, employers, unions, social services and migrant communities. Tawasul Foundation will continue to advocate for fair recognition of overseas qualifications and meaningful employment pathways, and we thank SSI, Allianz Australia, LinkedIn, Business NSW and Business Western Sydney for their leadership in this important campaign. Refugees are not just a social inclusion checkbox – they are skilled professionals who can play a vital role in building Australia’s future.