1. I have significant experience in the management of asylum seeker programs, both within the
immigration detention system and in settlement services spanning more than 3 years.
My roles have included Cultural Support Worker and Cultural Liaison Officer in the Department of
Immigration Alternative Place of Detention at Leonora WA (Life Without Barriers), Residential Care
Worker for Unaccompanied Minors in Community Immigration Detention programs in
metropolitan Melbourne (Mackillop Family Services), Case Manager working in Community
Immigration Detention program also in metropolitan Melbourne (Catholic Care Victoria) where I
was responsible for managing the wellbeing and welfare of vulnerable adult males, families and
unaccompanied minors, and as my current role as a Client Support Worker in the AMES Asylum
Seeker and Refugee Settlement Program.
In my working history with refugees and asylum seekers I have developed high skills in discovering
efficient and productive way to complete a particular job task. Also I have developed and
employed a number of effective strategies to assist young and adult males in times of distress,
build trust, belonging and self-esteem, and facilitate cohesive relationships with other housemate.
Working as Cultural Liaison officer in APOD WA, I have developed skills and experience working
with stack holders, client’s school, Legal representatives, DIAC and other agencies to develop a
cohesive understanding and knowledge of client’s issues in Detention center. Also through this
strategy I was able to work closely with service provider and external agencies to ensure the
provision and access of client to the most appropriate services in the detention center.
I have highly developed skills in cross-cultural communication and sensitivity to cultural issues, and
the ability to facilitate cross cultural understanding within settlement programs.
I have strong verbal and written communication skills in English, Persian, Dari/Hazaragi and Urdu,
being fully fluent and literate in each. I have a sound knowledge of these cultures and can
naturally engage with clients and communities from these cultural backgrounds.
I have excellent planning and analytical skills, the ability to effectively manage time, competing
priorities and co-ordinate services working within a high pressure case management framework. I
believe this demonstrates that I possess the inherent requirements of flexibility, resourcefulness
and resilience required of the Community worker.
I have first-hand experience managing community guides and cultural support workers working in
settlement services and immigration detention, whereby I provided supervision, guidance,
feedback and mentoring to meet program outcomes and improve support services.
I am fully computer literate and proficient in all major Microsoft Office products. I have obtained
proficiency with numerous internal IT platforms for each of the organizations I have worked for as
well as with the Department of Immigration & Border Protection IT systems and databases, and
am competent in learning new IT systems.
Finally, I am wholeheartedly committed on a personal and ethical level, to the successful
settlement, inclusion, education, economic independence and integration of asylum seekers into
their new communities, so that they can have dignity and hope and make a positive contribution
to their new home.