Success Stories

Migrants and refugees benefit from mentoring and entrepreneurship

FROM THE JUDGES:

A great example of a well aligned partnership infused across the organisation with leadership support.”

KEY RESULTS + FEATURES

  • 370 students have benefited from the partnership
  • 7-Eleven’s board and leadership team met with AMES Australia students to understand their stories
  • 20 paid work placements over life of the relationship
  • Launch of the ‘Enterprise Hub’ where 7-Eleven staff act as mentors to entrepreneurs and to AMES Australia staff

 OVERVIEW + HIGHLIGHTS

  • AMES Australia is one of the leading providers of comprehensive settlement services for asylum seekers, migrants and refugees. Services include humanitarian settlement, education and vocational training, employment, skilled migrations pathways and social programs for newcomers to Australia
  • 7-Eleven’s workplace giving program ‘Good Cause’ focuses on four key areas – food, migrants, youth and local communities. The program gives home to 7-Eleven’s charitable activities and enables the company to add value to organisations such as AMES Australia
  • The partnership seeks to find new and enterprising ways to build social and economic participation for migrants and refugees choosing life in Australia; demonstrate the value of cultural diversity in the Australian community; and create more opportunities for migrants and refugees to access work through retail, customer service and small business pathways. The mutual transfer of expertise and skill is what makes the partnership so effective and impactful
  • The Chairman of 7-Eleven’s board met with migrant franchisees’ families both in Australia and overseas to build and share understanding
  • In addition to workplace giving and volunteering, 7-Eleven also provides financial sponsorship and strategic support to fund programs to incubate new innovative services for refugees and migrants. In addition, expertise was provided for the launch and growth of the AMES Australia Enterprise Hub where 7-Eleven team members will act as mentors to entrepreneurs, as well as to AMES staff supporting refugees and migrants
  • AMES offer 7-Eleven a strengths based approach to a diverse workforce, and an opportunity for staff to experience and form relationships with a broad range of refugees and migrants
  • In promoting the partnership, the 7-Eleven Good Cause Employee Committee designed and hosted industry visits at their head office, internally promoted workplace giving, volunteering, posted ‘Refugee Stories’ publication in all tea rooms, held an Impact day where staff shared language and employment tips with students and sponsored a ‘Shop and Cook’ session promoting healthy eating for International Students