For People from a Refugee/Asylum-Seeking Background, International Students, and Public Housing Residents
What Are Career Clinics?
Our Career Clinic has been designed to support people from refugee, asylum-seeking, or migrant backgrounds who are living in public housing, as well as international students studying within the Melbourne municipality.
The career clinic program helps participants navigate and gain a greater understanding of the employment landscape, identify career pathways and give them the tools to build their networks as well as assist them in sourcing employment opportunities, preparing job applications, resumes, cover letters, and responses to key selection criteria.
Our Career Clinic program is based on a mentor-mentee model. Each mentee – whether from international students studying in the City of Melbourne, and residents of public housing within the municipality who have a refugee, asylum-seeking, or migrant background, is paired with a mentor who has experience in the Australian employment landscape. Together, they explore pathways to meaningful employment.
Throughout the program at our weekly Zoom catch ups, we share our experience, knowledge, and tips as well as working with participants [mentees] to educate employers on the benefits of hiring individuals from refugee, asylum-seeking, or migrant backgrounds who are living in public housing, as well as international students studying in the City of Melbourne.
Who will be running the Career Clinics?
In partnership with the City of Melbourne, the program is run by Deakin University’s Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training, and Education (CREATE). CREATE supports international students studying in the City of Melbourne, as well as residents of public housing who have a refugee, asylum-seeking, or migrant background and are motivated to build their careers in Australia.
How does the mentee/mentor model work?
We will match mentees to a mentor. After the Induction, mentors will connect with their mentees online and work together throughout the 7-week program to support the mentees in potentially finding employment. We do not guarantee that at the end of the 7 weeks mentees will have a job but if they apply themselves, attend all the clinics, and work with their mentor they will be much better informed about the employment landscape in Australia.
When, where, and how is this clinic run?
The clinic is primarily delivered online via Zoom. However, the program will begin with an in-person induction session for mentees at (location to be confirmed), where mentees will be introduced to the program structure, expectations, and resources.
Each week, participants will:
– Attend one 1-hour group Zoom session where mentors and mentees come together to discuss the weekly topic and share progress; and
– Work independently in mentor–mentee pairs for approximately 1–2 hours to complete program activities and career development tasks.
All program materials and resources will be provided. See table of session dates and times below:
| Mentee Induction | Tuesday 7th of July 2026 In-Person 1-2pm at the City of Melbourne |
| Week 1 | Tuesday 14th of July 2026 (Online) 1-2pm |
| Week 2 | Tuesday 21st of July 2026 (Online) 1-2pm |
| Week 3 | Tuesday 28th of July (Online) 1-2pm |
| Week 4 | Tuesday 4th of August 2026 (Online) 1-2pm |
| Week 5 | Tuesday 11th of August 2026 (Online) 1-2pm |
| Week 6 | Tuesday 18th of August 2026 (Online) 1-2pm |
| Week 7 | Thursday 25th of August 2026 In-Person 1-2pm at the City of Melbourne |
Session’s week 2 to week 6 will be delivered online via Zoom. The first session (induction) and the final session will be held face-to-face at the Melbourne City Council).
PLEASE NOTE: Spaces in this program are limited.
If you have any questions, please contact Bis Hakimi: b.hakimi@deakin.du.au OR Karen Dunwoodie: k.dunwoodie@deakin.edu.au