The outstanding team at Smart Fabrication led by Mr Simon Kennedy, have truly shown the way on how best to deal with our most ‘disadvantaged' new arrivals. Partnering with ARA jobs and the Australian Refugee Association, we have been able to achieve some amazing results.

I first met Mr. Simon Kennedy, Managing Director of Smart Fabrication Pty Ltd, almost 2 years ago and set him the challenge of addressing the issues that had been raised by the Media concerning refugees, especially the Sudanese people.

From the outset Mr Kennedy, showing his true character, took the challenge head on, and I believe has now set the standard on how employers, and we as a working community, can best deal with refugees and the many barriers they face once they have arrived in Australia.

We aimed to solve several problems: Australian Workplace Culture, Work Ethic, Skills Shortage and Integration into Australian Society. We called the project "Smart Fab's Industry Incubator Training Program ".

Mr. Kennedy, using his own funds and linking his contacts, (special thanks go to BOC gases who helped with the supply of materials & Port Adelaide TAFE with help on creating the training modules and assessment), set aside some valuable floor space to create a fully equipped training centre complying with current OH&S standards. Within weeks the training commenced.

Suffice to say, with so much support and determination, the program has become very successful. All who participated have graduated with a Certificate of Completion, Greencard Ticket, Welding Industry Recognised Certificate for the modules completed and best of all, almost all of the participants have gained employment within the Metal Fabrication and associated industries.

Two of the trainess, whom we had judged to be the most difficult in placing into employment, have actually turned out to be our most outstanding participants to date:

Wawu Maley Wawu Maley is a middle aged Sudanese man who has a visual impairment in one eye and struggled to complete some of the welding modules due to his impairment, his chances of gaining employment in a skilled environment, let alone an unskilled environment, were very slim, but with much support from the team and Wawu's own good attitude he was placed into employment at a small workshop that specializes in Cable Splicing. Initially, Wawu had no transport - catching 2 buses and walking a further 2 km's to get to work. "Within 3 months of working he had gained a driver's licence, saved for & bought a car & had attained invaluable knowledge & skills which made the employer see fit to raise his wage and entrust him with the keys to the workshop". Now Wawu is in charge of the small workshop when the employer is working offsite and trains the new employees. Shanan Ashgar Ahmed Shanan Ashgar Ahmed is a mature aged Sudanese man who had age & lack of skills as his main barriers. From Smart Fab's Industry Incubator Training Program, Shanan was placed into employment into a small Metal Fabrication workshop in Wingfield. "After 3 months, Shanan was made permanent full-time", but due to lack of work the employer could not afford to keep him on. He was then placed into a Sheet metal manufacturing firm. At my last visit, the employer has noted that Shanan has shown that, once he has been trained properly, he is able to master the job at hand and then drives himself on a daily basis to better his personal production output. Shanan, now, is not only highly skilled as a Sheet metal production worker but is in actual fact Multi-skilled and is a valuable member of the manufacturing team able to step in and help when help is needed. The employer has also mentioned "Shanan's leadership qualities and has earmarked him for a supervisory role in the near future ."

So from the Australian Refugee Association, ARAjobs and Australia 's new arrivals, a most gratuitous and heartfelt THANKYOU to the Team at Smart Fab and most especially to Mr. Simon Kennedy.

Rithy Keut
Marketing Consultant 
arajobs

Web: www.arajobs.com.au