Multicultural Youth Employment & Careers Expo in Auburn

The Somali Australian Community Association of NSW (SACA) held a well attended Multicultural Youth Employment & Careers Expo in Sydney on Saturday 30 July 2022 from 10 am to 2 pm at Auburn Town Hall. 

The Somali Australian Community Association of NSW (SACA) based in Lidcombe is a not-for-profit Somali community organisation that strives to be an umbrella body for the Somali organisations in NSW.

SACA NSW provides support for the activities of member organisations, youth, women and coordinates much needed projects within the Somali community residing in NSW with the support of Local, State and Federal Governments as well as working with various businesses and organisations to empower the Somali community in NSW.

Invited guests at the event  included the Mayor of Cumberland City Council Ms Lisa Lake, Councillor Glen Elmore, Councillor Diane Coleman, Councillor Sabrin Farooqui, Mr Zia Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief, AMUST, Mrs Mehar Ahmad President, Seena Incorporated, Ms Thida Yang from Multicultural NSW, Ms Julia Finn MP (State Member for Granville) and Dr Ahmed Deria, school educator and former school principal.

With the help of experts from a wide range of professions/industries several workshops were conducted including resume writing, mock job interviews, financial literacy training participated by a large number of young people from the multicultural community.

The formal program was MC’ed by Ayan Gurey and Zuhair Mohamed where a number of speakers addressed the attendees including Cumberland City Council Mayor Ms Lisa Lakes, Dr Ahmed Deria, Mr Zia Ahmad and spokesperson from Auburn Police.

Ms Maryan Omar, President of SACA NSW said, “The aim of the Multicultural Youth Employment and Careers Expo was to showcase the incredible array of career and training opportunities for young Somali and CALD people residing in Western and South-Western Sydney.”

More than 20 stallholders were at the Expo, representing local employers, support services, employment agencies, training organisations, government bodies, Western Sydney University and TAFENSW and the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST.

“We wanted to inspire young Somali and CALD people by providing this great opportunity to connect with as many employment, training and career avenues as possible,” SACA NSW Youth Programs Coordinator, Ms Ayan Gurey said.

This free event offered interactive demonstrations and industry insights to give young people confidence about job opportunities in Western and South-Western Sydney

In addition to stallholders and expert trainers, over 200 young people attended this event and each were presented with a certificate of appreciation by the Mayor of Cumberland Council, Ms Lisa Lake.

The expo concluded with a panel discussion answering a series of posed questions based on their profession, area of expertise and experience. The panelists included:

1. Mr Zia Ahmad – Editor-in-Chief,  AMUST
2. Dr Ahmed Deria – Educational consultant with NESA
3. Ms Shukri Omar – lawyer
4. Ms Hafsa Ibrahim – Optometrist

The panel, from left: Dr Ahmed Deria, Hafsa Ibrahim, Shukri Omar and Zia Ahmad. Photo by: Luis Veniegra – Sharpfocus Photography.

 “We would like to thank Multicultural NSW, NSW Department of Communities & Justice and the NSW Government for providing funding for this project as well as the In-kind contribution of MCCA Islamic Finance and Investments (Australia) as well as the amazing group of young volunteers who made this event possible and all the guest speakers, stall holders for their services,” Ms Maryan Omar concluded.

The Professionals at the Expo included:

The stall holders at the Expo included:

The Somali Australian Community Association of NSW can be contacted via the following means if you wish to take part in their future programs/events:

W: www.sacansw.org.au

E: sacansw@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somalicommunitynsw/