Work Experience and Support Program

REGISTER NOW

WESP is designed to help Canberrans from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, enter the workforce by giving them an opportunity to improve their skills and confidence, as well as develop important networks within the ACT Public Service. The Program involves four weeks of formal office skills training plus an eight-week work experience placement within the public, private or community sectors in the ACT.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs is seeking applicants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, in particular from the Islamic faith, who would like to participate in the WESP Program 2008.

The aim of the program is to provide participants with opportunities to:

·       improve their IT, writing, office administration, and communication skills;
·       gain practical job seeking skills;
·       prepare them to enter into and be successful in their work experience placements;
·       gain practical experience in an Australian workplace;
·       enhance their opportunities to access and secure sustainable employment; and
·       provide an opportunity to establish a personal network of contacts for future work and training options.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs has successfully coordinated WESP since the Program was initiated in 1998. The next WESP is expected to commence in March. Please fill out the Application Form, that can be obtained from the website below and email it to sanela.ackar@act.gov.au or fax it to 6207 5862 along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV) if you are interested in participating in the program.

Work Experience and Support Program

Further information can be obtained by contacting:

Work Experience and Support Program
ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs
Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services

Phone: (02) 6207 6199
Email: sanela.ackar@act.gov.au

Free English lessons

Free English lessons organized by the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) for Tuggeranong are now taking on new enrollments for the start of term 1. If you know anyone interested in improving their English conversation skills and who might have difficulty travelling all the way to our main location in Civic, please let them know of our classes in Tuggeranong.

The classes are held in the Tuggeranong Community Centre (next to McDonalds) every Monday from 10-12am and start on February 4th (Cowlishaw St.). Students can enroll at any time by contacting Craig Hanks at the Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc (MRC).

Phone - 62488577
Email - cdp@mrccanberra.org.au

Otherwise just feel free to walk in and see either Joyce or Helen who will be there every Monday.

Book: Australia’s Muslim Cameleers
Pioneers of the Inland
1860s–1930s
Philip Jones and Anna Kenny

This superbly illustrated book brings to life the vital role that Muslim cameleers from Afghanistan and British India played in pioneering transport and communication routes across outback Australia’s vast expanses. The cameleers’ small Muslim communities were a feature of Australian outback towns for more than 50 years.

Australia’s Muslim Cameleers: Pioneers of the Inland 1860s–1930s is a rich pictorial history of these men, their religious and cultural life, and their relations with Indigenous and European Australians. Many of the images and artefacts in this fascinating account are published here for the first time. The book contains a biographical listing of more than 1200 cameleers.

Click here for more information