Second year plumbing apprentice, Farid Rezai has come a long way since arriving from Afghanistan as an unaccompanied minor in August 2011.
Farid was just sixteen when he arrived in Australia and spoke little English. To improve his English, Farid first attended the Milperra language school in Brisbane before starting Year 11 at Yeronga State High.
BUSY At Work Industry Training Consultant, Emma Dickson first met Farid in 2013 when contacted by Hope Centre Services, a not-for-profit organisation that conducts life changing programs in various locations across the greater Brisbane area.
At the time Farid was also being supported by Life Without Barriers another community agency supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
He was due to turn 18 at the end of 2013 which meant a lot of the support the agency could offer would be withdrawn and he would have to fund his own accommodation and support himself.
Emma said Farid was a determined young man who was keen to support himself and not be reliant on government handouts.
“What he really wanted was a fulltime apprenticeship. However due to language barriers and not having any support networks Farid found it difficult to get a start. BUSY At Work were contacted and we were able to give him the help he needed.”
“I called a number of employers from many different trades asking if they would give him a start, just a chance to prove himself. I eventually spoke with Peter Attard from Isle Plumbing and he agreed to give him a trial. Farid is now into his second year as a plumbing apprentice and hasn’t looked back,” Emma said.
Farid said he was very grateful for the support he had received from BUSY At Work.
“Without the support from BUSY At Work I would have struggled to get an apprenticeship. This has changed my life and I’m looking forward to finishing my apprenticeship in two years time,” Farid said.
Director of Isle Plumbing, Ray Skillicorn said Farid had worked extremely hard during his apprenticeship.
“Farid is doing really well and made the most of this opportunity. With the support and the training we have been able to provide, he has a great future ahead of him,” Ray said.
BUSY At Work, CEO Paul Miles said that BUSY was pleased to support local employers as well as be an advocate for people like Farid who had come from difficult circumstances.
“Getting started in the workforce can be hard itself, let alone with the additional challenges Farid faces. However with the right training and support agencies in place, he is able to overcome those challenges and perform at the highest level.”
“Farid now has the confidence to move forward in his chosen career and I’m sure he has a great career path ahead of him,” Mr Miles said.
For further information go to www.apprenticeshipcentral.com.au
MEDIA CONTACT: Leanne Macnamara, Public Relations Coordinator
0438 173 960 leanne.macnamara@busyatwork.com.au
