‘We can work’: Shepparton’s African communities struggle to secure employment

Gracia Musafiri applied for 60 jobs before she changed her name to Grace.

Prior to the change, she hadn’t received a single phone call.

After, the interview requests started flowing in.

“I was like, I can’t believe this is what I have to do,” she said.

But for Rebecca Awan, there are some things she can’t change.

Like the colour of her skin.

Or her accent.

“They treat us like we don’t know anything,” she said.

“But when they give us a job, we can do it.”

Significant barriers to employment

According to African Focus, a new survey from St Paul’s African House in Shepparton, these women are not alone in their struggles.

Like much of regional Victoria, Greater Shepparton is in the grip of a labour shortage, with employers crying out for workers.

And yet, finding paid employment is an uphill battle for many people of African heritage in the community.

In the African House survey, almost two thirds of respondents said they were searching for paid work or more paid work.

Employment was rated as respondents’ greatest area of need.

But one in three said they weren’t receiving the services and support they required to secure a job.

Learning to drive was named as a major barrier to employment.

And while Shepparton’s African communities are filled with skilled linguists — one in 10 speak four or more languages — learning English was also an issue for many.

The survey’s senior community connections co-ordinator Akuot Wundit said this language barrier could result in the misconception African community members were uneducated.

And yet, 45 per cent of respondents were enrolled in some form of learning, with almost one in three attending university.

“However, they still are not able to get a job in Australia,” Ms Wundi said.

Racism and discrimination also barriers

Many community members said they had experienced racism, with two in three experiencing it at work.

Results revealed being treated as less intelligent or inferior because of cultural characteristics was the most common form of racism.

But most didn’t report it, because they were afraid of the consequences.

This same fear of racism also prevented people from reaching out for services and support.

Mothers could face additional challenges in finding employment, according to African House’s Solange Habonimana.

“If they can find someone to look after their kids, they can work from 9am to 3pm. But it’s difficult to find work within those hours.”

But some community members, such as Congolese refugee Amani Monoka, have managed to gain seasonal work in farming or food processing.

He, like others in his community, is working multiple jobs with lengthy hours to provide for his family.

“I’d wake up at 4am, I’d go to Nagambie and work there. Then I’d come back by 2pm and work at SPC until 11pm and be asleep by midnight,” he said.

First in-depth look 

The first detailed survey of Greater Shepparton’s African communities, African Focus, aims to highlight the demographics, experiences and needs of members.

Organisers hope the survey will spark real change, driving more support for African people in the region.

Housing, access to interpreters and business support have also emerged as priority areas, in addition to employment.

“Africans can do jobs well, like other people,” African House community connections worker Beatrice Nyinawabera said.

Today, Gracia  Musafiri has finally secured a job – she’s working as African House’s partnerships and programs assistant manager.

On her first day, her boss asked her: “What would you like us to call you?”

“I said, ‘Gracia’,” she said.

“I love that, because it’s my name. And I don’t feel like I have to change it to be accepted.”