Australian human resources and talent acquisition workers - some of whom have lost their own jobs - are donating their time to help those who have been made unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rich Lewis-Jones, one of the organisers at not-for-profit organisation Jobs for Australia, says those looking for work stretches far and wide.
“It’s everybody, we’ve got everything from truck drivers to a group CFO. There’s a variety of people that have found themselves out of work,” he told SBS News.
“One of the things we’re finding is that there are people who are finding themselves out of work for the first time in five to ten years. It’s [almost] 10 per cent of the population.”
Migrants facing extra challenges
For Shreyas Shragandha, who moved to Melbourne from India last year, landing a job before COVID-19 was already a challenge.
“Initially it was hard to find a job because I was a migrant and didn’t have local experience,” the 34-year-old said.
Last July, Mr Shragandha eventually found a job as a business analyst, something he was really enjoying until he was made redundant last month due to the impacts of COVID-19.
It happened only weeks after his wife Sangeetha and their four-year-old daughter migrated to join him in Melbourne.
“My position was made redundant. It was first unbelievable; I didn’t expect it. It’s been quite a challenge since then,” he said.
“It was a very precarious situation for me and my family. The situation is a new challenge for us, we are trying to get a job, at least one of us, to survive this situation.”
Mr Shragandha, now a permanent resident, has been extremely grateful for the support he has received in Australia, particularly from Jobs for Australia.
“I just signed up and had a face-to-face video. Rebecca [a volunteer], understood my previous experience. After understanding my circumstances, she provided very valuable feedback on my CV, what should be my approach and what I should expect.”
“They’re trying their best to help everybody. They’re giving back to the community under these circumstances. I know a couple of them were also let go like me. It’s a very bold and good initiative.”
Passionate volunteers
Jobs for Australia was created in early April and has since helped more than 100 clients. It has the capacity to help hundreds more, the organisation says.
The organisation is run by passionate volunteers like Vidhita Jain, who has experience in human resources and talent acquisition.
Ms Jain also lost her job due to the coronavirus outbreak. Originally from India, she migrated to Australia from London six years ago.
Vidhita Jain is volunteering for Jobs for Australia and says she understands the situation many migrants are in. Source: Supplied
“There are thousands and thousands who have lost their job – that doesn’t comfort me, but it makes me feel that I’m not alone. It’s not anything personal, it’s not just about me.”
As a migrant, she says she understands the difficulties of moving to another country, so she wants to help others looking for work.
But in her role, she has noticed that the job market can be challenging for migrants on certain visas.
“A lot of organisations that are recruiting are focusing on citizens first or permanent residents. If you’re already on a temporary visa or a student visa, those are the people struggling to get a job,” she said. “They are not given priority.”
Tasmania remains the only state in Australia to have announced it will provide financial support for temporary visa holders impacted by COVID-19.
'An inclusive project'
Vidhita says there is a huge need for the work that Jobs For Australia does and says she is delighted to volunteer four to five hours a day.
“It gives me a sense of happiness. It makes me feel I am able to contribute in such hard times, contribute to the community and also help people who really need it.”
Mr Lewis-Jones says the organisation is committed to helping people of all backgrounds prepare for the job market. 
“There’s been a huge mix of different people. It’s very much an inclusive project. We’re here to help anyone that reaches out,” he said.
Rich Lewis-Jones says Jobs for Australia wants to help more people looking for work. Source: Supplied
“Everybody in the team has a set amount of experience. So, you’ve got everything from talent acquisition manager level, to people that have been involved in day-to-day job recruitment.”
“It’s so important that when candidates say they need a bit of a sanity check on their CV, that we’re not taking on too much and that we’re dedicating our time to them.”
Mr Lewis-Jones says their clients are extremely grateful for their help.
“There’s a massive level of appreciation. In this climate, there's a lot of panic, people don’t know where to start. I think people are just appreciative that they can get in touch with another human being and jump on a video conference call.”
“It gives them a bit of energy. Providing any level of expertise at no cost gives people an extra boost.”
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
