A number of refugees are hoping new jobs in the hospitality industry will serve as a stepping-stone to bigger things.
The new program they've graduated from is one of a number of industry-based initiatives aimed at helping refugees settle into their new lives in Australia.
Thirty-nine year-old Bassam Mansoor has a Masters degree in Physics and, before he fled Iraq with his family, he worked at a University in Mosul.
He now works behind a bar in Sydney, but says finding his first job in Australia wasn't easy.
"I check that website of Seek, and you need some experience and certificate, and now I have certificate. I can work in more places."
Mr Mansoor is one of 12 refugee graduates of a four-week hospitality course backed by Clubs New South Wales.
The state government's Refugee Resettlement coordinator, Professor Peter Shergold, says the jobs will help refugees build their new lives in Australia.
"I can't emphasise the importance of this program enough. When refugees come here, they don't want to live off welfare. They want to get on their own feet again, and that means getting their children into education, and for themselves, getting a first job"
Clubs New South Wales Chairman Peter Newell hopes to see employers embrace similar programs nationally.
"It's a win-win, it gives clubs an opportunity to employ very good staff, highly motivated staff with training, and gives the staff a leg-up to who knows where."
For Mr Mansoor it's a first step that he hopes will improve his English and lead to, one day, teaching again.
"At first, I feel that maybe life it's maybe it's hard because it's a different society, a different language but now I am excited, I am happy."
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