Partnering with Refugees & Asylum Seekers 

Supporting refugees and people seeking asylum through education, connection and belonging.

Project Summary  

Mercy Works Connect is the largest volunteer program of Mercy Works, operating across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

The program recruits, trains and supports volunteers who provide educational mentoring, learning support and English language assistance to children, young people and adults from refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds.

Working in schools and community settings, Mercy Works Connect helps participants build confidence, strengthen their sense of belonging and participate more fully in school, work and community life. The program includes MPower, supporting young people as they transition to further education, training and employment, and Reading Angels, providing peer reading support in participating schools.

The Challenge 

Many people from refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds arrive in Australia having experienced conflict, displacement and interrupted education.

Learning English, adjusting to a new education system and building new community connections can be challenging. Without the right support, these barriers can affect educational outcomes, confidence and participation in community life.

Mercy Works Connect provides practical, relationship-based support that helps participants overcome these challenges and build the skills, confidence and connections they need to thrive.

What We Do

Mercy Works recruits, trains and supports volunteers who provide:

• Learning support for primary and secondary school students.
• English language classes that build communication skills and independence for adult learners.
• Mentoring that strengthens wellbeing, resilience and a sense of belonging.
• MPower, supporting young people from refugee backgrounds as they transition to further education, training and employment.
• Reading Angels, providing peer reading support in participating schools.

Every volunteer receives comprehensive preparation and ongoing support, including safeguarding training, ensuring participants receive high-quality, culturally responsive mentoring.

Our volunteers come from diverse professional and life backgrounds—including education, health, law, engineering, business, parents and caregivers—and share a deep commitment to mercy, compassion and social justice.

The Impact

Mercy Works Connect runs weekly across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, supporting more than 1,300 school students and adult learners across approximately 50 schools and community learning sites, with the support of more than 140 trained volunteers.

Participants develop stronger English language and literacy skills, greater confidence and resilience, and improved engagement in education and community life. Young people are supported to pursue further education and employment, while adult learners gain the confidence to participate more independently in everyday life.

The program also strengthens schools and communities by building meaningful relationships between volunteers and participants, creating more inclusive and welcoming learning environments.

You can help children, young people and adults from refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds build the skills, confidence and connections they need to participate fully in school, work and community life.

Supporting people seeking asylum to find work and build independent futures 

For people seeking asylum in Australia, finding employment is often incredibly difficult. 

Many arrive with skills, experience, and a strong desire to contribute. They are ready and wanting to work, but face barriers such as limited English, unfamiliar systems, and a lack of local work experience or recognised qualifications. 

Without support, these barriers can make it difficult to secure stable employment, support themselves, and build an independent life. 

What We Do 

Together with the Romero Centre in Brisbane, Mercy Works supports people seeking asylum to overcome barriers and build pathways into employment. 

Building language and communication skills 
Participants attend English classes focused on practical communication needed for work and daily life. 

Providing practical job readiness support 
One-on-one employment clinics help participants prepare resumes, apply for jobs, and build confidence for interviews. 

Creating pathways to employment 
Participants gain vocational skills, certifications, and workplace experience, and are connected with supportive employers. 

Supporting the whole person 
The program recognises that employment is linked to housing, health, confidence, and wellbeing, and provides support across these areas. 

Peer mentoring and lived experience support 
Bicultural tutors provide guidance and encouragement, helping participants navigate employment pathways with confidence. 

The Impact 

This program is already creating strong outcomes: 

• Around 50 people are expected to secure employment each year.  
• Dozens of participants are supported through workshops, English classes, and one-on-one employment clinics.  
• Participants are finding work across industries such as aged care, hospitality, cleaning, and warehousing.  

Behind these numbers are people rebuilding their lives, gaining independence, stability, and confidence, and contributing to the communities they live and work in. 

Finding Stability Through Work 

When a family arrived in Brisbane, they faced homelessness and the challenge of starting again. 

With support from the Romero Centre, they accessed employment support and practical assistance to stabilise their situation. 

Within a short time, the mother secured work as a special education teacher, using her qualifications and experience. 

Her employment brought stability not only for herself, but for her whole family. 

Why This Matters 

Employment provides not only income, but access to stability, connection, and everyday essentials like housing and healthcare. 

When people are supported into work, they are able to: 

• Support themselves and their families.  
• Build confidence and independence.  
• Contribute their skills and experience to the communities they live and work in.  
• Strengthen the communities around them.  

This program focuses on people who are ready to work but need support to overcome the barriers that stand in their way. 

You can help people seeking asylum build the skills and confidence to find work, become independent, and contribute to the communities they live and work in. 

My Mother and I: The Untold Stories of Afghan Women 

Supporting Afghan women to share their stories, strengthen identity, and build confidence 

For many Afghan women living in Australia, their stories remain unheard. 

Experiences of displacement, cultural change, and rebuilding life in a new country are often shaped by language barriers, social isolation, and limited opportunities to share their voices. 

Without platforms to express their experiences, a wealth of resilience, cultural knowledge, and intergenerational wisdom risks being lost. 

At the same time, the ongoing human rights situation in Afghanistan continues to impact women and families, adding to the emotional and psychological challenges many carry. 

“Our stories are our strength. Now, the world will hear them.” 
Program participant 

What We Do 

Together with Afghan Women on the Move, Mercy Works supports Afghan women through a community-led storytelling and empowerment program. 

Creating safe spaces for storytelling 
Writing workshops provide supportive, culturally safe environments where women can share their experiences and explore their identities through storytelling. 

Building confidence and skills 
Participants develop confidence, communication skills, and creative expression through guided workshops and one-on-one support. 

Sharing stories with the wider community 
Stories are published and shared through community events, exhibitions, and digital platforms, and brought to life through a short documentary. 

Supporting healing and connection 
The process of storytelling creates opportunities for reflection, healing, and connection across generations. 

The Impact 

This program is already creating meaningful change: 

• Around 20 Afghan women are supported to share and document their stories.  
• Increased confidence, pride, and leadership among participants.
• Stronger community connection and sense of belonging.
• Greater visibility of Afghan women’s voices through publications, events, and a documentary.

Participants describe the experience as empowering and healing, with many gaining confidence to speak publicly and share their perspectives. 

Why This Matters 

Stories have the power to shape understanding. 

When Afghan women are supported to share their experiences: 

• Their voices are heard and valued.  
• Cultural identity and knowledge are preserved.  
• Communities gain deeper understanding and connection.  
• Pathways for advocacy and change are strengthened.  

This work helps ensure that Afghan women are not defined by silence, but by their strength, resilience, and voice. 

You can help Afghan women share their stories, build confidence, and be heard.