Transformative hires: The case for employing people seeking asylum
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“After every lesson, I’m humbled by the kind words, warmth and resilience of the ASC community members and other ASC staff I meet.” – Matt Alishah, Computer Tuition Volunteer
Matt Alishah’s journey working in the tech sector to volunteering at the Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) showcases an inspiring blend of professional expertise and profound compassion.
As a volunteer at the ASC, Matt dedicates his time to teaching digital literacy, empowering people seeking asylum with essential tech skills needed for employment and accessing services.
Matt’s commitment to the ASC shines through his everyday routine. “I volunteer during lunchtimes on Mondays and Fridays,” he explains.
“I check in with clients via email throughout the week and then head in for class. We work through our five-week Computer Basics for Employment course, focusing on practical skills like file management and using tools such as Zoom.”
Digital literacy and employment
Matt helps people seeking asylum gain vital digital literacy skills, which can often be a barrier to employment opportunities.
“(Employment) is tougher when English is a second language, which is why translating tools are a part of the course. Access to computers and digital skills are essential for creating resumes, cover letters, and managing online job applications,” he explains.
His course helps clients develop these crucial skills, making their job search more manageable and effective.
A personal connection to the mission
Matt shares, “My dad’s from a country that’s been at war for about as long as I’ve been alive, and as I grew up, his challenges working and raising a family in Australia were obvious to me – like balancing tough jobs, education and family time.”
“As I’ve gotten older and learned more about trauma, I’ve realised there are things I can do to help people feel more welcome here.”
When the call for a Computer Tuition volunteer arrived, Matt decided to apply.
“I wanted to help people gain digital skills and ease their transition into life in Sydney.”
Moments of joy and impact
Matt shares a proud moment with Angeli*, one of the community members he supports. After several sessions working with her at the Centre, Angeli initiated an online lesson through Zoom. Matt saw how much more confident Angeli was with digital processes.
“Seeing her share her screen and talk through her issues of uploading documents was so great to see, not only showing her improvement in digital skills, but also necessary for the course she was doing for future employment.”
Another standout moment for Matt was during a lesson on using ChatGPT to translate languages.
“It’s always great to see how clients react to things like government websites translated into their own language.”
Expertise and empathy
Matt has been volunteering in his computer tuition role for more than a year now. For him, a handful of qualities are key to volunteering to support people seeking asylum.
“I’d say the most important skills are patience and empathy and being creative in developing ways to get practical outcomes for our community members.”
Matt’s volunteer work highlights the impact that empathy and expertise can have in bridging gaps and empowering others.
“Volunteers can play a crucial role by filling knowledge gaps and creating a welcoming environment where community members’ hopes and concerns are genuinely heard.”
