Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Scarf Community
Donate
Shop
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Menu
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Our Approach
      • Hands-On Hospitality Training
      • Trainee & Graduate Wellbeing
      • Boosting Job Readiness
      • Trauma-Informed Approach
    • The Scarf Story
    • Vision, Mission & Values
    • Meet The Team
      • The Scarf Team
      • Trainees
      • Mentors
      • The Scarf Board
  • Programs
    • Who We Work With
    • Skill Up with Scarf
    • Scarf Tasting Plate
    • 10-Week Seasonal Program
    • Graduate Focus Group
  • Scarf Dinners
    • Stay Home with Scarf
    • What's a Scarf Dinner?
    • Scarf Dinners 2021
    • Partner Restaurants
    • Bookings Policy
  • Our Impact
    • The Difference We Make
    • Facts & Figures
    • Graduate Q & A
      • Wesley
      • Liz
      • Shasha
      • Hayuran
      • Rawan
      • Danny
      • Diana
      • Negasi
      • Emma
      • Thelma
      • Mir
  • Supporters
    • Diners
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Scarf Ambassadors
  • Get Involved
    • Hospitality Mentoring
    • Become a Partner Restaurant
  • Give
    • Donate
    • Shop
    • Scarf's Charity Status
    • Workplace Giving
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Scarf 2020 Mid-Year Fundraising Appeal
  • What's Happening
    • Stay Home with Scarf
    • Our News
    • Events & Fundraising
    • Media Mentions
    • Scarf Campaigns
      • Do More Than Dine
      • Do More Than Drink
  • Say Hello
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Boosting Job Readiness

Boosting Job Readiness

Scarf was established in 2010 to address the significant gap in access to employment for young people seeking protection and those from refugee or migrant backgrounds. Some of the barriers faced by this cohort pertain to a lack of skills and knowledge, and limited understanding of Australian work rights or what employers expect.

Other barriers, unfortunately, speak to the either unconscious or overt bias that many (though not all) employers hold towards those born overseas.

One of Scarf’s core aims is to break down these barriers and ensure trainees are as “job ready” as possible when they graduate from the Scarf 10-week program.

To Scarf, job readiness covers a number of aspects. Whilst our program is rooted in hospitality, we firmly believe the work skills developed during Scarf Dinners are transferable to multiple industries. During the program, trainees undertake skills training backed up by real, paid restaurant service experience, all under the supervision of Scarf’s ace volunteer mentor team. And of course, as skills grow, so does confidence, and greater confidence leads to greater employability! 

But practical skills alone do not lead to job readiness. Trainees often begin our program with limited knowledge of employment conventions in Australia. We address this by providing workshops which focus on ‘Work Rights and Responsibilities’, effective job searching and resume and interview skills – including a session where hospitality professionals conduct mock interviews with trainees and provide direct feedback and tips.

Mid-way through the 10-week program, each trainee completes a personalised ‘Job Readiness Assessment’ and are supported to address any gaps in their learning before graduating. And a decent chunk of our work involves advocating for fairer hiring practices in the hospitality and beyond, some of which is done by celebrating the incredible resilience, talents and achievements of Scarf graduates. 

.

Check out 'Our Impact' > 'Graduate Q & A' to see what we mean!

.

.

We’re a small organisation and we know we don’t hold quite enough influence to entirely eliminate all the employment barriers faced by Scarf trainees.

But we can (and do!) enable them to more confidently navigate the job market once they have graduated, giving them a solid chance at landing themselves in meaningful employment.

.

..
Inset photos taken during the Spring Scarf '19 Job Readiness Workshop held at Worksmith Ella.
Gabrielle (from the Brotherhood of St Laurence) conducts the 'Work Rights in Australia' session, Scarf mentor Debbie focuses on HR and Scarf graduates Sanjay and Varsini share their experience of working beyond Scarf. 

.

Cover photo from Autumn Scarf '19 at The Rochey. Photographer: Linsey Rendell

Published: 3rd August, 2020

Updated: 14th August, 2020

Author: Hannah Brennan

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Skill Up with Scarf

    Skill Up with Scarf

    This new program will allow participants to grow their knowledge of the hospitality industry in Melbourne, whilst honing their job-readiness and coffee-making skills!

  • Q & A with Brylie from DHMSCo

    Q & A with Brylie from DHMSCo

    We're humbled that Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Spring Co have been a Scarf Sponsor since the very early days of our program. Founder and Director Brylie Rankine shares a few words with us.

  • Acknowledgment of country

  • An update from Scarf Co-Founder Hannah

    An update from Scarf Co-Founder Hannah

    As Scarf's 10th year draws to a close (looking very different to how we imagined!) we thought it was time for a big old update.

Most read

  • Scarf x Stomping Ground

    Scarf x Stomping Ground

    Stomping Ground Brewery commit to donating $1 from every beer sold in a German clay stein to Scarf programs!

  • Scarf x Paradise Alley

    Scarf x Paradise Alley

    Paradise Alley support us through their weekly meat tray raffle! Legends!

  • Autumn Scarf Dinners are postponed

    Autumn Scarf Dinners are postponed

    Scarf and our fabulous restaurant partner for the upcoming season, Stomping Ground Beer Hall, have together made the difficult decision to postpone Autumn Scarf Dinners until further notice.

  • Scarf x Market Lane Coffee

    Scarf x Market Lane Coffee

    Legendary Market Lane staff volunteer their time to open Faraday St & Victoria St stores to raise money for Scarf on Labour Day!

  • Example - Support us

    Push already-interested visitors over the line with stories, stats and ideas. Make next steps clear

  • Accessibility

  • Example - How we're funded

    State your case for the support you need, while showing supporters can trust you (be transparent)

  • Scarf Auspices CoVid-19 E.A.D

    Scarf Auspices CoVid-19 E.A.D

    Scarf has just become the auspice organisation for CoVid-19 Employee Assistance Directive, a new not-for-profit feeding Melbourne hospo workers who've been left jobless in the current pandemic.

  • Example - Mission, vision, values

    What you're all about -- but write to inform and inspire site visitors, not for yourselves

  • Example - Our history

    Tell the relevant, inspiring parts of how you started, where you are today and any major milestones

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us


Worksmith
450 Smith St
Collingwood
VIC 3066


[email protected]

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Scarf respectfully acknowledges the traditional owners of the land where we work and meet, the Boon wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) peoples of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge that this land was never ceded and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

© Copyright 2019 Scarf Community Organisation Melbourne