Over 620,000 skilled migrants living in Australia are not working in their professions, even though they have skills and deep expertise in those professions overseas. Here are some of their stories.
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Navigating a disconnected recognition system: Antonio’s nearly decade-long journey as an expert physiotherapist from Chile to practicing in Australia.
Chilean-born Antonio enjoyed a successful and fulfilling career for over a decade, working at the top of his field in specialist physiotherapy in his home country.
When he migrated to Australia with his wife and newborn, he thought it couldn’t be too difficult to continue his passion and help Australians in pain – given his extensive experience and qualifications.
However, after arriving in Sydney in 2018, Antonio quickly realised he was wrong.
For over ten years, Antonio excelled as a highly trained trauma physiotherapist specialist at one of the top hospitals in Santiago, Chile’s capital. He managed complex cases ranging from bone cancer to motor vehicle trauma.
“When I came to Australia, I wasn’t expecting to have my degrees recognised right away, but I thought I’d have a chance to show my expertise,” he said.
Yet, like many before him, Antonio faced a complex, costly, and lengthy process to have his qualifications recognised and to register to practice physiotherapy in Australia.
The assessment pathway involves an online test costing thousands of dollars, along with several practical exams, all requiring separate trips to Melbourne —the only location in Australia where the tests are offered.
While Antonio wanted to work and help tackle Australia’s growing pain problem, he was unsure how he could afford those costs alongside the visa fees, practical exams, travel expenses and supporting his family.
As recent migrants, Antonio and his young family were struggling financially to navigate rising living costs like other Australians, but without access to any government services and support.
At the time, Antonio’s wife, a biologist and biotech engineer in Chile who struggled with her own nightmares getting her skills recognised, was unable to work. She was tied up in her Master’s studies in immunology in Sydney.
“We were living in one bedroom in a flat shared with strangers. There was a day when we couldn’t even afford five dollars for pasta,” he said.
Antonio questioned how the recognition body could charge $2,000 for an online test conducted with 70 people in a room supervised by two people, knowing that this fee couldn’t possibly reflect the actual cost.
Unable to afford the costs, Antonio worked various casual jobs including waiting tables, working as a cleaner, labourer, barista, plumbers’ assistant, and food deliverer.
“I was cleaning toilets at construction sites and would hear regional Australians suffering from severe pain tell me how they couldn’t get a private physio appointment for months.”
The latest Skills Priority List from the Australian Government’s reports a nationwide shortage of physiotherapists and an increasing demand to address the needs of our ageing population.
“I feel frustrated – I love treating patients. I chose this career because I was making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.
Antonio encountered additional delays in beginning his accreditation process because of uncertainties regarding his visa status, which, like for many newcomers, was being processed at the same time.
“How could I spend all that money and time when I was so uncertain about whether I would be allowed to stay in the country?” he said.
Now, after eight years, and since gaining permanent residency, Antonio has finally booked his tests for later this year.
Antonio explains that the recognition process is inherently linked to the immigration process; however, the two operate completely separately.
“Those developing these recognition processes are unaware of the financial and emotional toll involved—they don’t fully grasp what this process truly means for migrants.
“If you don’t understand the reality of migrants’ experiences, how can you create a qualification recognition and immigration system that’s fit for purpose?” he said.
From Chief Risk Officer to Starting Over: Chantal's Journey from Kurdistan to Corporate Australia
Chantal Mousad moved to Australia from Erbil- Kurdistan of Iraq in 2017 with her daughter Aula as part of the humanitarian program, on a special Visa for women at risk. She came as a single mom after fleeing to neighbouring Iraq with her family, leaving behind the pain of losing her twin children
Before being forcibly displaced from her home country Chantal held the highly influential position of Chief Risk Officer at a major bank in Iraq with extensive international banking experience in different countries and continents.
A year after arriving in Australia and looking for work in the Financial Services sector with little success, she joined the CareerSeekers program in Sydney. As part of the program, Chantal had the opportunity to restart her career at Commonwealth Bank as an intern to gain new knowledge in the Australian work environment.
Given her previous skills and experience, Chantal quickly progressed through various roles in banking, starting as an intern and moving up to become a Digital Analyst, Risk Manager in Wealth Management, and eventually taking on the role of Senior Manager in Risk with Westpac.
Chantal is now an ambassador for the Westpac Foundation, supporting HBE (Happy Brain Education) in Melbourne, is a member of a Board Director in CareerSeekers, and an MBA candidate awarded by UN Woman scholarship.
She is also an advocate for refugees and gender equality, raising awareness of the issues refugees face in resettlement, particularly as a woman and single mother.
From Baghdad to Australia Post: Sam Matti's Journey from Refugee to Operations Manager
Iraqi-born Sam Matti was thrilled to complete his engineering degree after studying in Russia on a government scholarship. Sam had just begun his career as a site engineer at a power plant in his hometown of Baghdad. But one year later, his plans were abruptly cut short when a direct threat from ISIS forced him and his parents to flee within 12 hours.
After spending nearly two years as a refugee in Turkey, where he worked as an assistant project manager at a construction company, Sam resettled in Australia in 2015 with his parents to begin a new chapter.
Driven and ambitious, Sam quickly had his bachelor’s degree in automation engineering recognised by the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, equivalent to an Australian degree. This gave him hope that he could finally resume the career he had been forced to put on hold.
However, after applying for junior engineering roles, Sam soon discovered that the government certification alone wasn’t enough.
“I realised that the government paper, which I was initially excited about, was just that—a piece of paper. It didn’t help me find work. It felt like it was there to numb me, and other refugee professionals, to the harsh reality of finding a job in our fields in Australia,” he said.
What Sam needed was accreditation from Engineers Australia – the national body for engineering. This would require Sam to start a new process which would require more time and additional assessment fees.
To support himself, Sam took on various casual jobs including cleaning construction sites and catering at aged care homes.
“To me, employment is more than just a source of income; it represents the chance to build a life of independence and make a meaningful contribution to my community. I don’t want to rely on the system; I want to stand on my own and make a difference,” he said.
After spending time trying to navigate this complex recognition system, he realised that he might not be able to get his degree accredited by the necessary industry body.
“You reach a point where you say, ‘I’m done. I don’t want to waste any more time; I want to rebuild my life and make an impact. I guess I’ll have to let my degree collect some dust,” he said.
But Sam didn’t give up on his dream of becoming an engineer and he set out on a different path to achieve it.
“Life presents challenges, and as someone born in a war zone, I understand that sometimes life isn’t fair. Life doesn’t stop; it keeps moving forward, and by being resilient, you ensure that you keep moving forward too,” he said.
Sam shifted his focus to the project management aspect of engineering, drawing on his experience from Turkey. He began pursuing local experience. Eventually, he secured an internship at one of Australia’s leading engineering consultancies, thanks to the support of CareerSeekers, a social enterprise dedicated to helping refugees find employment.
From there, he demonstrated his skills and work ethic, and his career trajectory soared as he quickly advanced into more senior roles.
Sam has steadily progressed through various organisations and roles in the construction and civil engineering industries, contributing to some of Australia’s most significant infrastructure projects.
Today, Sam serves as the Operations Manager at Australia Post, where he oversees national operational initiatives .
“It took me a few tries, but I persevered and succeeded on my own thanks to my skills. I delivered results, proved my worth, and took control of my own journey,” he said.
Driven by a deep passion to help others avoid the challenges he faced; he has dedicated nearly a decade to community work for refugees since arriving in Australia.
His message to businesses and industries is loud and clear.
” Investing in diverse talent unlocks innovation and drives growth. Opportunities aren’t just about ethics—they’re a smart business move. Give us the chance, and we’ll bring dedication and fresh perspectives,” he said.