By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
ONE Christmas pledge from a Cranbourne employment agency has resulted in a dream come true for a new Australian.
Refugee Ahmad Madadghar is one of MAX Employment Cranbourne’s success stories.
Since embarking on their national jobs drive, which aims to place 15,000 job seekers nationally by Christmas Eve, MAX has placed more than 60 people in much needed work.
The ‘Stars for Christmas’ campaign includes job placement for those living with a disability and for Ahmad the drive has paid off dividends for him and his new boss at MN Property Group, Mano Amunugama.
“I’m very happy with Ahmad. I specifically mentioned to MAX how happy I was with him,” Mano said of his new recruit.
After fleeing his war torn homeland, Ahmad was desperate for work in Australia but with limited literacy skills and an intellectual impairment the task was not easy.
Mano hired Ahmad as a cleaner in October with the help of MAX and Ahmad is fast becoming a star employee.
“I wanted to help out because I know it can be really difficult for people with disability to find work,” Mano said.
“He often works through problems better than someone without a disability, and he’s great at explaining things to other people. He’s just done so well since he’s been here.”
Ahmad works three days a week cleaning offices and said he was happy with the outcome.
“I just try to do the best I can and keep the boss happy.
“I like working with Mano, he helps me and I can ask him when I don’t know something, he tells me what do to,” Ahmad said.
But the work placement hasn’t just given Ahmad a chance to make a life in Victoria but has given his boss Mano a new sense of assurance when hiring.
“I have complete confidence in hiring people with disability now,” Mano said.
“I would definitely recommend to employers to give someone with a disability a chance and hire them.”
