How a Hobart kitchen is helping older migrants combat ageism
Abebea Behraki has found friendship and community through her work in a social enterprise kitchen. ABC News: Maren Preuss
Key points:
A recent report from the World Health Organisation found age-based discrimination was rampant around the globe
Migrant support services say older migrants face greater impacts from ageism, because of other barriers such as language
A social enterprise kitchen in Hobart is helping older migrants gain employment and connect with the community
Abebea Behraki has lived through experiences unfathomable to most Australians, having spent 27 years in a refugee camp in Sudan.
But when she finally made it to Australia four years ago, her goal was the same as many locals: to have meaningful employment.
"I studied English at TasTAFE and I did hospitality," Ms Behraki said.
"When I get certificate one and I studied English, I'm asking people how to get the job, how to make the resume."
Ms Behraki found work in a social enterprise kitchen in Hobart, run through the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania.
The cafe and catering business was set up two years ago to help migrants share their culture and to gain work experience.
The Migrant Resource Centre's enterprise kitchen helps migrants share their culture and gain work experience. ABC News: Maren Preuss
"I'm happy for my job because I learn more in the kitchen," Ms Behraki said.
"I learn how to talk to people, asking me the questions, how to answer the questions, I improve my English and then I have communication about my culture and other people, and I learn many skills."
Ageism an 'insidious scourge'
The kitchen has helped the local community address some of the issues highlighted in a recent report from the World Health Organisation on ageism.
The report labelled ageism an "insidious scourge on society" and called for urgent action to combat it.
In one example, the report reviewed 60 studies and found that employers were less likely to hire older applicants than younger applicants, that older workers had less access to training, and that those who faced ageism in the workplace were more likely to retire early.
The WHO found that in employment, the disadvantages of being too young or too old impacted women more than men.
Clarissa Adriel from the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania says being excluded from workplaces can cause older migrants to be socially isolated. ABC News: Maren Preuss
Clarissa Adriel, the client services coordinator at the Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania, said older people faced stereotypes in the workplace.
"People make common assumptions that they might be slower to learn things or have health problems but these aren't necessarily borne out by experience or research," Ms Adriel said.
"Then, of course, if you're a migrant and you're learning English there are other barriers on top of that perception.
"Employers might also not be familiar with what does their work experience mean and how does that translate in Australia, so they might be a bit avoidant about hiring someone from an older cohort and a migrant background."
The WHO report said ageism had "serious and wide-ranging consequences for people's health and well-being".
"Among older people, ageism is associated with poorer physical and mental health, increased social isolation and loneliness, greater financial insecurity, decreased quality of life and premature death," the report said.
"An estimated 6.3 million cases of depression globally are estimated to be attributable to ageism."
Ms Adriel said having secure employment provided more than just financial independence.
"For an older migrant to be able to crack into the workforce, it's not just about a job," she said.
"That might be their first entry into the broader community where you're building relationships with workmates, so that's where you're getting exposure to culture and you're starting to feel like you belong.
"So being excluded from the workplace, especially when you've got skills and motivation to give, can have a really detrimental effect on people's wellbeing, they can become isolated."
Cooking up community connections
Finding meaningful work has helped Abebea Behrakis connect with her local community.
"I have not Australia friend (before), but now in the kitchen I have many friends," she said.
The kitchen manager Megan Quill said that the social enterprise had greatly benefited from having an older cohort of workers.
Kitchen manager Megan Quill does not see language challenges as a barrier to hiring older migrants. ABC News: Maren Preuss
"Our three main food workers are all highly skilled home cooks," Ms Quill said.
"And what tends to happen when we have other people come in who are a bit younger, they're taken under the wing and they can learn a lot from the wealth of experience that the ladies have."
Ms Quill said other employers should not be afraid to hire older workers, even if there are language challenges.
"In the kitchen, because we're such a close team, we've now got to the point where we don't often need words to communicate," she said.
"They're constantly learning English and the more that they're involved in a kitchen or a workplace or etcetera, the better and better that gets.
"So I don't see it necessarily as a barrier, and it's very rewarding."