Helping new migrants integrate into church communities
We equip the local churches to welcome migrants into communities with real practical love and support the newly arrived migrants to emerge as established members of our communities and secure residents of Australia.
Emerge Program
A gospel-shaped community fostering meaningful employment
The Emerge Program was established in 2020 in partnership with Evangelism and New Churches (ENC) to engage with the broader migrant communities of South Western Sydney. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many lost their livelihood and struggled to find meaningful employment. In collaboration with local parishes and employment partners, Emerge facilitated resume writing, interview preparation and recommending our candidates to the growing number of our employment partners.
We currently offer specialised programs that assist migrants by mentoring and supporting them through the local churches to become part of an inclusive Christian community.
Over 30% of Australia's population is born overseas. Language barriers, changing social capital, mismatched skills and jobs, difficulties in getting overseas skill recognition and increased housing costs are some of the challenges immigrants face in integration.
Latest Stories and News
Aisha and Marshal arrived in Australia from Bangkok in late 2022. Aisha grew up in a conservative Muslim family in Pakistan and became a trained nurse. She met Marshal, a Christian, and they decided to get married. When her employer discovered this, he told Aisha’s family, which resulted in them wanting to harm her for the shame she had brought to the family.
Knowing the danger, the couple sought asylum in Thailand, and after nearly nine years of waiting in Bangkok, they arrived in Australia late last year.
On arrival, Emerge assisted them by connecting with a local church, providing transitional accommodation, finding part-time employment, ongoing career guidance and integration support into Australia.
Now, Aisha and Marshal have enrolled in TAFE to become nursing assistants and aspire to become registered nurses in Australia. Emerge also assisted the couple with their children’s education and daycare arrangements.
The Emerge Program provides the opportunity for the local churches to turn these challenges into opportunities.
We do this by offering tools, such as employment and integration support, to engage with the migrant population in Australia.
We equip the local churches to welcome migrants into communities with real practical love and support the newly arrived migrants to emerge as established members of our communities and to be secure residents of Australia.
We are excited to launch an integrated migrant engagement initiative to create meaningful Gospel-sharing opportunities. If you are interested or want to find out more about how to be involved, please contact us at emerge@encministries.org.au
Partner with Us
- Businesses - Become an Employment Partner and provide work/training opportunities for our candidates in your business
- Churches – Become a Partner to support the work of Emerge Program and connect and support the new immigrants
- Individuals - Become an Emerge Program Mentor to support your local church migrant ministry
- Support us prayerfully/financially so that Emerge Program can reach the unreached migrants in our cities
Emerge Program Partnership Catalogue
- Training sponsorship for a current candidate (Certificate III in aged care or disability) $1000
- Support for job pre-qualification (FPC and WWCC) $140 (once off contribution)
- Sponsor a new immigrant for a Safer Drivers Course or drivers licence costs $140
- Ongoing Emerge support – general program support. $100 per month (or a contribution of your choice)
- Donate a vehicle
Evangelism and New Churches is registered as a Necessitous Circumstances Fund; donations to Emerge Program through ENC are tax deductible.
For further information, please get in touch with Jude Simion at emerge@encministries.org.au
