Accor Unveils Landmark Refugee Employment Initiative with Community Corporate Across Australia on World Refugee Day
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – June 20, 2025 — In a powerful show of social responsibility and commitment to inclusive employment, leading hotel group Accor has launched a transformative national employment initiative in collaboration with award-winning social enterprise Community Corporate. Timed with World Refugee Day, this groundbreaking program aims to provide lasting career pathways and meaningful employment opportunities for refugees and migrants throughout Australia.
Driven by a shared vision of empowerment, inclusion, and workplace diversity, the initiative is already making a profound impact. As part of the collaboration, Accor—Australia’s largest hotel operator—is prioritizing the recruitment and training of refugees and culturally diverse individuals at its hotels and hospitality venues nationwide.
Building a Workforce that Reflects Australia’s Multicultural Identity
According to data from the Australian Human Rights Commission, refugees face one of the highest employment barriers in the country. Only 6% secure jobs in their first six months, with just 23% finding work within two years. This sobering reality underscores the urgency of employer-led programs that go beyond policy and into purposeful action.
To date, nearly 100 refugees and migrants from 18 different cultural backgrounds have found meaningful employment through Accor’s properties, with representation across 22 languages. From Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour to Pullman Melbourne on the Park and Mercure Perth on Hay, these workers now play integral roles across 17 Accor-managed hotels and Qantas lounges in Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and more.
Notably, women make up 68% of these new hires—an encouraging sign in overcoming the dual challenges refugee women face when seeking stable employment.
Spotlight on Success: Bibi Zahra’s Story
Among the inspiring outcomes is the journey of Bibi Zahra, a refugee from Afghanistan. After fleeing Taliban rule and enduring economic hardship in Iran, Bibi arrived in Australia in 2023 with little work experience. Despite her persistence through manual labor roles, it was only through Community Corporate’s SETS (Settlement Engagement and Transition Support) program that she accessed the tools and confidence needed for career advancement.
Her breakthrough came in early 2025 when she secured a job at the Qantas Lounge in Adelaide, managed by Accor. Today, Bibi not only enjoys financial stability but also a renewed sense of independence and belonging.
More Than Jobs: A Movement for Cultural Inclusion
This initiative extends beyond just hiring—it aims to embed cultural awareness into the DNA of the hospitality sector. In 2024, Accor and Community Corporate hosted roadshows in five major cities, reaching more than 500 culturally diverse job seekers. Over 40 Accor managers participated in cultural confidence training, deepening their understanding of the refugee journey and building leadership competencies around inclusion.
Plans are underway to expand this training into Tasmania and the Gold Coast in 2025, with an ambitious goal to place an additional 100 refugees into employment before year’s end.
Accor has also embraced the Multicultural South Australia Ambassador Program, which provides tangible frameworks for fostering workplace inclusion. Additionally, new digital learning modules focused on diversity, safety, and cross-cultural understanding will roll out across all Accor-managed properties later this year.
Hospitality as a Vehicle for Social Change
For Accor, this initiative is a natural extension of its core values. The group operates across every tier of accommodation—from luxury to economy—with more than 400 hotels in the Pacific region. By incorporating diverse cultural perspectives into their teams, Accor enhances not only the guest experience but also the social fabric of their workplaces.
Sarah Derry, CEO of Accor Pacific, remarked,
“Welcoming refugees into our workforce is about more than employment. It’s about community, dignity, and growth—for our staff, our guests, and our country. This partnership is one of the most impactful ways we can celebrate World Refugee Day.”
Miriam Silva, Chair of Community Corporate, echoed this sentiment:
“Australia’s workforce must evolve to reflect its cultural diversity. Initiatives like this demonstrate the real value of inclusive recruitment—not just for individuals, but for businesses and the economy at large.”
A Model for Other Industries
With Australia’s multicultural population projected to grow, there is a pressing need for replicable models that close employment gaps for vulnerable groups. The Accor-Community Corporate partnership offers such a blueprint, showing how private-sector leadership can drive systemic change.
As global migration patterns continue and Australia maintains its humanitarian intake commitments, the hospitality sector—an industry known for its scalability and people-first ethos—stands out as a logical place for inclusive employment transformation.
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
By the end of 2025, Accor and Community Corporate aim to have placed over 200 refugees and migrants into long-term employment. With cultural training embedded into leadership development and a stronger regional footprint planned, this program is poised to become one of the nation’s most impactful refugee employment platforms.
In doing so, the initiative not only uplifts individual lives but also redefines the role of hospitality as a beacon for equity, opportunity, and hope in Australia.
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