As the world marks World Refugee Day tomorrow (on 20 June), Accor You can also find out more about the following: Community Corporate We are pleased to announce that we have a growing collaboration dedicated to creating more human-centred and inclusive workplaces in Australia. Together, they are transforming the lives of refugees and migrants through employer-led initiatives that support, welcome and elevate their talent.
In a nation where only 6 percent of refugees find employment within six months, and just 23 percent in two years, it is imperative that employers take the lead. Accor, Australia’s largest hotel operator, is responding actively. Nearly 100 refugees, migrants and people from different cultural backgrounds were hired by 17 Accor operated hotels and Qantas airport lounges. They speak 22 languages. Notably, 68% of those recruited are women – a powerful reflection of the partnership’s role in addressing employment disparities faced by refugee women.
The team has been welcomed in hotels of all types, from luxury to budget, including the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Mantra Hindmarsh square Adelaide, Pullman on the Park Melbourne, Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour, Mercure Perth on Hay, ibis Styles Queensland Elizabeth Street, and Qantas Lounges in Sydney Adelaide and Perth.
Adrian Williams, the Chief Operating Officer at Accor, said that: “Hospitality is, at its core, about people – and the richness of our industry comes from the diversity of those who power it. Inclusive hiring is not just a value we talk about – it is something we actively put into practice, because we see the extraordinary impact it has. This partnership changes lives, strengthens our teams and reminds us what’s possible when businesses lead purposefully. “I encourage our colleagues in the hospitality industry, to join us because it makes both our industry and our society stronger.”
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The national partnership with Community Corporate goes beyond recruitment. In 2024, five major cities held roadshows, involving over 500 job-seekers and 40 Accor leaders in training on cultural confidence. In 2025 the roadshow will be expanded to other regions including Tasmania and Gold Coast.
As part of this journey, Accor has joined the Multicultural South Australia Ambassador Program – a hands-on initiative that helps organisations take real, practical steps toward becoming more culturally inclusive. Accor is also planning to trial digital training modules on diversity, safety, and inclusion later this year. This will help build cultural confidence in its hotels.
Carmen Garcia, CEO of Community Corporate and founder, believes that bold leadership is the key to achieving a scalable change. “We need to have more corporate partners, like Accor. They walk the talk – investing in the human outcomes and helping to change the narrative of what is possible when refugees are given a fair go,” said Carmen.
Bibi, a young girl from Afghanistan, was one of the beneficiaries of the Accor/Community Corporate partnership. Bibi, who had fled Afghanistan’s instability and spent some time in Iran, where education and opportunities were difficult to obtain, was reunited with sisters in Australia after arriving in 2023 on an orphan relative visa. She faced the same challenges as many refugees in trying to find a job without any local experience. She worked long hours in construction and farming for eight months to provide for her family. Community Corporate’s SETS Program was her breakthrough. After completing a Job Bootcamp in early 2025, Bibi gained the skills and confidence to secure a role with Accor at the Qantas lounge in Adelaide – her first permanent job in Australia.
“I felt empowered by the fact that I could find a career I love. I didn’t just learn, but I also saw myself as a capable person.” Bibi is a woman who speaks out. “Community Corporate didn’t just give me job skills – they shaped my future.” Bibi also studies a Diploma of nursing at the University of South Australia today, a goal now within reach due to stable employment.
Accor has a purposeful approach to leading, and is building a workforce to reflect the diversity of Australia.
