Humanitarian migrants are more likely than other migrants to start their own business, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows.
A higher proportion of humanitarian migrants reported income earned from their own business in the 2009-10 data, released earlier this month.
They also earn almost twice as much income from their own business as migrants arriving on skilled and family visas.
Refugees tend to work more than 1 job in their first few years in Australia, in order to finance their own business. A spike in the number of refugees reporting income from their own business after 5 years reflects this trend.
But humanitarian migrants have the lowest average income overall, with skilled migrants reporting the highest, exceeding that of the average Australian taxpayer.
Khan Hazara is one of a number of refugees starting his own business. Khan arrived in Australia 5 years ago after fleeing Afghanistan and now runs a successful halal supermarket in Hampton Park. He says it was difficult in the beginning and couldn’t have done it without the support of family and friends.
“When you open a business from scratch it’s too hard for you to prove your business, how to find the best customer for you,” Khan says.
Khan Hazara making sure the onions are in order.
Dandy Mart in Hampton Park.
Like other humanitarian migrants starting their own business, Khan had to work long hours to get it off the ground.
“So the workers would go home and I’d work til twelve or 1 at night by myself, so that was the hardest part,” he says.
“Now it’s going really good and we’re opening a second branch at the end of this month.”
Afghans contribute the largest share of profits from businesses run by humanitarian migrants, according to the ABS data.
Khan says that for many refugees the new language and environment makes it difficult to find a job.
“At the same time they want to be free, they want to be their own boss and refugees many of them have been businessmen overseas,” he says.
A butcher at Dandy Mart getting ready for the day’s business.
Fresh fruit and veggies in the calm of the morning at Dandy Mart.
Traditional Afghani cakes are among some of the treats at Dandy Mart.
