Australia's Humanitarian Program (AHP)

Australia is a nation of ~22.3 million people, and since 1945 has granted ~7 million permanent migration visas. Thus, ~45% of all Australians today were born overseas or have at least one parent born oversees (DIAC, 2010a). This immigration policy is made up of two distinct components (DIAC, 2010b). The first, which has an economic objective has seen Australia's annual intake of immigrants increase significantly over the past 10 years: from ~81,000 in 2000 to 169,000 in 2010 (DIAC, 2010b). The second component is focused on granting visas based on humanitarian needs (DIAC, 2010b).

The AHP currently has an annual allocation of ~13,500 humanitarian visas with about 50% through referral by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the balance through AHP (DIAC, 2010b; UNHCR, 2012). Visas under this system are classified as either onshore protection, for people who already reside in Australia (e.g., asylum seekers), or offshore resettlement, for people who do not reside in Australia. Under the offshore resettlement component of AHP, the subclass-202 visa (Global Special Humanitarian Program Visa) was introduced in 1981, and established to provide a humanitarian response for relatives of refugees, who were not classified as refugees by the UNHCR, but were subject to substantial discrimination resulting in a gross violation of their human rights within their home country (DIMA, 2001; DIAC, 2010b; Commonwealth of Australia, 2011).

Acknowledged as a world leader for having established one of the best refugee settlement programmes (ROCA, 2009; UNHCR, 2009), AHP's objective is to enable refugees to effectively re-establish themselves within the Australian community (DIAC, 2010b). The services under this programme that are usually offered to refugees for a period of up to 6 months after arrival: assistance with searching for accommodation; providing basic household goods; counselling to victims of torture and trauma; providing information concerning the cultural, social and legal aspects of living in Australia; and 510 hours of free English tuition. In addition, funding is allocated to programmes focused on strengthening the relationship between refugees and the community: 24-hr free translating and interpreting services; with funding grants available to not-for-profit agencies delivering programmes assisting resettlement.

History of the Sudanese people

Sudan, in the northern part of Africa has struggled to unify its territories amidst a turbulent past of invasion, occupation and the slave trade (Collins, 1976). Sudan is the largest country in Africa (CIA, 2009) and includes unique cultures within a single territory. Although Arabic is the official language, the ethnic complexity is underpinned by as many as 400 other languages and dialects (DIAC, 2007). Ethnicity of the ~45 million Sudanese is generally grouped into four categories: 52% considered Africans; 39% Arabs; 6% semi-nomadic; and the remaining 3% classified as foreigners (DIAC, 2007; CIA, 2009).

In 1983, a civil war displaced as many as 4 million Sudanese and resulted in more than 2 million deaths over a 20-year period. A separate conflict in 2003 displaced about 2 million people and caused up to 400,000 deaths (DIAC, 2007; CIA, 2009). South Sudan separated from Sudan to become an independent country on 9 July 2011 (SSRA, 2009).

Challenges confronting Sudanese in Australia

Since 1991, an estimated 28,417 Sudanese have relocated to Australia (Figure 1). Of this number, 26,347 have been granted visas under AHP, with just over 65% issued subclass-202 visas, that is, the Global Special Humanitarian Program Visa (Figure 2). A major challenge faced by Sudanese refugees with this visa is their level of English proficiency, with the majority (~78%) classified as either having nil or poor English (Figure 3). Since English is the national language of Australia, it is a fundamental requirement for integration into the wider community and for finding long-term gainful employment.

Figure 1 Sudanese by migration stream, since 1991, adopted from Settlement Reporting Facility (DIAC, 2011)

Figure 2 Sudanese by visa subclass, adopted from Settlement Reporting Facility (DIAC, 2011)

Figure 3 Sudanese by English proficiency for visa subclass-202, adopted from Settlement Reporting Facility (DIAC, 2011)

A study of the settlement patterns of Sudanese people within Australia demonstrated a preference for location within metropolitan areas, with most settling in New South Wales and Victoria (Figure 4). The preference for humanitarian entrants to settle in the same geographic locations is believed to be due to dependency on family and community networks who offer the support needed to overcome limited access to accommodation, information, services and due to the financial burden of travel loans (RCOA, 2008; Phillips, Reference Phillips2010). Within New South Wales, Blacktown is the most popular settlement location with an estimated 2,481 Sudanese, of which 1,313 have the subclass-202 visa (Figure 5).

Figure 4 Sudanese by Australian state, adopted from Settlement Reporting Facility (DIAC, 2011)

Figure 5 Sudanese in Blacktown, by visa subclass, adopted from Settlement Reporting Facility (DIAC, 2011)

Blacktown's support of the Sudanese community

Blacktown, which is said to have inherited its name from ‘a native institute established at Plumpton in the 1820s to teach local aboriginals European ways’ (Australian Air League, 2008), is situated ~35 km from Sydney's Central Business District with an estimated population of over 290,000 (City Council of Blacktown, 2011). It is recognised as the largest growing LGA in New South Wales in 2009, with cultural diversity represented by an estimated 184 countries with ~156 languages (City Council of Blacktown, 2010; 2011). There is a shortage of services supporting new and emerging communities in Blacktown, in particular: Sudanese; Afghani; Iraqi; Liberian; Iranian; and Sierra Leoneans (City Council of Blacktown, 2009).

Employment challenges facing the Blacktown Sudanese refugee community

The Australian Human Rights Commission's (AHRC) study on human rights and social inclusion issues affecting African Australians found that ‘finding paid work is considered vital to the successful settlement and integration into the Australian community’ (AHRC, 2010b: 10). The ability of refugees to find employment is crucial as ‘[l]abour market participation is known to be a key factor affecting the settlement of refugees’ (Bloch, Reference Bloch2000: 75). This imperative for successful integration raises concern when considering the latest Australian census data (2006; Table 1), indicates an estimated 25.8% unemployment rate for Sudanese in Blacktown. Although these statistics are not current, for the purpose of this study, this high unemployment rate is considered indicative of the present situation for three reasons: first, because of some of the significant challenges faced by refugees within this local community (Blacktown, 2009); second, the indication that there is insufficient services supporting this community (Blacktown, 2009) and finally, the fact that Blacktown's LGA is identified as one of 20 Priority Employment Areas within Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). Priority Employment Areas are considered as the most ‘vulnerable to unemployment during economic down turn’ (Commonwealth of Australia, 2009: 2).

Table 1 2006 census of population and housing: country of birth by labour force status, for persons aged 15+ years, for African communities who usually reside in the city of Blacktown (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006)

Numerous reports highlight the challenges confronting refugees in finding employment within Australia (Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, Reference Colic-Peisker and Tilbury2006; Casimiro, Hancock, & Northcote, Reference Casimiro, Hancock and Northcote2007; RCOA, 2008, 2010; Blacktown, 2009; Pittaway & Muli, Reference Pittaway and Muli2009; SAIL, 2009; AHRC, 2010b). These include a report submitted to the AHRC from Sudanese members of a not-for-profit organisation located in Blacktown, that emphasised the ‘lack of English’ and the need for ‘work experience’ as two major obstacles to finding employment (SAIL, 2009: 5–10). The lack of English proficiency is not only seen as a ‘significant barrier to employment’, but also a challenge to successful resettlement as it contributes to feelings of ‘isolation and a lack of belonging’ (Casimiro, Hancock, & Northcote, Reference Casimiro, Hancock and Northcote2007: 60–61).

Further to this, there is a perception that being African in Australia limits opportunities because of employer discrimination as ‘(they) have lied about job availability and given jobs to non-Africans’ (SAIL, 2009: 6). Employment practices based on racial discrimination among Australian employers is not seen as uncommon (Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, Reference Colic-Peisker and Tilbury2006). In fact, Colic-Peisker and Tilbury (Reference Colic-Peisker and Tilbury2006) suggest that there exists a segmented labour market in Australia that confines African refugees to jobs typically within the secondary labour market. These are mainly ‘low-status, low-paid, dead-end, insecure jobs and, in many cases, also physically taxing and unhealthy’ jobs, which employ refugees regardless of their level of qualification(s) (Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, Reference Colic-Peisker and Tilbury2006: 217).

Proof of qualification is also seen as a major obstacle to finding employment, especially as ‘University degrees gained while in Sudan are not generally recognised in Australia… Sudanese must often find employment skills courses to gain recognised qualifications’ (SAIL, 2009: 10). Some refugees do have relevant qualifications and work experience, however, they may not have documents to support their claim. In addition, qualifications awarded elsewhere may not be recognised in Australia and consequently many require re-certification before employment, which is usually cost prohibitive for the refugee (AHRC, 2010b; RCOA, 2010). Even after overcoming the obstacle of completing the necessary training for employment, members of the Sudanese community are confronted with difficulties as ‘they [Sudanese] have been told that they must have work experience to be considered for employment’ (SAIL, 2009: 10). It is also suggested, for those humanitarian entrants who arrive in Australia with some level of qualification or work experience, that although their employability improves, their ability to find work at the relevant level does not improve over time, despite updating their qualifications (Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, Reference Colic-Peisker and Tilbury2006).

Sudanese community members have also suggested that there is a low level of success finding employment through the Federal government's Job Services Australia network of agencies (JSA-agencies); instead refugees have reported having greater success through word-of-mouth (SAIL, 2009). Reports of the JSA-agencies being unable to effectively support the refugee community are not new (Torezani, Tilbury, & Colic-Peisker, Reference Torezani, Tilbury and Colic-Peisker2006; RCOA, 2010).

The ‘lack of ability for women in the Sudanese community to find employment can put additional strain on their families’ and ‘[i]f there were more opportunities and services to assist women obtaining employment, then heavy financial pressures faced by refugee families may be reduced’ (SAIL, 2009: 6–10). This is supported by the recent statement by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee: ‘We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society’ (2011). In addition to the burden of finding employment for refugees, and specifically for Sudanese women, are the challenges associated with available childcare and limited public transportation, as well as the costs of obtaining an Australian Driver's Licence (SAIL, 2009; RCOA, 2010).

In response to these challenges faced by humanitarian entrants in gaining work in Australia, the RCOA undertook a study of the barriers in an attempt to find solutions to this issue. One of their recommendations was the development of a National Refugee Employment Strategy to target ‘meaningful’ and ‘sustainable’ employment for all refugees with ‘initiatives tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit of former refugees through social enterprise and small business development’ (RCOA, 2010: 3–5). The process of integration involves all of society (Ager & Strang, Reference Ager and Strang2008), including business and that ‘while government should lead, integration involves public bodies, community and religious leaders, the education system, voluntary organisations, employers and trade unions and all sectors of society’ (O'Neill, Reference O'Neill2001: 97).

Business opportunities for a social purpose

One of the possible solutions to this situation is to identify business opportunities for the Sudanese women. The aim is to combine a measure of value such as in social entrepreneurship while undertaking for-profit activities (Dees, Reference Dees1998; Pomerantz, Reference Pomerantz2003; Seelos & Mair, Reference Seelos and Mair2004; Spear, Reference Spear2006; Martin & Osberg, Reference Martin and Osberg2007). Although there is a perspective that social entrepreneurship provides opportunity to ‘stimulate ideas for more socially acceptable and sustainable business strategies and organisational forms’ (Seelos & Mair, Reference Seelos and Mair2004: 241), there is much controversy surrounding the value of embracing this type of approach (Davis, Reference Davis1973; Zahra, Gedajlovic, Neubaum, & Shulman, Reference Zahra, Gedajlovic, Neubaum and Shulman2009). On one extreme, there are suggestions that this is not an effective solution for unemployment, because it shifts responsibility of reform – needed to overcome society's problems as a whole – by lessening government responsibility in favour of pressuring individuals to ‘conform to values determined by social entrepreneurs on behalf of the community’ (Cook, Dodds, & Mitchell, Reference Cook, Dodds and Mitchell2003: 68). To another extreme, others believe social entrepreneurship has the potential to better serve the needs of future generations through ‘new collaborative efforts that are in the corporations’ own economic interest, while at the same time creating social value for those who need it most’ (Seelos & Mair, Reference Seelos and Mair2004: 246). Yet again, there are others who focus on the benefits to the local community by defining ‘Social entrepreneurship as a locally based enterprise hiring local people, boosting self-employment, and forming economic alliances with local for profits and not-for-profits’ (Pomerantz, Reference Pomerantz2003: 26). Although it is outside the scope of this study to expand on the debate defining social entrepreneurship, the differing views in the literature provide a valuable contribution to this study as they draw attention to implications of business opportunities by requiring careful consideration for both short-term and long-term effects of any opportunities introduced into a community.

Overview

Governed by the focus of this study, which essentially seeks to explore challenges and opportunities confronting unemployed female members of the Sudanese refugee community, an interpretive ethnographic approach was used as the phenomenological method. The reason for adopting this qualitative approach was to make use of a method that ‘provides insights about a group of people and offers us an opportunity to see and understand their world’ (Boyle, Reference Boyle1994: 183), but also make use of an ‘interpretive approach’, which aims to extract meaning through exploring ‘people's individual and collective understandings’ (Manson, Reference Manson2003: 56). Using this approach provided an ‘insider view’ into the challenges and potential opportunities identified by members of a not-for-profit organisation established to support the Sudanese refugee community. The interview participants involved in this study were members of SAIL ‘The Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning Program’, who work with the refugees, but are not Sudanese refugees themselves.

Established in 2001, this ‘volunteer-run, not-for-profit, secular organisation… provides free English tutoring and community services to the Sudanese Australian community’ (SAIL, 2011). This organisation is funded by private donors and ~450 volunteers, to provide support to over 500 members of the Sudanese community in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

The interview participant group was identified as informed experts on the activities of SAIL and selected from the most senior members within two SAIL campuses in Blacktown and the adjacent suburb of Seven Hills. Each of the four participants had been with SAIL for between 3 and 10 years, with the amount of time each participant volunteered varying significantly from 2 to 3 hr/week to as many as 25 hr/week. This group are all ‘typical’ Australians; one male and three females, with three in the age group 25–30 years, and the other over 50 years old. All have held various positions at SAIL, including governing activities associated with effective coordination and management of activities.

The methodology developed for this study was completed in three interactive stages: Secondary Data Selection and Analysis; Primary Data Collection and Analysis; and Business Opportunity Considerations (Figure 6). Although each stage is diagrammatically represented as having a sequential flow, the activities of each stage were executed in an iterative manner with the data collected in each stage reviewed in the light of the findings of any previous and subsequent stage(s).

Figure 6 Research methodology

Throughout this study, the review of literature and analysis of data was an ‘ongoing process’ (Richards, Reference Richards2005) that employed a variety of approaches to ‘provide greater breadth and depth to our understanding’ (Benoit & Holbert, Reference Benoit and Holbert2008: 615). This was combined with data triangulation (Denzin, Reference Denzin1970) to continuously verify results through ‘checking findings against other sources and perspectives’ in an attempt to ‘reduce (any) systematic bias’ (Patton, Reference Patton1990: 563) ‘that comes from single-method, single-observer, single-theory studies’ (Denzin, Reference Denzin1970: 313). For example, when examining data relating to AHP from the DIAC's website, other sources were also considered, for example, RCOA and UNHCR.

The data collected in this study was analysed using an abductive approach. This refers to the iterative way in which a combination of deductive logic and inductive reasoning were applied to the data (Ezzy, Reference Ezzy2002; Manson, Reference Manson2003; Atkinson & Delamont, Reference Atkinson and Delamont2005; Krippendorff, Reference Krippendorff2013). Abduction applies theory to the data, followed by interpreting patterns from within the data allowed for ‘some curious circumstance, which could be explained by the supposition that it was the case of a general rule’ (Peirce, Reference Peirce1965: 642), to be adopted as the ‘general social processes or ‘rules’ that may apply to particular observations’ (Ezzy, Reference Ezzy2002: 14). Once these rules were recognized, they were ‘tested through more rigorous deduction and induction’ (Ezzy, Reference Ezzy2002: 14) in order to extend greater certainty to the claim of the data. Finally, for each stage of the research, data were reviewed in order to identify key business elements from theory that related to business opportunities (Ardichvili, Cardozo, & Ray, Reference Ardichvili, Cardozo and Ray2003; Johnson, Christensen, & Kagermann, Reference Johnson, Christensen and Kagermann2008). In addition, business elements that emerged from the secondary and primary data were also identified, and then combined with theory in order to develop the business opportunities for consideration.

Stage 1: Secondary data selection and analysis

This stage focused primarily on gathering the secondary data necessary to lend context to the challenges confronting the Sudanese refugee community based in Blacktown. Data were from disparate sources: academic literature; organisational websites and publications; Government websites and databases; media articles; and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This stage was exploratory and lent greater clarity to qualifying the research questions.

The decision to select SAIL for this study was also part of this stage of research. Secondary data on SAIL were gathered to provide context to the underlying principles and strategic intent governing this organisation. One of the author's involvement with SAIL as a volunteer over the past two and a half years years provided the advantage of being able to leverage existing relationships within the organisation where trust had already been established through a number of strong contacts. Further to this, the authors’ desire to focus on female unemployment within the Sudanese refugee community was largely influenced by involvement with members of this community that attend SAIL. A recent study on social inclusion issues affecting African Australians (AHRC, 2010b) held representation from members of the Sudanese community that attend SAIL, and this also influenced the decision to focus on this social issue.

Using NVivo 8 (QSR International, 2008), secondary documents were analysed for potential themes found in the academic literature. Once themes were identified, they were coded and tagged with descriptive comments (Charmaz, Reference Charmaz1995). Examples of such themes included: ‘limited support for Australian humanitarian entrants’ and ‘limited employment for refugees with low English proficiency’. Next, this information was reviewed to identify other themes that emerged from the data itself, and then coded. This combination of deductive and inductive reviewing of the data was used in an iterative fashion throughout this study.

Stage 2: Primary data collection and analysis

This stage supported the development of a set of questions formulated to take into account the issues relating to unemployment for females, along with challenges of a lack of Australian work experience among Sudanese refugees. These themes relating to unemployment were initially influenced by information in the AHRC study on human rights and social inclusion issues affecting African Australians (AHRC, 2010a). The interviews included open-ended questions in order to ‘enable the researcher to understand and capture the points of view of other people without predetermining those points of view’ (Patton, Reference Patton1990: 21), focusing on the identified challenges and potential opportunities confronting the community. The following questions formed part of the interviews: What would you consider a potential service or opportunity that may be extended to the Sudanese refugee community in order to support the need to gain practical Australian work experience? Why?; Do you believe that some of these ideas may be integrated as an essential service to be provided by SAIL?; What in particular allows/disallows this service from being integrated with SAIL's existing program?

Data were collected during the latter half of 2011 through a series of in-depth exploratory interviews with key informants in SAIL, aimed at leveraging their knowledge, experience and ideas relating to the challenges of this community. Interview participants were selected based on their leadership role within SAIL in Blacktown (including their contribution to decisions on funding allocation).

These interviews provided the interviewer with detailed data that would otherwise be inaccessible through general enquiry (Yin, Reference Yin2009) as information gathered from these interviews was not intended to be used as a generalisation of challenges and opportunities, but rather to gain insight into those social initiatives and business elements considered critical by the decision makers in SAIL that could then aid the future developments in support of female members of this community. Following each interview, field notes were compiled with these entries recorded in a reflective journal. The purpose of these notes were to lend greater context to each interview by appreciating ‘individual and collective meanings’ of participant views, through providing greater accuracy to the interpretation of meaning by being ‘clear on the distinction between what the interviewees said’ and what was ‘interpreted’ (Rubin & Rubin, Reference Rubin and Rubin2005: 204).

First, the content of the transcripts were analysed using themes from the academic and other literature, and then emerging themes (such as ‘lack of English proficiency’, ‘program logistical issues’, etc.), arising from the data itself were identified. Lastly, the transcripts were reviewed as a whole to further analyse and code for the emergence of collective themes. Finally, further analysis and coding was performed on the relationships between the individual and collective themes emerging from the transcripts (Strauss & Corbin, Reference Strauss and Corbin1990). Throughout this process, the notes and transcripts from each interview were compared and reviewed several times in order to identify information inherent within the data.

Stage 3: Business opportunity considerations

The final stage of this methodology was exploratory forming part of this research pilot that will frame a more in-depth study in the next phase of this research. Information collected in the previous stages was reviewed with a focus on selecting the data identified as key business elements because of their association with business opportunity concepts (Spear, Reference Spear2006; Bradach, Tierney, & Stone, Reference Bradach, Tierney and Stone2008; Johnson, Christensen, & Kagermann, Reference Johnson, Christensen and Kagermann2008). The purpose of this review was to identify key considerations in relation to the future development of a business opportunity. This involved a three-step process: first, identify business elements; second, identify themes; and third, formulate key considerations based on the association between identified elements and themes.

Employment challenges and opportunities for this Sudanese community

A. What type of social initiatives related to reducing unemployment, have the potential to benefit female members of the Sudanese refugee community based in Sydney, Australia?

Considerations around initiatives in support of business opportunities for the Sudanese refugee community attending SAIL in Blacktown, were ‘…more and more it's about how can we find employment for these families’ (SAIL Interviewee, 2011). All interview participants considered English language proficiency as one of the greatest challenges facing these Sudanese women. Based on the information received from the interview participants, three major themes emerged. This identified where attention needs to be placed when considering the potential opportunities that could offer the best access to employment.

Potential business opportunities for this Sudanese community

B. What are key considerations to the development of a business opportunity in support of this community?

Any opportunities provided for employment must engage the community leaders, and follow ‘appropriate protocols for communicating with them’ (SAIL Interviewee, 2011). This is to ensure that any initiative in support of the Sudanese refugee community is aligned with the intentions of the community itself, as ‘they've got plans, employment plans, programs and things like that… for their community’ (SAIL Interviewee, 2011). It is with the contextual understanding of the challenges facing this community and the insight gained from the findings of the interview process, that the focus is discussed in the following sections. To guide discussion, this study makes use of aspects of business concepts as well as theories on opportunity identification and development (Ardichvili, Cardozo, & Ray, Reference Ardichvili, Cardozo and Ray2003; Morris, Schindehutte, & Allen, Reference Morris, Schindehutte and Allen2005; Johnson, Christensen, & Kagermann, Reference Johnson, Christensen and Kagermann2008).

Does the community believe the ‘opportunity’ is capable of delivering value?

For an opportunity to be considered worthwhile, it is important that the ‘commitment to addressing a particular social need must be shared by enough key stakeholders to give the proposed venture some initial viability’ (Guclu, Dees, & Anderson, Reference Guclu, Dees and Anderson2002: 4). The social initiatives identified in this study highlight key considerations such as long-term employment and the need for the Sudanese community to play an active role in deciding whether the opportunity will provide enough value. Research has shown that social initiatives, which are undertaken without adequate understanding and support from the community being impacted, will suffer ineffectiveness in achieving their social aim (McFalls, Reference McFalls2007; Westoby, Reference Westoby2008).

Based on the interview data, a key consideration was whether the community was more inclined to pursuing either opportunity that utilise their existing skills or whether they are more inclined towards a programme that accelerates learning in support of developing new skills – or a combination of both. An interesting observation emerging from these approaches was the impression that social initiatives making use of existing skills seemed more inclined towards creating new opportunities in the employment market. However, programmes that focused on providing new skills – or combining new and existing skills – were linked to existing opportunities in the employment market.

The implications of these three approaches need careful consideration to ensure that stakeholders are aware of the short-term and long-term gains for the women and the community, and to identify which alternative may best serve the anticipated social outcomes. For example, if greater emphasis is placed on the immediacy of utilising existing skills, is there a risk that this will impede the communities’ ability to take advantage of employment opportunities in the long term and consequently marginalise them towards a secondary labour market (Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, Reference Colic-Peisker and Tilbury2006)? On the other hand, if greater emphasis is placed on utilising existing skills there is the possibility that introducing a ‘unique cultural experience’ may stimulate demand that introduces new opportunities into the Australian market.

Does the ‘Opportunity’ satisfy a real customer need?

Although the effective engagement of key stakeholders is a crucial consideration, equally compelling is the requirement to identifying an opportunity that has the potential to satisfy a real customer need (Bhave, Reference Bhave1994; Johnson, Christensen, & Kagermann, Reference Johnson, Christensen and Kagermann2008). It is essential that consideration be given to the unique capabilities and constraints of unemployed Sudanese female refugees, as this is a resourcing condition imposed on the development of a new business opportunity. Based on this condition, it becomes necessary to explore existing skills within this particular community in order to appreciate their unique source of advantage, or to identify what new skills may need to be developed in order to deliver customer value (Morris, Schindehutte, & Allen, Reference Morris, Schindehutte and Allen2005).

For example, utilising the unique capabilities of the women in the community to establish a café or restaurant was seen as a source of advantage, as it had the potential to offer a unique cultural experience through food, art and performance, which could link to the wider Australian community. It is this cultural diversity that delivers a unique set of capabilities, which is referred to as the source of advantage relating to the opportunity. The source of advantage for the opportunity requires careful consideration as it underpins the value for the customer, which is understood to be the most important element of the business opportunity (Johnson, Christensen, & Kagermann, Reference Johnson, Christensen and Kagermann2008).

Are the risks associated with the opportunity insurmountable?

The constraints and limitations associated with an opportunity require a process of on-going evaluation from the time the opportunity is realised through its development and implementation (Ardichvili, Cardozo, & Ray, Reference Ardichvili, Cardozo and Ray2003). Consideration needs to be given to the potential lack of business skills and lack of services provided to these Sudanese women, with particular focus on business management and co-ordination, communication, childcare and transportation, as these challenges may make a potential opportunity prohibitive. It is also important that these challenges are reviewed for the possibility of a potential strategy that may assist in supporting a higher probability of success of an identified opportunity (Ardichvili, Cardozo, & Ray, Reference Ardichvili, Cardozo and Ray2003). Outcomes of this discussion emphasise fundamental questions related to community value, customer need and opportunity risk that need to be carefully explored in the larger project to follow this pilot before a business opportunity is pursued.

Limitations and assumptions

Limitations of this research centred on the fact that this was a single pilot study with a limited time frame for completion. A single case study always has limitations for generalisation, yet will provide rich insights. This study is a ‘revelatory case’ (Yin, Reference Yin2009) and has addressed an area of research that has not been examined to date. This case tends to be a revelatory case ‘when an investigator has an opportunity to observe and analyse a phenomenon previously inaccessible to social enquiry’ (Yin, Reference Yin2009: 48), for example, Liebow's (Reference Liebow1967) study Tally's corner, on unemployed African American men.

The limited timeframe restricted the number of SAIL members available for an interview. In addition, the lack of direct consultation with members of the Sudanese refugee community, limited this study to examining secondary data and interviews consisting of the perceptions of volunteers. This is a useful starting point for extending this study.

Although the literature reviewed for this paper acknowledges the difference between these types of entrants, the findings of these academic publications and government reports were not explicit in their use of the specific visa categories. In addition, each nation has their own criteria and codes for refugee entrants (note: subclass-200 and subclass-202 visas are categories unique to Australia). As a result, there was some inability by the authors to directly compare humanitarian entrants as reported in literature, as the requirements for each nation – and even within a nation such as Australia – varied on a number of dimensions.

Future research

This study concludes with a preliminary recommendation that placing emphasis on utilising existing skills would benefit the female members of the Sudanese community. Future research would be to increase the number of SAIL members who are interviewed to gain a greater understanding of the perspective(s) of volunteers working with Sudanese refugees. In addition, the next stage should include interviews with the Sudanese community in order to capture their opinion and perceptions. The increased number of participants in this research should provide a greater level of nuanced understanding of the unemployment challenges within this community.

The next step would be to repeat this study with Sudanese communities located in other metropolitan areas in Australia. A multiple case study approach would provide more rigor to the research. If the findings are similar across these communities, this would establish that this struggle for employment and the type of opportunities that provide the potential for alleviating this issue is a common theme for female Sudanese refugees in Australia.

Using this expanded approach to the research would provide confirmation (or disconfirmation) of the conclusions drawn from this preliminary study. Increased data would help determine the viability of a business opportunity intended to benefit female members of this community: Does the community believe the opportunity is capable of delivering value?; Does the opportunity satisfy a real customer need?; and Are the risks associated with the opportunity insurmountable?

Final remark

It is through the spirit of UBUNTU that exists within the philosophy of those volunteers who have been dedicated to SAIL for many years, that a greater depth of understanding of humanity has been achieved. ‘Thank you’ most sincerely, for your endless source of inspiration.