Workers are packing orders on a production line in a Melbourne warehouse, supplying fresh food to customers. Keeping a careful watch over the process is supervisor Mo Nabaei.
“I start at five o'clock in the morning to do printing, ordering and to check the quality of the produce,” says Nabaei, 38.
It’s hard work but Nabaei is grateful for this role at a social enterprise that hires many refuges.
He has risen through the ranks since starting here almost nine yeas ago, and still becomes emotional recalling that life- changing day.
Mo Nabaei working at the warehouse. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
Nabaei works at CERES Fair Food, a social enterprise that’s part of a broader sustainable food organisation in Melbourne.
The pro-democracy protester fled his home in Iran fearing for his life in 2009 after taking part in an uprising.
“It takes a lot of courage and commitment to leave your own country to come to an entirely new country,” says CERES CEO Cinnamon Evans.
Cinnamon Evans is CERES CEO. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
Nabaei is a qualified electrician, and vividly recalls the events 15 years ago that led to his exile.
“The authorities caught a few of my friends, who were together in that protest. Some people had used a mask, so their face was not very clear. But we did not, so our faces were clear. And they have photos and videos of us.
“That was a very hard time in my life. My mum was crying because if they caught me, maybe I would not be here now.
“So, my dad and my brothers helped me to run away. I went to my uncle’s farm, very far from Tehran.
As a 23 year old, Nabaei later flew to the Indonesian capital Jakarta, and from there boarded a boat for Australia. Despite assurances it would be a large ship, the reality was anything but!
“This fishing boat had 55 people sitting, tightly, and everyone got sick. You could not see anything in the big ocean with a small boat and we did not know if we would ever reach [Australia] alive. It was so risky.”
After five difficult days, the group from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka was intercepted approaching Christmas Island.
“The Australian police caught us and took us to [Christmas Island] detention centre. You cannot go out in detention, so slowly it became very boring and many people were depressed.”
Mo Nabaei has learned to drive a forklift. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
“It was so hard for me to connect with people, because I didn't know much English. And it was a bad situation. Without a work or study visa, I didn't have a job, and I could not really do anything.”
It’s this problem that CERES Fair Food was set up to tackle. The Preston warehouse supplies organic and fresh food from 200 Victorian growers to fill online orders, but its mission is far broader.
“We focus on employing people who come from all over the world and we offer them a first job in Australia,” says Evans.
“Often people have skills and a willingness to work and a real passion for their new country and a desire to establish a new life. We are really thrilled to be able to provide those opportunities.”
CERES has grown from humble beginnings in the late 1970’s and Evans is proud to be part of its expansion.
“In the very early days the projects were community gardens and chickens and then we set up education. Over 42 years we've grown a group of social enterprises, and we are now quite a large organisation spread across four locations in Melbourne's north.
“About 500,000 people come through the gates of the CERES park in Brunswick East every year and we also reach another million people online.”
Workers hail from 25 countries, and the diverse CERES team is set to expand. Its new headquarters is being fitted out, following a funding boost from White Box Enterprises.
“CERES needed $1.85 million to utilise a new building and they were not able to raise that level of finance,” says White Box CEO Mark Daniels.
Mark Daniels is White Box Enterprises CEO. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
“Because we know that work-integrated social enterprises are the best organisations from employing disadvantaged people."
White Box Enterprises recently conducted a study trial in partnership with the Department of Social Services (DSS) and 16 jobs-focused social enterprises.
Of 83 long term unemployed participants in award wage employment, the first-year retention rate was 86 per cent, far higher than the predicted rate of 62 per cent.
Mo Nabaei (left) with Cinnamon Evans. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell
“This job totally changed my life!” he says.
And this year, he has even more to celebrate as one of 20,000 temporary visa holders to become a permanent resident.
“I have waited a long time for this, actually 15 years. My life is changed now and it’s beautiful."
