Our Story & Purpose
Founded on the belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive, not just survive, in their new home.
How we began
Common Initiative was born from a shared observation among our founders: while initial resettlement services in Australia provide crucial first steps, the journey to true integration, financial independence, and emotional well-being is long and often unsupported.
Many refugee and immigrant adults find themselves trapped in a cycle of underemployment, unrecognized qualifications, and profound isolation. The gap between mere survival and meaningful contribution is vast.
We established Common Initiative to bridge this exact gap. By combining immediate benevolent relief—such as medical and accommodation support—with long-term capacity building through education funding and professional mentorship, we address both the urgent crises and the systemic barriers our community faces.
Relieving the practical conditions that keep people in poverty, distress and isolation.
We recognise that hardship rarely presents as a single issue. A person may have a qualification but no professional network, a training opportunity but no funds to enrol, or the ability to work but an immediate housing or health crisis that makes participation impossible.
Our four-pillar model allows us to respond to these connected barriers while maintaining clear eligibility, financial and safeguarding controls.
Our Constitution Objects
Common Initiative Limited's objects are maintained exclusively for charitable and benevolent purposes and are to provide impoverished and vulnerable refugees and immigrants aged 18 years and over — who are economically disadvantaged, from linguistically or culturally diverse backgrounds, or who are in regional and remote Australian communities — with services and projects that relieve distress, poverty and despair, including any and all of the following:
2.1Provide funding for educational courses, school fees, tuition, workshops and any course that increases educational knowledge, improves academic outcomes and workforce skills, provides access to employment, relieves poverty and reduces isolation and despair.
2.2Operate professionally facilitated career-readiness programs, work-placement programs, job-seeking assistance services, mentorship programs and employment services to increase employment outcomes and relieve poverty and financial hardship.
2.3Provide funding for refugees' and immigrants' counselling, essential medical care and accommodation needs to relieve homelessness, isolation and distress.
2.4Undertake any benevolent service or project that relieves suffering, isolation, misfortune and poverty in the lives of refugee and immigrant adults in Australia.
An Australia where every refugee and immigrant adult, regardless of where they started, has genuine access to the education, support, professional networks and employment opportunities required to build a secure, dignified and fulfilling life.
Our Values
Dignity
We respect each person's privacy, agency, culture and right to make informed choices.
Equity
We direct support to people experiencing genuine disadvantage and remove barriers that create unequal access.
Community leadership
Programs are designed with people who have lived experience, not simply delivered to them.
Practical relief
We convert charitable funds into identifiable assistance: fees paid, mentors matched, care accessed and crises stabilised.
Accountability
Every grant, referral and program has documented criteria, controls and outcome reporting.
Collaboration
We partner with established services and employers rather than duplicate specialist capability.
Learning
We test, measure and improve before scaling.
Our Leadership
The team guiding our mission.
David Deng
Managing Director & Chair
David brings extensive experience across financial services, business development, startup growth and community engagement, with strong capabilities in strategic planning, governance and stakeholder management. He leads the Board, strategy and community relationships, and his track record mentoring junior professionals underpins our commitment to mentorship and employment readiness.
Venessa Lual
Director & Secretary
Venessa brings extensive experience in customer success, quality assurance, operations and stakeholder engagement across the customer service, insurance and technology sectors. She oversees board administration, policy and compliance, and is passionate about empowering individuals and communities through accessible, inclusive and sustainable programs.
Jima M. Banek
Director & Treasurer
Jima combines community leadership and strategic engagement experience with qualifications in Community Services, Disability Support and Security Operations. Coming from a migrant background, he understands the barriers our community faces. He oversees budgets, financial controls and reporting, and drives community awareness of our mission.