Before she moved to Australia, Fadhaa Al-Khalidi worked for 13 years as a communication engineer in the southern Iraqi town of Diwaniyah.

Key points: Fadhaa Al-Khalidi moved to Australia eight years ago but struggled to find work

Fadhaa Al-Khalidi moved to Australia eight years ago but struggled to find work Ms Al-Khalidi set up a food truck to serve Iraqi cuisine and connect the community

Ms Al-Khalidi set up a food truck to serve Iraqi cuisine and connect the community Refugees facing barriers to employment are given jobs to gain skills and confidence

Now the single mother of four runs a food truck in Perth and, while it might seem like a step down for someone with her skill set, she could not be happier.

"It means a big thing," Ms Al-Khalidi said.

"When people they come to our food truck and say hello and share with us that connection — and not just the Aussie people, many cultures.

"And I learn many things from these people — their passion, their kindness and helpfulness.

"When you live in bad situation and then you find these people around you and [they] hold your hand and support you, it's a big deal for you."

The Fare Go food truck sets up at the Victoria Park Farmers Market each Sunday. ( ABC News: Briana Shepherd )

New country, new opportunity

Ms Al-Khalidi moved to Australia eight years ago to meet her husband who was on a scholarship to complete his PhD in English linguistics at Curtin University, bringing with her their four children, the youngest then seven months old and the oldest 10 years old.

After numerous failed attempts to find work, first as a communication engineer and then in other fields, she turned her focus to learning English and caring for the children.

But three years ago her circumstances changed and she found herself a single parent and unemployed.

In need of help she reached out to the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees, otherwise known as CARAD.

Joanna Josephs says the Fare Go food truck is a great way for new Australians to grow confidence and skills.

"You know everyone in Australia, or anywhere, when they leave their country they need someone around him, or around her, to connect and make everything easier," she said.

"So CARAD did, not just for me but for everyone and many cultures from around the world."

At CARAD she met Joanna Josephs, the general manager, and the pair came up with the idea of "Eat, Share, Connect".

"We started having community lunches at our office to bring people together to share culture through food," Ms Josephs said.

"Fadhaa was the one who came to me and said that she had a dream of one day having her own food business and maybe even a food truck.

"So when there was a grant opportunity through Impact100, we submitted a grant application to get the funds to start a social enterprise."

Turning a dream into a reality

Impact100, described as a collective giving circle, began in WA in 2012 with the aim of getting 100 members to each give $1,000 — their contribution providing them with a vote on where the total $100,000 would go.

The philanthropic organisation now has groups across Australia and often gives out multiple $100,000 grants each year.

In 2017 CARAD's Fare Go Food Truck project took out the top prize, allowing Ms Al-Khalidi to turn her dream into a reality.

Fadhaa Al-Khalidi has always loved cooking and enjoys sharing "comfort food" from her hometown with the Perth community. ( ABC News: Briana Shepherd )

"This project was made to help and support a lot of people, you know, they are refugees and they don't have any income or payment," Ms Al-Khalidi said.

"Before I didn't have a job so I just felt by myself and the other people who are without a job are the same.

"So that's why I created this idea — to help myself, my family and the other people."

Job opportunities for refugees hard to find

While Ms Al-Khalidi will remain operating the truck and continue as head chef — her specialty Iraqi "comfort food" a hit at both community events and private catered functions — the other staff are trained up for a time before moving on.

"We have a staff team of five at the moment and they're from Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan," Ms Josephs said.

"And the idea is that they'll gain some training and work skills and be able to transition into other forms of employment now having this on their resume and having gained the confidence, and also the understanding, of the expectations of the Australian workplace.

"People from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds face enormous barriers to get employment, it's things like a lack of recognition of their qualifications and also just the difficulty getting a foot in the door in a market that's already very tight.

"Moreover we know that there are negative attitudes that exist towards people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.

"But everything shows that when people are given a chance they are willing, enthusiastic and more than able to make a really positive contribution to our community and we, as a nation, are absolutely richer for it."

Staff are trained up before moving on with training and skills they can transfer to the workforce. ( ABC News: Briana Shepherd )

For Ms Al-Khalidi, who is now on a permanent visa along with her four children, being able to call herself an "Aussie" is something she will never take for granted.

"I feel very lucky to be able to now work and provide for my children," she said.

"But also lucky to be in Australia where they can get good education, health care and everything.

"This is my dream."

Applications for Impact100 WA's 2019 grants are open until May 17.