A recent study by Hays found more than 80 percent of organisations report skills shortages, making talent gaps a systematic issue constraining growth and productivity. 

“A big challenge for small and medium businesses is graduates generally need 3 to 6 months of training before they can really contribute,” Skillaroo Co-founder and Managing Director Hari Sharma says. 

“Then many move on to other opportunities. What we’re doing at Skillaroo is making students job ready so they can add value on day one.” 

Skillaroo was founded by Hari and his friends to solve this challenge, one they were experiencing firsthand as international students. Launched as a “side hustle” in early 2023, the business steadily grew, prompting Hari to commit full-time. 

By coupling industry ready short courses to strengthen technical capabilities with soft skills graduates need to succeed, Skillaroo started making a difference bridging the gap between education outcomes and job market expectations. 

Skillaroo has delivered programs to more than 250 students in the Territory and helped 55 students secure a job, many of whom were initially receiving no response to applications. 

Hari arrived in Darwin as an international student in 2019 and soon came to see the city as home. 

“I could feel the difference here compared to Melbourne. The climate is like my hometown in Nepal, and everything is close here. Plus, the multicultural community is very strong. 

“It’s not just work, work, work here. You’re part of community events, organisations and there’s more ways to connect with people.” It was only natural Hari would contribute to the sense of community that first drew him in plays an integral role at the Nepalese Association of the Northern Territory. 

Hari’s journey reflects the broader experience of many of the Territory’s international students, who make meaningful social, cultural and economic contributions, enriching the lifestyle and supporting economic growth, whether they settle here or eventually return home. 

For Hari, the Territory is now firmly his home where he sees himself, his wife and their new baby continuing to put down roots. As for Skillaroo, he is focused on expanding its reach and impact. 

“We’ve been working with small groups and it’s been really effective. Now we want to deliver that at a bigger scale and support more students and businesses.” TQ