The department supports a range of targeted and specialised programs and resources for schools with students from refugee backgrounds.
Understanding your refugee cohort
Students from refugee backgrounds are highly diverse in their learning needs and experience.
Some students may have had extensive schooling, while others may have had disrupted or limited access to formal education.
Some students may have limited literacy abilities in their first or additional languages, while other students may have literacy in many languages.
Students from refugee backgrounds may have experienced or witnessed trauma in their home country, or during their journey to Australia.
Upon arrival in Australia, families often face a long and complex resettlement process. This may include challenges in securing affordable housing, gaining stable employment, and learning English as an additional language.
Students and their families may also be navigating the ongoing impacts of trauma, loss, and separation.
On-demand advice and support
All Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools can access on-demand advice and support from Foundation House’s School Support Program, including:
- Professional learning workshops
- Tailored workshops
- Networking opportunities
- Guidance, resources and case studies via the School’s In for Refugees website
- Referrals to torture and trauma counselling
- Over the phone advice and consultations
If you work in a school and are seeking advice and support for your students and families from refugee backgrounds, contact Foundation House or visit the School’s In for Refugees website:
E: educationandearlyyears@foundationhouse.org.au
W: Education Calendar - School's In for Refugees
W: Book A Tailored Workshop - School's In for Refugees
Multicultural Education Aide Support Program (MEASP)
The MEASP supports MEAs and school staff in bicultural roles via a statewide network, online professional learning workshops and practical resources.
The MEASP is available free of charge to staff from government, Catholic and independent schools across Victoria and allows opportunities for MEAs and bicultural workers to:
- Participate in a state-wide network with other bi-cultural workers in schools
- Participate in online professional learning events and an annual in-person conference
- Access online resources to support them in their roles
To join the statewide MEA Network, contact Foundation House or visit the School’s In for Refugees website:
E: educationandearlyyears@foundationhouse.org.au
W: Multicultural Education Aide Support Program (MEASP)
Whole-of-school capacity building
The Refugee Education Support Program (RESP) builds the capacity of school leadership, teachers and support staff to better understand and support students and families from refugee backgrounds, as well as students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The program is fully funded by the Victorian Government and free for all government, Catholic and independent schools across Victoria.
Watch the video below to learn more about RESP:
RESP is co-delivered by the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) and Foundation House. Participating schools can receive intensive support from CMY and Foundation House over two years, or a more condensed offering is also available over one year.
Program delivery - Year 1
At the start of RESP, schools are paired with dedicated staff from CMY and Foundation House to support them on their journey.
Schools form an action team of 5-10 staff – comprising leadership, teachers and support staff – to lead RESP activities at their school.
In Year 1 of program delivery, CMY and Foundation House support the action team to:
- Undertake an audit of existing school policies and practices – to identify strengths and areas for improvement
- Consult with students and families to understand their experiences and perspectives
- Develop an action plan in response to identified needs
- Implement the action plan, which may include changes to policy or practice
Watch the videos below to learn more about the RESP journey:
Program delivery - Year 2
In Year 2 of RESP, CMY and Foundation House support the action team to design and deliver a 6-month pilot project that reflects the needs and priorities of the school community. Schools are supported to identify and partner with a local community agency to deliver this project.
Examples of past projects include:
- Morning teas and information sessions to support connection with parents and families
- Co-design of resources to support families with enrolment and transition
- Community pantries, kitchen gardens and cookbooks to support student and family engagement
- Workshops and mentoring to support student voice and leadership
- Photography and storytelling to celebrate cultural diversity
Watch the videos below to learn more about RESP projects:
Alongside these activities, action teams attend a series of professional learning workshops across the two years:
- Teaching and learning
- Partnerships with families
- Partnerships with community agencies
- School climate
- Transitions
These workshops are delivered to multiple schools in a geographic cluster, with opportunities to share learnings and best practice.
At the end of the program, participating RESP schools are invited to take part in a showcase event and join the RESP alumni for ongoing professional learning and support.
Expressions of interest
To learn more about RESP or express your interest in the program, contact Foundation House or the Centre for Multicultural Youth:
E: resp@foundationhouse.org.au
W: sifr.foundationhouse.org.au
Out-of-school-hours learning and support
Learning support programs, such as homework clubs, can be one of the first points of community contact for students who have newly arrived in Australia. Many students from refugee backgrounds and their families benefit from taking part in these programs. Learning support programs provide quality and culturally responsive learning support outside of school hours to children and young people from diverse backgrounds, including students and families from refugee and migrant backgrounds. They also have a strong social and wellbeing focus and support students to build confidence and feelings of connection to school and the wider community.
CMY offers the following free services to all learning support programs across Victoria:
- Professional learning and training
- Advice and resources, including the Learning Beyond the Bell (LBB) Hub. The LBB Hub has a range of in-depth resources, training and content to support learning support program coordinators and tutors
- Networking opportunities
To find a program near you, check out the Learning Support Program Map:
W: Learning Support Programs Map - Centre for Multicultural Youth
Contact CMY if you would like to establish a learning support program such as a homework club, or you are seeking advice and support in delivering an existing program
E: learningbeyondthebell@cmy.net.au
W: Learning Support Programs - Centre for Multicultural Youth
Teaching and learning
Many students from refugee backgrounds are English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners.
Newly arrived EAL students can access an intensive full-time program or targeted support to help them in the initial stages of learning English. EAL students are also supported to learn English in mainstream schools.
For further information, refer to:
- English as an Additional Language (EAL) – This website provides information about programs and resources available to schools to support EAL students.
- Resources for EAL teachers – This website contains resources to support EAL teachers and schools to plan and deliver effective programs, and to support teachers' understanding, assessing and reporting on the English language proficiency of EAL students as they implement the EAL curriculum.
- Languages and Multicultural Education Resource Centre – LMERC is a specialised library for teachers in the areas of EAL, Languages, Cross-curriculum priority areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia and the Intercultural capability. The library also has a wide range of culturally and linguistically diverse resources. LMERC staff can be contacted for advice about resources at LMERC and online.
Enrolling students seeking asylum
Asylum seekers are children or adults who have arrived in Australia and sought protection as a refugee, but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been assessed.
Students seeking asylum are eligible to enrol in Victorian government primary and secondary schools and are not required to pay international student fees. Students become fee exempt from the day the humanitarian visa application is lodged. For detailed guidelines refer to:
- International Student Visa Fee Table (DOCX, 1.18 MB) – this provides information regarding fee exemption for Humanitarian visa applicants (including students seeking asylum).
For enquiries regarding international student fee exemption for Humanitarian visa applicants, contact the International Education and Partnerships Division at international@education.vic.gov.au.
Supporting Students and Families
Some families seeking asylum may experience financial hardship and may require additional support to participate in school activities. For further information, refer to:
- Help with school costs and fees – there are supports available if families are having difficulties with school costs.
Refugee Week
Refugee Week is held annually in June. Schools are encouraged to involve their staff, students and communities in activities to raise awareness of Refugee Week through the school curriculum, extra-curricular activities and local events.
In addition to classroom activities associated with Refugee Week, schools may wish to consider:
- sharing books and stories with a focus on refugee experiences
- organising a film screening which highlights refugee journeys
- holding school assemblies and concerts celebrating the cultural diversity of the local community
- school poetry or essay competitions
- exhibitions of student artwork.
For further information refer to: Refugee Council of Australia - Refugee Week.
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