NSW Department of Education and Training

Western Sydney Region implemented a range of initiatives to meet the needs of refugee
students, including:
mentor support for approximately seventy secondary students during their transition
from the Intensive English Centre to secondary school.
learning support officer (ethnic) or mentor support for thirty primary students during
their transition into schools.
support provided by Regional Refugee Support Officer to students and school staff
across the region. The officer attends Learning Support Team meetings in schools to
assist the development of plans to support students.
intensive English support for ten refugee students at Blacktown South Primary School
a regional refugee support committee which meets twice per term and attended by
Student Services, school counsellors, multicultural education consultants, community
information and liaison officers, the regional refugee support officer, state office
personnel, and regional equity coordinator. Non government organisation
representatives are invited on a needs basis.
Sydney Region published Student Leadership and Literacy Program for Students from
Pacific Community Backgrounds: a literacy based mentoring program embedding cultural
understanding within student leadership development and distributed it to all regional
schools. The program was developed by the region under the Youth Partnership with
Pacific Communities. It aimed to build the leadership capacities in young people from
Pacific communities and increase their participation in leadership roles within schools and
the wider community, to build students’ self confidence and communication skills and to
provide opportunities for students to share messages about cultural responsibilities,
tolerance and understanding with the wider community.
In 2008, the region adapted the program and implemented it as a Student Leadership
and Literacy Program for Students from Arabic Speaking Backgrounds. Fifty two students
of Arabic speaking backgrounds enrolled in four high schools that were identified as
potential leaders and mentors, participated in the project. The initiative combined a range
of strategies to engage the interest of the students and develop their skills. A key strategy
was the involvement of two Arabic youth leaders in each participating school as guides
and mentors. A high proportion of participants will occupy leadership roles within their
schools in 2009.
TAFE NSW
TAFE NSW Institutes customise courses to assist members of ethnic minority communities
to achieve their further study and employment goals. Programs target migrants with overseas
qualifications and skills, refugees, women, mature-aged jobseekers, young people with
disrupted learning and people with a disability.
The customised programs highlight the role of TAFE NSW in reinforcing vocational
pathways, responding to areas of skill shortage and strengthening community capacity.
TAFE NSW Institutes provided vocational courses with integrated English language skills
for students from non-English speaking backgrounds through programs such as Get
Skilled, Outreach and externally funded programs including the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations Language, Literacy and Numeracy Programme:
TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute delivered seven vocational programs with integrated
English language support tailored to the needs of specific groups. For example, an
introduction to the building industry for refugees from African communities and AQF
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