Blackfriars Priory School Refugee Program

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• Blackfriars Priory School Refugee Program

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First Generation Refugees to Blackfriars

• 2005
• 20 refugee students primarily from Afghanistan
  and Sudan
• No formal support structures
• Limited understanding of refugee needs

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Refugee Leadership Program

• Program initiated to enhance literacy levels
  through oral communication CEO initiative
• Student leaders presented their refugee
  experiences and opinions through a range of
  forums
• Aimed to develop a better understanding of
  refugee experiences and attitudes

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First Generation Refugees to Blackfriars

• Many born in home country
• Witnessed first hand war and hardship
• Typically had no previous schooling before
  Australia
• Intensive responsibilities to support parents in
  their transition to Australia
• Low literacy and numeracy levels
• Strong camaraderie with their peers

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First Generation Refugees

• Overall Issues
• Minimal access to the curriculum
• Conceived aggression towards peers and staff
• Disengaged and distracted in classroom
  environment
• Emotional distress

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Successes of Leadership Program

• Improved literacy levels and success with school
• Stronger sense of collegiality between students
  and staff
• Greater understanding of how to meet the needs of
  refugee students

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Blackfriars Today
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Current Refugee Cohort

• Typically grew up as refugees in other countries
• English is potentially a 3rd language
• Experience of racism
• Have little knowledge of their mother country
• Many have lost their fathers or are living with
  relatives

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Blackfriars today - Everyday Challenges

• Literacy and numeracy skills
• Funding and tightening of refugee terminology
  makes it far more difficult to access resources
• Sheer numbers makes it difficult to manage
  individuals boys get lost in the system
• Boys far more eager to fit in
• Negative role models gang culture
• Parents sense of helplessness in controlling
  negative behaviour
• Negative media perceptions and affect on students
• Difficulties in accessing employment
  opportunities
• Relationships with teachers and tension
• Greater demands ie. Accessing external services

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Refugee Support Person
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Mentoring Program

• Counselling of younger students
• Acting as translators
• Working with primary school boys
• Working with teachers to develop understanding

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External Mentoring Program

• Mentoring of Primary School Children
• Developing Leadership Skills
• Sharing of Refugee Educational Experiences

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Homework Club

• Supports Refugee students with their studies
• Provides a space for students to gain extended
  learning experiences from subject specific
  teachers
• Provides a space for student to interact and
  socialise with their peers and teachers
• Provides a space to counsel and advise students

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Lunch Meetings

• Opportunity to Socialise
• Sharing issues and ideas with teachers and staff
  members
• Organising events such as Refugee Week

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Joint Youth Program Prospect Council
Blackfriars

• Students form part of the Prospect Youth Advisory
  Committee
• Develop strategies and activities to engage youth
• Help to organise and facilitate holiday programs
• Developed Youth Week activities and took on
  leadership responsibilities

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Student Achievements

• Innocent Bigga
• Award for Excellence Young Achiever of the Year
  Award (2007)
• Prospect Counsel Young Australian of the Year
  Award (2007)
• Makuac Dhal
• Multicultural Award for Culture and Language as
  part of the Young Australian of the Year Award
  category (2008)
• Sana Qasimy
• Award of Recognition Multicultural Award for
  Culture and Language (2009)