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What is refugee week?
This week is Refugee Week in Australia (June 16-22), a time to reflect on the resilience and contributions of refugee communities.
“Refugee Week in Australia is always held from Sunday to Saturday of the week which includes 20 June (World Refugee Day). For 2024, it will be held from Sunday 16 June to Saturday 22 June.”
Why refugee week is important?
Refugee Week has grown into a week in which hundreds of organisations – small and large, from local groups of volunteers to large statutory organisations, people of refugee background and allies from across the community, local councils, schools, students, faith-based organisations and business – can celebrate the week in the way they believe is most meaningful. In recent years, events have included celebrations of music and the arts, public talks and seminars on refugee issues, sporting events, rallies and much more. While World Refugee Day is celebrated globally,Refugee Week is held only in a limited number of countries.
Refugee Council of Australia indicates that “people who have come as refugees are more likely to set up businesses than other groups. They play an important role in facilitating the development of trade and other links with their countries of origin. They value the education of their children very highly. More young refugees study than other migrants and people born in Australia.”
Amnesty International addressed 10 myths about refugees, with the first one being that refugees don’t contribute to their host country. In their efforts to raise awareness and dispel myths, they provided evidence that refugees do contribute significantly to Australian society through various means such as volunteering, social engagement, business ownership, and workforce participation.
Despite the commendable efforts of the Australian government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), there remains a pressing need to consistently address the needs and challenges of refugees, while also raising awareness about their substantial contributions across various sectors and communities. Implementing best practices for their education and integration into Australian society is crucial. According to the Transcultural Mental Health Centre, an Australian government initiative, ongoing attention is required to address the issues faced by refugees and to recognise their positive impact on the Australian community.
Critical issues faced by refugee-background students in Australian schools
Recent research conducted at the University of South Australia sheds light on critical issues faced by refugee-background students in Australian schools.
Key findings include:
Impact of Racism and Inflexible School Policies: Students reported that everyday racism and inflexible school rules significantly erode their confidence, dignity, and self-respect. This highlights the need for schools to adopt more inclusive and empathetic policies.
Resilience Through Support and Understanding: Positive relationships with school staff and targeted support programs are crucial in fostering resilience among refugee students. This underscores the importance of professional development for educators to better understand and support these students.
Skills Academia Research & Insights Collective for Excellence , a nonprofit ecosystem dedicated to fostering inclusive research-practice linkages, encourages readers to advocate for more inclusive educational practices that recognise and support the unique challenges faced by refugee students, not just this week but in all weeks to come. Together, we can create a more supportive and equitable learning environment for all.
Sources and useful links:
Baak, Melanie & Johnson, Bruce & Brown, Jenn & Morgan, Sally. (2024). Refugee students’ views about how schools can foster resilience: what helps, what hinders and what needs to change. 10.13140/RG.2.2.20230.18244.
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/contribution-to-australia/
https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/about/
https://www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/transcultural-mental-health-centre
https://www.amnesty.org.au/debunking-10-myths-about-refugees-in-australia/
https://skillsacademia.org/2024/01/benchamrking-in-higher-education/
