Refugee graduates follow the pathway to a brighter future

New South Wales Media Release
Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Ten young refugee students from the war-torn countries of Iraq, Sudan and Burma have been provided with a pathway to a brighter future, thanks to an innovative new program targeting disconnected refugee youth.

Centrelink’s Multicultural Services Branch National Manager, Sam Campisi, said the Social Inclusion Pathways for Refugee Youth (SIPRY) program addresses previously unexplored areas of assistance and support for young refugees.

"This pilot program is unique in that it looks at ways to address the issues of some refugee students and jobseekers remaining disconnected in existing mainstream educational programs and from other appropriate support services," Mr Campisi said.

The eight students from High Schools in the Fairfield area and two local job seekers aged between 17 - 25 years old will be the first class to graduate from the pilot program. The eight-week TAFE course is designed to equip the students with the necessary vocational, educational and practical employment skills needed in the future to be competitive in a tough jobs market.

"It’s important to realise that many of these young people have extremely low levels of literacy, experience social isolation, have unresolved issues regarding torture and trauma and caring responsibilities for their families," Mr Campisi said.

"What this program has done for these graduates is give them the tools and the confidence needed to complete the program successfully. It also provides us with an ongoing opportunity to work with the young refuges and with their families as well.

"Centrelink and our partners in the SIPRY program are committed to improving the employability of the refugee youths in Fairfield and will continue to develop further programs based on the learning’s from this pilot."

Fairfield High School Principal, Robert Mulas, praised the students and the success of the SIPRY program.

"The pilot program has been successful in many regards, including exposing some of our students to local support services and the different pathways in TAFE. We look forward to further collaboration in this program with Centrelink and our other key stakeholders," Mr Mulas said.

Media Opportunity

• What: Social Inclusion Pathways for Refugee Youth (SIPRY) Program Graduation Ceremony for 12 refugee students
• Where: Library, Wetherill Park TAFE, The Horsley Drive, Fairfield
• When: 12.30pm - 2pm, Friday, 26 June 2009

For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink Media Contact.