Beverly Hills Intensive English Centre named NSW State Award winner

28 October 2011

Beverly Hills Intensive English Centre was last night named the NAB Schools First NSW State Award winner for 2011.

The Centre, which enrols 300 students from 30 different countries and 26 language backgrounds each year, has formed a partnership with Multicultural Health South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network to deal with fundamental health issues for refugee students.

The winning program provides on-site screening to gain early assessments of health and wellbeing issues that could impact on the learning of refugee and other vulnerable new arrival students. Extensive examination of each student allows early intervention, maximizes their learning situation and provides continuity of care in their chosen community.

After spending three or four terms at the Centre, the students move on to one of 20 local high schools.

Head of Education, NAB, Rebecca Sherwill, said Beverly Hills Intensive English Centre was a worthy State Award winner and was particularly pleased that the program had progressed after winning a $25,000 NAB Schools First Seed Funding Award in 2010.

"This is an excellent program that deals with fundamental health issues for refugee students. It is a significant model of proactive planning and intervention that demonstrates good health is vital to learning,” said Ms Sherwill.

The Centre has received a total of $100,000 towards its school-community partnership and will represent NSW at the National Awards on Wednesday, 23 November.

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