School: Parramatta West Public School (NSW)
Partner: St Vincent de Paul
Parramatta West Public School is a multicultural school of 540 students in the western suburbs of Sydney. The students come from 44 different language backgrounds, with the school being the first stop for many after their arrival in Australia. Thirty-two of the students are refugees. Many of them have missed years of schooling as a result of war and dislocation, and so have the added difficulty of catching up on academic skills as well as learning the English language. Many are living with relatives, as close family members have been destroyed by war. Others have family members still overseas in unknown or unsafe locations. The trauma associated with such dislocation and horror is often profound.
The school has benefited from a partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society, a Catholic lay organisation dedicated to helping people in need or dealing with adversity. The partnership is based on the St Vincent de Paul Society Assisting Refugee Kids (SPARK) program.
The SPARK program comprises a range of activities, including an after school homework and activities club, a playgroup for their pre-school siblings, family support groups, which include informal English language groups, and life skills and settlement support. There are also social activities and awareness raising events for mainstream parents, the school and the wider community. St Vincent de Paul provides volunteers to assist with the program and resources for the activities directed towards the younger children. Teachers are substantially involved in the coordination of the program and in liaising with parents, explaining the benefits of the program through interpreters.
The program has contributed to enhanced educational outcomes for refugee children, including an improved understanding of Australian cultural norms and greater English language proficiency. The program has led to greater community cohesion and harmony, better settlement outcomes for refugee families in the short and long term, and an increased understanding of refugee settlement issues within the broader community. Information sessions conducted by providers inform refugee families and assist in the building of family resilience.
The value of the program has been affirmed by student evaluations (twice a year) and staff evaluations (once per term). Student comments have indicated that the homework club is seen as being fun and a good place to learn. Since the start of the homework centre, more teachers have become involved in supporting the program to such an extent that it is now considered an integral part of the workings of the school.
The Schools First award funds will be used to purchase resources, run a variety of excursions, provide additional training for volunteers, and obtain professional assistance with evaluation strategies.
