Refugee Action Support

Entering a new culture can be a daunting experience, especially for refugees who may have experienced trauma in their lives.

ALNF’s award-winning Refugee Action Support (RAS) program provides effective support for refugee students as they grapple with the language and literacy demands of the classroom.

We recognise the complexities that these young people face, and understand why it is so important to help them make a successful transition into Australian schooling.

Through the RAS program, we recruit, train and place skilled volunteers in schools with a high number of refugee students, to provide face-to-face learning support. Schools participating in the RAS program cover the Western Sydney, South Western Sydney and the NSW Riverina region.

The program involves a special three-way partnership between ALNF, the NSW Department of Education and Communities (DEC) and participating universities, so that students who are enrolled in relevant courses, such as education and speech pathology, act as literacy tutors in one-on-one and small group settings. In many cases, the university students gain course credit while working closely with primary and high school students.

RAS has been recognised as an exemplary initiative by the Refugee Council of Australia, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission and the MacJanet Prize for Global Citizenship.

 

Other Programs

Make A Difference

  • $10 Provides a child in a disadvantaged community with a brand new, specially selected children’s book.
  • $100 Provides a child with a Literacy Pack filled with quality school supplies and learning resources.
  • $150 Assists in training an Indigenous community member to enhance children's literacy development.
  • $240 Provides a vulnerable preschool child with the literacy and learning support necessary to start school ready to learn and grow.
  • $5 $5 a month for a year will provide vital learning materials for a child in a remote community.
  • $10 $10 a month for a year will provide a child with a Literacy Pack filled with educational resources and a number of brand new, specially selected books.
  • $20 $20 a month for a year will provide a preschool student with learning support to successfully transition to school.