Ready Arrive Work (RAW) Refugee Youth In Focus Forum Sydney University Brendan Gembitsky Coordinator National Partnership on Youth Attainment
Ready Arrive Work is a targeted vocational program designed to support refugee students to develop their employability skills and to prepare them for work experience and work placements. The program is delivered in schools with high refugee enrolments to complement support being provided to students through the Refugee Transition Program. Development of the program has been made possible by a partnership between Job Quest, DEC Western Sydney Region, DEC Multicultural Education and the. The RAW Program if funded from the innovation pool of the NSW National Partnership on Youth Attainment & Transitions and has been operating since 2007.
Background Ready Arrive Work was established to respond to barriers encountered by students from a refugee/new arrival background so they would be better equipped to negotiate the world of work and the workplace. Schools in Western Sydney realised many recently arrived students were unfamiliar with the concepts of daily work schedules and longer term career planning. Due to their settlement experiences few had exposure to opportunities to be part of a work force or experiences which could inform study and longer term career choices. Many had career expectations which did not match either their educational experience or were based only on local knowledge from home. RAW was developed in partnership with local employment provider Job Quest to give schools and students access to learning opportunities which provide basic information about the work place culture and the chance to explore a range of career options.
Features RAW is tailored to the needs of individual schools and students and is delivered at school over the school term. The program is delivered as 12 session and is group based and incorporates a range of learning techniques. Students establish, and achieve weekly goals as they begin to explore their options for vocational education and future career and participate in a range of industry visits leading to a range of industry visits and where possible supported work experience. While Job Quest facilitators deliver the RAW program modules at school. They are assisted by an ESL teacher, a careers adviser and or a transition adviser.
Progress RAW has successfully been introduced to most Government Senior Schools with significant new arrival intakes in Western and South Western Sydney. RAW has also been adapted to enable regional schools on the North Coast, Illawarra and Riverina to offer a RAW program where there are sufficient new arrival enrolments. In 2013 it is anticipated that Catholic colleges in Western Sydney will also enrol with the RAW program, enabling RAW to become a cross sector program.
Participating Schools 2012 Western Sydney South West Sydney Sydney Illawarra Bankstown Senior College Arthur Phillip HS Ashfield Boys HS Figtree HS Blacktown Boys HS Condell Park HS Canterbury Boys HS Keira HS Blacktown Girls HS Fairfield High School Menai HS Illawarra Senior College Doonside Technology Liverpool Boys HS Warrawong High School Evans HS Merrylands HS Warilla High School Northmead Creative & Performing Arts Auburn Girls HS Wollongong Creative and Performing Arts HS North Coast Orana HS
Program Objectives Increase in student confidence and engagement Stronger partnerships between schools, community and industry Greater family and refugee community engagement and understanding of program objectives Smoother transition from school to work and other pathways Increase in students with informed, documented career options Greater community knowledge and empathy for the refugee experience
Resources A range of resources have been developed by the RAW program to assist schools to provide work ready activities for newly-arrived migrant students and students from a refugee background. In addition to providing practical advice to assist development of work ready activities, this resource kit provides schools with practical strategies to engage EAL/D (English as an additional language or dialect) students, their families and the wider community in the RAW program. If you would like further information about the RAW program please contact Vicki Clark- Fitzgerald, School to Work Coordinator, Western Sydney Region, Department of Education and Training on 9208 7661 or by e-mail vicki.clark2@det.nsw.edu.au
Contact: Brendan Gembitsky Department of Education & Communities 9266-8260 brendan.gembitsky@det.nsw.edu.au