$6.7 million funding to enhance NSW settlement services
29 May 2009
Ensuring refugee children and their families settle into the NSW school system is just one excellent example of the important work carried out by Australian settlement grants recipients, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, said today.
As part of the $6.7 million settlement grants program (SGP) funding allocated to NSW, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will provide $80 000 to Northern Settlement Services in Newcastle.
'This funding will assist Northern Settlement Services in its work with newly arrived African primary and secondary students in Newcastle. The organisation helps humanitarian entrants to overcome significant educational disadvantages by supporting their transition into the Australian school system,' Mr Ferguson said.
Northern Settlement Services will run an after-school homework project in collaboration with schools to support refugee parents and children trying to understand and meet curriculum requirements.
'One of the major issues we face in settling refugee children into Australia is communication difficulties. Many humanitarian entrants have spent years in refugee camps, with little or no schooling, and can find the Australian education system overwhelming. Projects such as this one provide a forum for children and parents to learn more about school requirements and, in particular, the role of homework,' Mr Ferguson said.
During the 2009–10 financial year, DIAC’s settlement grants program will provide $6.7 million to 77 projects which help new arrivals settle into New South Wales.
Some of the successful applicant organisations include migrant resource centres, multicultural service agencies, and community and welfare organisations.
'The many projects supported by the settlement grants program will help migrants and refugees to settle successfully into their new communities, promoting social participation and assisting in their cultural transition into Australia,' Mr Ferguson said.
A list of successful applicants in the 2009–10 funding round is available on the DIAC website.
See: www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/delivering-assistance/settlement-grants
Media contact: Carla Wilshire 0432 755 935
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2009/lf09026.htm
Last update: 29 May 2009 at 11:24 AEST