Comic book makes serious difference to young refugees
19 June 2009
A new comic book will be an exciting and innovative settlement tool to help refugee youth adjust to life in Australia, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, said today.
The Australian Cultural Orientation Program (AUSCO) comic book, entitled One Step at a Time, was launched today by Mr Ferguson during Refugee Week at the Migration Museum of South Australia.
‘Academic research suggests that visual aids such as novels, comic books and posters are a powerful yet enjoyable teaching tool for youth and less literate people,’ Mr Ferguson said.
‘One Step at a Time is designed for young refugees who are about to come to Australia. It tells the story of three refugee families living in Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.
‘It provides an initial introduction to important elements of Australian life such as our laws, our rights, our culture and our government.
‘It also, importantly, prepares people to travel. Even getting on an aeroplane can be a potentially frightening experience.’
Work started on the comic book in late 2007 with the help of Multicultural Youth SA, as well as a group of young people who had recently arrived as refugees from Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.
‘This is a great example of one group of young refugees helping others who will go through the same settlement experience, who will have the same fears, the same questions and concerns,’ Mr Ferguson said.
One Step at a Time will be read by refugee youth attending the AUSCO programs overseas.
AUSCO is an educational program that Australia provides to refugees and other people who have been granted visas to come to Australia under our humanitarian program.
‘During this financial year, more than 5200 people who are being resettled in Australia have attended an AUSCO class in locations such as Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
‘It is something that Australia does well and something of which we can all be very proud. AUSCO's new comic book will make a real difference to people's settlement prospects,’ Mr Ferguson said.
Media contact: Carla Wilshire 0432 755 935
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2009/lf09035.htm
Last update: 19 June 2009 at 09:09 AEST