Multicultural class is in session

WITH the aim of providing educational support to children from diverse backgrounds, the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre’s diversity homework club offers a range of free out of school hours learning programs.

Migrant English program coordinator and organiser Sarabjit Kaur said the initiative took flight and became popular with students and tutors during the COVID lockdown period.

“I became involved in the program when we switched to online delivery because of the COVID restrictions,” she said.

“We decided that children who were isolating with their families at home needed that connection with their homework club cohort who were experiencing similar issues.

“This was a good way to stay connected and know you’re not alone and exchanges some positivity.”

Currently delivered over Zoom, the tutoring sessions are scheduled Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4.15pm to 5pm.

With over 34 students from 23 families and a variety of tutors with a range of skills involved, Ms Kaur said it’s become a way for both pupils and teachers to connect with their community.

“We mainly cater to migrant, refugee, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, but anyone in a vulnerable situation is most welcome to contact us and if they need support we are here to help them,” she said.

“We have eight regular tutors, we used to have about six peer tutors but they are into their VCE and exams, so now we have three peer tutors.

“We have partnerships with schools including Ballarat Grammar, Clarendon College, St Patricks, and a lot of the students contact us to be able to tutor with us and have a learning experience.

While the tutoring sessions the core of the club’s work, Ms Kaur said offer a range of fun activities and useful exercises that are outside of their regular school curriculum.

“Public speaking, writing, listening, panel discussions, respectful dialogue skills and warm up activities are all part of the program,” she said.

“We match the lessons up with the learning kits that we send out to them, for example today we included a Sudoku book and one of the kids will do a presentation on how to do a Sudoku.

“We also partner with the library to offer a reading program and the librarian comes in and speaks to the kids about services available.”

Recently, the team were recognised for their hard work and Ms Kaur said it was nice to see all the smiles from those involved and all the hard work that was put in.

“We won the Out of School Hours Learning Support Program of the year in a rural area for 2020 awarded by CMY,” he said.

“Also, seven of our students won $50 reading vouchers and certificates in recognition of their work.

“This was all happening online, when we were all adapting to the new changes and COVID dictated norms, this was a ray of hope, something happy and positive happening in all of our lives.”