Settle Well program expands with state support

A SCHOOL-based support program aimed at helping refugees and asylum seekers living in the Geelong community to thrive, has received a funding boost from the Victorian government to help increase its impact.

The program, named Settle Well Future Ready, first launched in 2012 with a focus on providing holistic care and growth opportunities to address the challenges associated with re-settlement in Australia.

It is facilitated locally by CatholicCare Victoria – a social care and support agency that is part of the Catholic Church – with the support of several partnering organisations, for students at Northern Bay College, North Geelong Secondary College and the Geelong English Language School.

CatholicCare’s philanthropy manager Bertrand Fernandes described the program, which continues to evolve along with the needs of its students, as “empowering people for the future”.

“When immigrants and refugees, asylum seekers come into a country like Australia, often it looks like ‘Hey, we’re going into a very promising land flowing with milk and honey’, but sometimes it’s going from the fire into the frying pan,” he said.

“Even though they have access and rights to certain Medicare and Centrelink [programs], because of language, they can’t get there, they don’t have the confidence.

“This program helps them to connect to the community instead of running away from their culture. It’s accepting your culture and then making use of that to connect, build up the skills to communicate and eventually flourish.”

There are three core aspects to the program:

· The Human Library project, a storytelling concept where students serve as a “human book” and share their lived experiences. culminates in a week-long work experience opportunity in the offices of Lara MP Ella George

· The CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) Community Kitchen program, which teaches students who have been in the country for less than two years employability skills in the hospitality space, and

· The Advocacy program, which provides opportunities for students to meet with their local MPs and pitch ideas on the issues they’re passionate about.

“We are not just offering a band-aid solution, but looking for a long-term sustainable systemic change,” Mr Fernandes said.

Settle Well program manager Nestor Estampa said the aims of the program are two-fold: to foster belonging and understanding within the local community as well as assist students, many of whom risked their lives to come to Australia, to improve their leadership and communication skills and career prospects.

“If you don’t have connection and belonging to the school and community, you tend to disengage, and you are disconnected not only from services but also from your aspirations,” Mr Estampa said.

“Refugee students who come to Australia, they have trauma triggers, and this trauma can get in the way in the search for aspirations in life, in the search for a better future, so they can help themselves and they can give back to their families back home.

“We need to bring them from the trauma, disconnection and loneliness into safety and connection.”