Refugee Bridging Program (for students with a refugee experience)
Refugee young people have the right to a meaningful education that takes into account their refugee experiences and supports and prepares them in their quest for successful educational outcomes.
Why was this program established?
The Bridging Program at Dickson College has been developed as a response to the interrupted schooling of many of the young refugee students that enter the ACT college sector. Although many refugee students aim to attend and complete college they face innumerable hardships. They face great challenges in terms of social adaptation, English language learning, adoption into an unknown school system, and eventual academic success. This program aims to support these students and give them the opportunity for academic success.
Who can join the program?
The program is open to students 16+ years old with a refugee experience. Students must meet a minimum standard of written English before they can enter the program, although they will still have significant ESL and literacy needs. Students and their families will be interviewed by the Bridging Program staff of Dickson College and assessed to determine their eligibility and appropriateness for the program.
Typically the cohort are students who:
• are refugees
• have had disrupted education
• have spent significant time in a refugee camp prior to their arrival in Australia and Canberra
• have significant settlement issues
What is the Bridging Program about?
The bridging program is a year 11 and 12 course studied over a possible three years. The program allows the students to fulfil the requirements of a year 12 certificate. For some students it may offer the opportunity of a tertiary entrance possibly via the CIT. Pathways vary according to student ambition and ability.
Students who aspire to gain their year 12 certificate will be given the opportunity to study units that are more appropriate to and support their past educational and life experiences. The flexible nature of the program will allow more able and experienced students to move into mainstream units when appropriate in order to continue their individual education pathway.
The program includes strong ESL and ICT support, mentoring, cultural orientation and life skills. Students have consistent contact with a small team of teachers. The focus is on academic support and the broader welfare of the student, including support with settlement issues.
What will students study?
The year 11 curriculum is initially made up of six ‘R’ units written specifically for this program. Students with high language/literacy needs are usually enrolled solely in these R units.
They are designed to address the skills required for life in Australia as well as intensive language and literacy instruction to lay the foundations for future study. Students will be given the opportunity, and encouraged, to consider their future educational and employment pathways and plan accordingly.
Students who have experienced some time in the Australian school system may do a hybrid year 11 course with some Dickson College subjects and some Bridging program subjects. The package designed for the individual student will be planned in consultation with teachers, the student and families/caregivers
Year 11 'R' units - 2011
• Mathematics R
• English as a Second Language (A)
• Life Skills (A)
• Australia and the World (A)
• Information Technology – (A)
• Study Skills (A)
Teachers (2011)
Ros Phillips – ESL (Executive Teacher Refugee Bridging Program / SIEC, Dickson College)
Jenny Rae – ESL (Executive Teacher Humanities / ESL Dickson College)
Jan Bentley – Mathematics (Executive Teacher Mathematics, Dickson College)
Lisa Styles - Arts Faculty / Media (Dickson College)
Peter Richens – Music (Dickson College)
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For more Information -
Contact - Ros Phillips
Executive Teacher
Secondary Introductory English Centre / Refugee Bridging Program
Dickson College
Phillip Avenue ACT 2602
rosslyn.phillips@ed.act.edu.au
(02) 6205 6334
