Refugee action support : a model for culturally inclusive and effective schooling in Greater Western Sydney

Many African refugee students entering Australian high schools have come from war-torn regions in Africa and have spent many years in refugee camps. As a result, many have received no formal schooling prior to their arrival in Australia. For those who received some schooling in the refugee camps, the education was often interrupted (Ferfolja et al. 2009). Such interruption meant that these refugee students struggled academically. On arrival in Australia, many African refugee communities experienced high levels of stress particularly in adjusting to their new environment. The parents and students unfamiliarity with the Australian educational system created not only cultural and social barriers for African refugee students but linguistic barriers as well. African refugee high school students in particular faced enormous challenges in the classrooms since the limited four terms in Intensive English Centres did not sufficiently prepare them for mainstream academic work.