SYRIAN and Iraqi refugee children will be offered places in catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese.
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The Catholic Education Office has announced plans to provide assistance to refugees from Syria and Iraq who wish to settle in the region.
The CEO will provide places for children of Syrian and Iraqi refugee families at primary and secondary catholic schools, and will cover the extra costs associated with education including, uniforms, excursions, books, and technology.
The Episcopal Vicar for Education, the Very Rev. Dr Brian Boyle, said discussions between the Diocese of Sandhurst and the Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst, Mr Paul Desmond led to a pledge to provide places for Syrian and Iraqi children in Sandhurst schools, including financial assistance.
“We believe it is likely that some of these refugee families will settle in central and north-eastern Victoria and together with other Catholic agencies such as Caritas and CatholicCare, Catholic Education is keen to do its part to enable these families to settle in Australia happily and be well accepted into the Australian community after the traumatic experiences of war and dislocation in Syria and Iraq,” Fr Brian said.
“Like many of us, refugee families have the same needs: a roof over their head, bread on the table, a job with steady income, and a place in the school where their children can be educated,” he said.
“While the provision of housing and accommodation are not the particular skill set of the Catholic Education Office and these needs are best left to other Government and Catholic Church agencies, Catholic Education can assist directly in meeting an urgent and necessary need of refugee families settling in north-eastern Victoria: a place in the local school for their children where they will be safe, cared for and well educated.”
The offer to provide places for children of Syrian and Iraqi refugee families by the Catholic Education Office will extend to the extra costs associated with education including, uniforms, excursions, books, and technology.
Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst, Mr Paul Desmond said the cost of these items will be covered for all Syrian and Iraqi refugee children enrolled in Sandhurst primary and secondary schools for an initial period of 2-3 years, as the family establishes itself in Australia.
“Further, we anticipate that one of the specific needs of Syrian and Iraqi refugee children who may enter our schools is English language tuition. We imagine few such children would speak English. The Catholic Education Office will undertake the costs of the provision of professional English language tuition for Syrian and Iraqi refugee children who are enrolled in our schools,” said Mr Desmond.
It is clear the arrival of refugee families in Australia from the end of this year will present both challenges and opportunities for the Australian community.