Refugee Education Australia: Community of Practice - Supporting People Seeking Asylum by

Sally Baker

sallybaker1 — 2025-04-29 22:59:48 UTC

Hi! I am the Chair of Refugee Education Australia.

I'm here because I know we can be more effective in opening access and supporting success if we work together

Jason Chan

2025-04-30 01:08:19 UTC

Hi everyone, I work as a Program Officer at MQ's Access and Widening Participation Team and aim to be more informed on how we can support people seeking asylum!

Victoria (Tori) Wilson

2025-04-30 02:30:58 UTC

I am currently working as a casual research assistant to Rachel Burke at University of Newcastle.

Did my PhD in trauma-informed TESOL, taught students from a refugee background for 10 years, and I publish on refugee matters. https://humaninformedtesol.com/

Co-convenor of ACTA Tertiary Education Consultancy Group with Prof Sophie Arkoudis.

Long-time Sally Baker fan.

Available for hire!

2025-04-30 03:58:27 UTC

Hello, my name is Kat, I work at UQ as the Student Support Coordinator for students from underrepresented backgrounds. I have just started to work with our students from a Refugee background that receive a Refugee and Humanitarian Scholarship and I am building a program of supports to help them succeed at UQ

Mohammad Shafi Akbarzada

2025-04-30 04:11:14 UTC

Hello, hope everyone is doing great! I have joined this session to learn and it actually is my first online session. I have not been referred by any organizations. I have a Humanitarian Visa (Refugee subclass 200) PR and I have been in Sydney for last 5 months. Thanks

Kelly Nicol

2025-04-30 04:15:46 UTC

Hi everyone, I'm Kelly and I am a Scholarships Manager in the central Scholarships team at the University of Melbourne. One of my responsibilities is managing the Melbourne Humanitarian Access Scholarship. Looking forward hearing everyone's suggestions for how we can ensure we are following best practice.

Tim McLennan

2025-04-30 04:15:58 UTC

Kia ora koutou,

My name is Tim McLennan and I am a PhD candidate at UNSW supervised by Dr Rose Amazan and Associate Professor Sally Baker.

My project focuses on how students from refugee backgrounds and university staff members who work with and advocate for these students define success and how it can be evaluated in higher education.

Looking forward to meeting everyone and talking about how we can better support people seeking asylum in education!

Cait Greenup

2025-04-30 04:18:06 UTC

I am a senior education designer at the ANU specialising in accessibility and inclusion. I am leading an initiative at ANU to embed inclusive learning design and teaching practices and inclusive teaching.

I previously worked as an English teacher in the Adult Migrant English Program.

Nicola Skintzis - UTS

2025-04-30 04:19:21 UTC

Hi Everyone!

My name is Nicola and I work as a Senior Scholarships Officer at UTS. I manage the administration of our Humanitarian Scholarship. I have wonderful colleagues in our Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion who do amazing direct work with our students to support them while studying and help prepare them for the future.

2025-04-30 04:19:35 UTC

Hi, I'm Esther from the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and Detainees (CARAD) in Perth, WA. As Client Services Manager, I work with a small team of case workers to provide advocacy, ER for basic needs, and case work to people seeking asylum in WA who are without a liveable income.

David Keegan

2025-04-30 04:20:16 UTC

I am a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Excelsia in Sydney. I formerly worked in refugee protection across Asia Pacific Region for many years and have been a big supporter of community based refugee protection pathways. Am keen to work out how I can continue to support refugees through my new role in Higher Ed.

Su Park

supark6 — 2025-04-30 04:23:37 UTC

Hi everyone! I am an Employment Specialist at Asylum Seekers Centre. I have the pleasure of supporting People Seeking Asylum living in Sydney to access subsidised VET training and apply for University scholarships. Access to Higher Education is life changing for our clients and their families and I look forward to sharing knowledge and working together to increase opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees!

2025-04-30 04:24:49 UTC

Hi, I’m Espie from RMIT University and my role as Advisor, Equity Access Schemes includes supporting University teams who interact directly with applicants to ensure they are informed about Victorian ASVET eligibility and applying for our Welcome Scholarships across VET and undergraduate study. Additionally, I work with our school's network program to assist Secondary School Career Practitioners in guiding students who hold temporary asylum seeker visas on tertiary study opportunities, funding, and how to apply for the scholarships.

2025-04-30 04:25:42 UTC

Hi everyone, my name is Shang and I work at UNSW as a scholarships officer. My portfolio include looking after the lovely Asylum Seeker and Refugee portfolio. I am passionate about providing higher education opportunities to this group of students through scholarships, to help them secure an even better future.

victoriacgraham — 2025-04-30 04:52:55 UTC

Hi, I'm Victoria, I am currently teaching and coordinating AE programs with UNSW College. I worked as Office Manager for the Asylum Seekers Centre in Sydney for many years, and I have worked on and off in various capacities with people from refugee backgrounds for around 20 years.

Also long-time Sally Baker fan! Great to meet you all, today.

Lisa Wood

2025-05-05 04:54:25 UTC

I am working at ACU based in North Sydney as the Refugee Program Officer. This role primarily involves stewarding the Refugee Scholarship - ACU Refugee Scholarship - Australian Catholic University Scholarships as well as student onboarding and provision of ongoing support during their education journey at ACU. I am also looking to extend the reach of the program by connecting with relevant support agencies, community organisations and education partners. I welcome you to connect with me on LinkedIn Lisa Wood (Fitzpatrick) | LinkedIn

Hi 😊

2025-05-05 23:22:39 UTC

Hi, I'm Donya. I'm really looking forward to learning from and contributing to this group. I am an optometrist and public health researcher, and undertaking a phd in reproductive health for women who have settled as refugees. I was denied tertiary education in my birth country and came to Australia as a refugee with my family, starting in Year 10 and I know how proper support and pathways can be helpful in making dreams come through. I have initiated a few conversations in my setting around representation of students who have settled as refugees in health degrees and still exploring the role that professionals who are not accredited here can play.

Ayesha Nazir

2025-05-06 00:56:11 UTC

Hello,

I am a project officer at Macquarie University's Access and Widening Participation team. Ever since doing my Masters in Refugees and Forced Migration and working with students with lived experience I have felt really passionate to support students who come from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds who have big dreams and to make sure all my programs as an equity practitioner are evidence based and follow best practice principles.

Judith (Jude) Little

2025-05-08 10:13:02 UTC

Cate Gilpin

cate71 — 2025-05-12 06:08:28 UTC

Hi All, I work at Welcoming Australia as the coordinator of the Welcoming Universities initiative, you can read more about who we are and what we do here:

welcominguniversities.org.au

Remy Bravery (UniMelb)

remybravery — 2025-06-30 04:05:25 UTC

Hi everyone, great to be here amongst so many wonderful people! My name is Remy and I'm the Student Recruitment Coordinator (Equity and Widening Participation) for the University of Melbourne. Since 2022 my role has included providing support and guidance to prospective students from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds, including pathways, waivers and course and scholarship opportunities at UoM. Whilst my remit is in future students, as their initial point of contact, I often find myself supporting students through their studies and navigating the many complexities of tertiary study. Looking forward to collaborating.