CURRENT ISSUES - NATIONAL SETTLEMENT POLICY NETWORK

PAST TELECONFERENCES - 10 NOVEMBER 2009

The first National Settlement Policy Network Teleconference was held on Tuesday 10th November 2009 and explored the topic Refugee young people and education: Finding the right time and place.

Guest speaker: Dr Howard Nicholas
Dr Howard Nicholas is Senior Lecturer in Language Education and Director of the Centre for Regional Education at La Trobe University (Victoria). His research interests span the natural and instructed development of languages other than English and English as a second language. He is co-author of ‘Opening the Door’: Provision for Refugee Youth with Minimal/No Schooling in the Adult Migrant English Program, and was chair of the post-compulsory education working party of the Victorian Settlement Planning Committee from 2007-2008.

Dr Nicholas provided an overview of some of the key issues for refugee young people with regards to education with a particular focus on young people in the older age groups who arrive with a background of disrupted education, as well as changes, opportunities and gaps in education policy. Notes from Dr Nicholas’ presentation can be downloaded here.

RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Nicholas, H. (2009). Notes from presentation by Dr Howard Nicholas, RCOA/SCOA National Settlement Policy Network Teleconference, 10th November 2009.

Moore, H., Nicholas, H. & Deblaquiere, J (2008). ‘Opening the Door’: Provision for Refugee Youth with Minimal/No Schooling in the Adult Migrant English Program: Project 2.1: ‘Modes of Delivery for SPP Youth’, AMEP Research Centre, Commonwealth of Australia. http://www.ameprc.mq.edu.au/docs/research_reports/research_report_series/Opening_the_door.pdf

Victorian Settlement Planning Committee (2008). Pathways and Transitions: Post-compulsory Education, Work and Refugee Young People, Centre for Multicultural Youth, Carlton. http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/settle/_pdf/07_08/pathways-transitions-2008.pdf

Dooley, K (2009). ‘Re-thinking pedagogy for middle school students with little, no or severely interrupted schooling’ in English Teaching: Practice and Critique, May, 2009, Volume 8, Number 1, pp. 5-22. http://education.waikato.ac.nz/research/files/etpc/files/2009v8n1art1.pdf

SCOA Resources

Annual Report
SCOA's 2008-09 Annual Report can be viewed here: http://scoa.org.au/resources/311609_72752_SCOA%20Annual%20Report.pdf

SCOA Conference Report
The report of the first national settlement conference, which was held in Canberra on 28th and 29th May 2009 can be downloaded from: http://scoa.org.au/_webapp_277499/SCOA_Conference_Report_2009

Survey of settlement service providers
In 2009, SCOA conducted a survey of settlement service providers which aimed to gather feedback regarding the various roles and activities that SCOA might focus on, in its role as a national peak body. The results of the survey can be viewed here:
http://scoa.org.au/resources/280103_72752_SCOA%20Settlement%20survey%20report%202009.pdf

National Quality Standards
SCOA will soon begin working to develop National Quality Standards for the settlement sector. If you have ideas about what should be included in these Quality Standards, or would like further information, click here.