Interaction (Group): Amble for ARA
|
What assessment task are we working towards?In the last half of Term 3 we will work as a class to undertake a social action: the Australian Refugee Association's "Amble for ARA".
Whereas our Interaction assignment was about asylum seekers attempting to become refugees in Australia, the focus of this assignment is supporting those who have been settled in South Australia as refugees. Folio Task 3 - Reconciliation at MOC - was our first group assignment, designed to help you practise skills for this task. In that task Ms Grant largely decided which role everyone would play in the assembly based on their strengths. In this task it is up to the class to delegate appropriate roles to each student that will enable them to succeed. |
Getting started
This assignment assumes that the class wishes to support refugees living in our community, including those who study at MOC. Even if you are against accepting asylum seekers who come by boat or having a humanitarian intake of refugees at all, you could adopt an attitude of "they're here now so how can we make the most of it?!" However, if you still feel very strongly that you can't get into the spirit of this task, please talk to Ms Grant as there are ways we can handle this positively for your group and individual grades.
1) Evidence in support of refugees contributing to our community
Talking Point: Should Australians of a refugee background have to be exceptionally good citizens?
|
Professor Graeme Hugo from the University of Adelaide (who unfortunately passed away this year) showed in this landmark report that people who migrate to Australia under its humanitarian program make a significant contribution to our society: Refugees who make a difference
A list of prominent refugees worldwide: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c74.html Some remarkable Australian and South Australian refugees:
|
2) Developing empathy for refugees
a) In Term 2 you participated in a program at the Migration Museum called "Survivors". What main lessons do you recall from the role play?
b) The BBC has developed this site to explore the choices being made by Syrian refugees: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32057601 There are also two apps you can explore:
c) What would you take with you?
See also http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31987373
d) You could enact the Student Action for Refugees (UK) balloon game to get us thinking of the challenges that new arrivals face. |
Talking Point: Are you confident that you understand the difference between asylum seekers and refugees?
|
3) Still unsure?
Adapting to life in Australia certainly isn't easy for our refugee communities. I urge you to borrow these DVDs from me to critically examine the settlement of the Vietnamese and Lebanese communities in New South Wales over the last thirty plus years. What lessons can we take away about supporting today's new arrivals?
Talking Point: What does assimilation mean?
How does it relate to multiculturalism? |