Settling In Kit

Description

‘Settling In’ Kit (3^rd Edition)

 Settling In is a group program for newly arrived refugee and migrant students which aims to help students adjust to life in Australia. Although it is most often used with school students, Settling In can be used in a range of community settings. The kit has recently been revised and updated through a collaborative process with key stakeholders, including the NSW Department of Education.

During the ten week program students:

1. Have their reactions and feelings normalised
2. Build emotional literacy and coping strategies
3. Build trust and familiarity with school support staff
4. Build respectful  relationships with each other
5. Are supported in their recovery from trauma

It is recommended that the Settling In program be delivered by at least two facilitators (including one qualified counsellor*). Both facilitators should have experience in running groups and have experience in cross-cultural issues and helping people who have survived trauma. It is also recommended that facilitators attend STARTTS’ Settling In Facilitator Training (one day). This training is currently being provided free-of-charge at several times throughout the year, by the STARTTS School Liaison Team.

The revised Settling In Kit contains:

• A Facilitators Manual with essential background information for delivering the program successfully
• A Student Workbook to help reinforce students’ key learnings in each session
• A Program Manual that includes permission notes, handouts, relaxation scripts, evaluation measures and guides for facilitating each session, on topics such as:
  • Feelings about resettlement
  • Likes and dislikes about Australia and country of origin
  • Dealing with anger, anxiety and depression
  • People and places that can help
  • Settling goals and problem solving
  • Self-confidence and personal strengths
• Sound recordings of relaxation and visualisation exercises for use

Permission notes and selected handouts are available in English, Arabic, Farsi and Ukrainian.

*We recognise that in regional contexts, it may be very challenging for a school counsellor or psychologist to be available for co-facilitation of each session and that an EAL/D Teacher may have to co-facilitate the program with a non-counselling staff member. When this is the case, the most appropriate model to facilitate delivery and balance the risks and benefits to students, is to ensure a scheduled exchange between teachers delivering the program, and a school counsellor, school psychologist or a member of the Refugee Student Counselling Support Team (for NSW public schools) at a regular time throughout the duration of the program. The aim of this requirement is to ensure that students living in regional areas are still able to receive therapeutic and psychological support through collaboration between EAL/D Teachers and a counsellor or psychologist.