School Liaison Program
STARTTS School Liaison Officers work with educators across NSW public, private and Catholic systemic schools to enhance schools’ capacity in their work with students with refugee experience. The program operates in partnership with the NSW Department of Education, Catholic Education and the Association of Independent Schools NSW. The School Liaison Program also offers:
- Interagency collaboration with school leaders and collegial networks to address refugee students’ needs in different geographical locations across NSW.
- A specialist consulting service to schools across NSW.
- Professional learning program.
Professional learning topics
Introduction to working with students with refugee experience. This training covers possible elements of the refugee experience, refugee trauma concepts, a whole school approach to trauma recovery, and STARTTS’ interventions.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4
Length: 2 hours
Cost: Free
This training equips non-counsellors with practical skills for responding to trauma behaviours in schools. Staff will learn how to respond effectively to trauma disclosure, aggression, anxiety and tearfulness.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.3, 4.4, 7.1
Length: 1.5-2 hours (Full-day and half-day options available)
Cost: Free
Working with students and families who have experienced trauma can have a positive or negative impact on school staff. This workshop will present a framework for understanding the various impacts and provide practical tools for staff to maintain their wellbeing.
Australian Professional Standards: 6.3, 6.4, 7.4
Length: 1-2 hours (Self-care activities for longer sessions)
Cost: Free
This training addresses the challenges parents and families with refugee experience face in engaging with schools in a new country. This workshop explores ways schools can partner with these families to cultivate a welcoming school community.
Australian Professional Standards: 3.7, 4.1, 7.3
Length: 1.5 hours
Cost: Free
This training helps educators identify behaviours in refugee students that may indicate trauma and consider appropriate responses. This workshop addresses the unique reactions and behaviours of students exposed to traumatic events.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4
Length: 1.5-2 hours
Cost: Free
Trauma–aware acculturation and integration is critical to developing harmony in schools and in assisting learners with refugee experience to adjust to social norms and school routines. This workshop provides conceptual and practical tools to increase awareness of trauma and its impact on adjustment.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.1, 1.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
Length: 2 hours (Tailored for secondary school students)
Cost: Free
This workshop (aimed at executive and specialist staff) introduces the Refugee Readiness Audit tool and how to develop plans harnessing a whole of school approach to support refugee students and their families.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.4, 6.3
Length: 1 hour
Cost: Free
This training is offered in partnership with the host school in a full or half day conference format. The conference includes a plenary session, break out rooms, workshops and a selection of presentations offered in partnership with the host school and/or guest speakers.
Australian Professional Standards: Dependent on workshop session selection
Length: Full-day or half-day event
Cost: Free
A full day workshop for counselling and wellbeing staff about clinical presentations of trauma and how to assess and work with refugee children and families.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.1, 1.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.4
Length: Full-day
Cost: Free
This training prepares educators to handle crises that may trigger past traumas in students and families with refugee experience. This workshop focuses on responding to crises in a trauma-informed manner, both on an individual and school-community level.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.4
Length: 2-3 hours
Cost: Free
This training addresses the unique challenges faced by students with refugee experience and disability, including barriers to support, discrimination, and missed early intervention. This workshop aims to equip educators with frameworks and skills to enhance their practice.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 1.6, 3.7
Length: 2-3 hours
Cost: Free
This training aims to equip school staff with theory, strategies, and practical skills for co-designing school community projects in collaboration with parents and families.
Australian Professional Standards: 3.7, 6.3, 7.3
Length: 2-3 hours
Cost: Free
This workshop aims to build educators’ knowledge and understanding of the complex emotional and cultural factors affecting relationships with learners who have refugee experience.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.4, 4.1
Length: 2-3 hours
Cost: Free
This training is aimed at educators and counsellors who are interested in facilitating the Settling In Program in a school or community setting.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.4, 4.1
Length: 6.5 hours (3.5 hours pre-recorded videos + 3 hours live training on Zoom)
Cost: Free (Optional Settling In Kit available for purchase at $70 per school)
This training is designed for school counsellors interested in facilitating the Jungle Tracks Program, which engages storytelling to help children work through their trauma experience.
Australian Professional Standards: 1.3, 4.4, 4.1
Length: 6 hours
Cost: $110 (includes Jungle Tracks Kit with Facilitator’s Guide and 5 storybooks)
STARTTS’ School Liaison Program Team is happy to tailor training to the needs of your school context and students. This may include training about particular refugee communities or specific challenges identified within your school.
Australian Professional Standards: Dependent on selected content
Length: Adjustable to fit available time
Cost: Free
Professional learning for schools
Schools can access professional learning, free of charge (maximum of 4 occasions per year), through our School Liaison Officers (see below). Schools can request professional learning to be held on site at their school or via Zoom. Please complete the school specific professional development request form or contact: schools.training@startts.org.au.
School Liaison Program Team
Rachelle Coe
Program Team Leader
STARTTS Fairfield
0414 899 472
Email
Nicole Loehr
School Liaison Officer
STARTTS Liverpool
0404 772 927
Email
Maria Ha
School Liaison Officer
STARTTS Auburn
(02) 9646 6666
Email
Mohamed Dukuly
School Liaison Officer (Religious and Independent schools)
STARTTS Blacktown
0422 882 404
Email
Sarah Bailey
School Liaison Officer
STARTTS Liverpool
0411 035 497
Email
Anne Hayter
School Liaison Officer
STARTTS Newcastle
0436 650 983
Email
Kellie Chapman
School Liaison Officer
STARTTS Wagga Wagga/ Albury
0452 136 527
Email
Dave Robinson
Illawarra Community Hubs Project Officer
STARTTS Wollongong
0478 853 600
Email
Hints for Healing Website
Hints for Healing is a website that publishes STARTTS-produced resources, case studies, podcasts, professional learning and research articles aimed at educators and school counsellors who work with students with refugee experience. You can follow Hints for Healing on Facebook, Threads or Instagram. Hints for Healing Podcasts can be found on Spotify, PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Audible/Amazon.