Some Responses to the Education and Settlement needs of Young People from Refugee Backgrounds Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Foundation House

Ucan2 – A Partnership Approach Ucan2 is a program that has been designed through a cooperative relationship between The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)

What is Ucan2? Ucan2 has been designed to support young men and women from refugee backgrounds in the transition from on arrival English language programs into mainstream education, training and employment contexts.

Education - Social and Personal Development Our education system is built on a series of linear, interdependent segments where the pedagogical model and learning environments at each point have been designed for people who have completed all or most of the previous component.

An individuals capacity to participate in a range of contexts as an outcome of this education is predicated on an the acquisition of substantial levels of social and personal capitol accumulated over 12 years or more of formal education. Expected Outcomes

Social and Personal Development - Pre arrival pathways

Post Arrival Pathway

Dangerous Transitions Currently, we are providing people from refugee backgrounds with 12 months of ESL tuition on arrival. The outcome of which is transition into systems and contexts for which local people have received 12 or more years of preparation.

Expected Outcomes 75% of all employment comes from word of mouth People who have completed secondary education experience lower rates of unemployment than those who have not and people who have completed post secondary qualifications earn more and For the past 15 years the Australian labour market has experienced a steady decline in the demand for unskilled and semi skilled labour with a steady increase in demand for technical and professional positions. Access Ecconomic:2007

Programmatic Responses

Delivering the Program In the current year the partnership will deliver 8 Ucan2 groups - Dandenong AMES Noble Park AMES Swinburne TAFE (Croydon Campus) Noble Park English Language School Western English Language School In 2011 Ucan2 is aiming to deliver 16 groups in metropolitan Melbourne – about 50% of the total number of 16 to 24 year olds arriving in Victoria on the humanitarian settlement program.

Corporate Partners Ucan2 works with the following employer groups – Australia Post Woolworths Coles The Reject Shop Best and Less Harris Scarfe