Programs & Services
Refugee Support
Program
2012 has been another exceptionally busy year for
FLN’s Refugee Support Program. There has been a
steady increase in numbers of people accessing the
service, particularly people from Afghanistan and South
Sudan. The majority of new clients are self referred,
directed to FLN by friends and family. However, we
are still receiving a consistent number of referrals from
other agencies, such as Spectrum Migrant Resource
Centre, Napier Street Child and Family Resource
Centre and Homeground Housing Service. Often these
referring agencies provide a similar service to FLN, but
are not able to continue working with refugees after the
five-year threshold. Settlement support networks, such
as the Yarra Settlement Forum, have identified this post
five year support as a significant unmet need within
refugee communities settling in Australia. It is fortunate
that FLN programs continue providing support to
clients who have been in Australia for more than five
years.
In June FLN was involved in a collaborative project for
Refugee Week 2012. Every year the Yarra Settlement
Forum produces an event during Refugee Week, which
targets schools in the City of Yarra. These events are
Fitzroy Learning Network Annual Report 2011/12
designed to raise awareness of refugee issues among
secondary school students. This year we held a short
film competition for Years 9 and 10 students. Finished
films were then screened at the awards ceremony –
Freedom from Fear Film Festival which was held on
International Refugee Day, Wednesday 20 June at
the Fitzroy Town Hall. The event was a success with
positive feedback from both teachers and students of
participating schools. We have already started planning
for the 2013 event and many Yarra schools have shown
interest in taking part next year.
On Sunday 12 February FLN collaborated with the
Melbourne-based fundraising collective ‘Sisters for
Sisters’, to create an amazing night of music, dance
and entertainment. The money raised by the Sisters for
Sisters event went towards funding FLN’s new program
– Women’s Wellbeing. The Women’s Wellbeing program
currently consists of weekly wellness classes such as
dance, yoga or tai chi, to encourage improved health
and happiness through gentle and fun exercise. The
project also gives marginalised women the opportunity
to meet other women and build trusting relationships,
in a positive social environment.
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