TCEO marks Refugee Week with anti-racism workshop
By Heather Excell
Staff from the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office (TCEO) gathered on 16 June to mark Refugee Week with a workshop designed to deepen their understanding of racism and strengthen their capacity to support students and families from refugee backgrounds.
Organiser Kylie Engisch said Refugee Week is a worldwide celebration honouring people from refugee backgrounds and the rich contributions they make to society.
“TCEO staff are provided with a learning experience related to Refugee Week each year to help ensure we are keeping the student at the centre of our work,” she said.
This year, the Refugee Week event featured an anti-racism workshop presented by Dr Zelinda Sherlock, CEO of Sherlock & Dutta Consulting. The workshop encouraged staff to reflect on the experiences of refugees and migrants and explore ways to build more inclusive communities.
Catholic Education Tasmania Executive Director Dr Terry McCarthy reinforced the importance of this work by sharing a conversation he had some years ago with a Year 12 student from Sudan.
“I naively asked her what was the biggest difference between life here and life back home,” he said. “With a smile on her face, she politely replied, ‘I don’t have to walk ten miles each day to get water’.”
This exchange had a powerful impact on Dr McCarthy, and serves as a reminder to him of the powerful mission of TCEO.
“That story gives me renewed commitment to do all that we can to support students like her and their families. We will continue to welcome our refugee friends into inclusive, faith-based school communities that are free from the scourge of racism.”
This year’s Refugee Week theme, ‘A Million Stories’, marks the resettlement of one million refugees in Australia since 1947.
“The milestone is more than just a number; it represents and celebrates one million unique and personal stories,” Kylie said.
Participants described the workshop as informative, engaging and thought-provoking. One staff member said Dr Sherlock’s personal journey as a migrant was especially inspiring.
“Her journey was incredibly motivating and made me feel proud. It was inspiring to see how far a migrant can progress in their career in this country, and how she is giving back to the community through her work.”
Another participant said the workshop reinforced “the importance of inclusion, compassion and understanding in building a more welcoming and supportive community.” Beyond Refugee Week, Catholic Education Tasmania continues to support newly arrived refugee families through initiatives including a three-year fee waiver for eligible students seeking a Catholic education. The English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) team also works alongside schools to help refugee and migrant students flourish in welcoming and inclusive learning communities.