Refugee Bridging Program
The Bridging Program at Dickson College has been developed as a response to the interrupted schooling of many of the young refugee students that enter the ACT college sector.
Although many refugee students aim to attend and complete college they face innumerable hardships. They face great challenges in terms of social adaptation, English language learning, adoption into an unknown school system, and eventual academic success.
This program aims to support these students and give them the opportunity for academic success.
Who can join the program?
The program is open to students 16 years and older with a refugee experience. Students must meet a minimum standard of written English before they can enter the program, although they will still have significant ESL and literacy needs.
Typically the cohort are students who-
- are refugees (or have had a refugee experience)
- have had disrupted education
- have significant settlement issues
- may have spent significant time in a refugee camp prior to their arrival in Australia and Canberra
What is the Refugee Bridging Program?
The Refugee Bridging Program is a year 11 and 12 course. The program allows students to fulfil the requirements of the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate. For some students it may offer the opportunity of a tertiary entrance, possibly via the Canberra Institute of Technology. Pathways vary according to student ambition and ability.
Students who aspire to gain their ACT Senior Secondary Certificate will be given the opportunity to study units that are appropriate to and support their past educational and life experiences. The flexible nature of the program will allow more able and experienced students to move into mainstream units when appropriate in order to continue their individual education pathway.
