Coming to Australia

Ms Rajic 10E6

At the start of the year 2000, one in every four people living in Australia was born overseas.

There are many reasons why people decide to move, or seek refuge to Australia. Sometimes there is more than one reason. Some people come for just a short time. Others may stay longer. Some even decide to become Australian citizens.

Everyone’s story is different, but everyone had to: Decide to leave their home Travel to Australia Arrive in a new place Settle and belong.

Immigrants come to Australia for different reasons…

Many people searching for freedom have come to Australia as refugees. Many risk their lives to flee and most have to leave behind loved ones and possessions.

Here are some true stories of children who have found freedom in Australia.

Searching for freedom

My name is Kwiciwow

(say: qui-she-wow). I came from Sudan

My name is Neelab. I came

from Afghanistan

Sudan

Afghanistan

Fact File: Sudan

Kwiciwow’s story

Capital city:Khartoum

Population:36 080 000

Flag

Languages:Official language is Arabic, many other

languages and dialects are also spoken such as

Shilluk.

Health:Average person living in Sudan can expect

to see their 56th Birthday.

Wealth:Roughly one TV for

every 15 people

Education:5 out of 10 people over 15 can read

and write.

Work:80% of people in

Sudan work on farms

Religion:70% Sunni Muslim

5% Christian

My family came from southern Sudan. There was a war going on between different groups of

Sudanese people. It was not safe for us to stay in our home. We moved to Khartoum, the capital of

Sudan, in the north of the country. My family thought it would be safe there, but we were

wrong.

Deciding to leave Sudan

Neelab’s story Flag

Capital city:Kabul

Population:26 813 000

Fact File: Afghanistan

Languages:Dari and Pashtu

are the main languages spoken

in Afghanistan

Education:3 out of 10

people over 15 can read and

write.

Health:The average life expectancy is 46

years.

Work:70% of people

work on farms in Afghanistan

Wealth:There is roughly one TV for every

286 people.

Religion:84% Sunni Muslim15% Shi’s Muslim

1% Other

My family is from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. I was nine when I left Afghanistan. My strongest memories of my country are mostly bad memories – the war and being threatened by the government.

We were frightened and left for Pakistan, where we asked for refugee status.

Deciding to leave Sudan

Tell me your story…

SafetyWhat does safety mean?

What is respectful

interaction?

Rules of safety don’t change

What does safety look like at

school/ playground/

classroom and at home?

How do we know someone wants us to feel safe?

Did you feel safe in your home

country?

What are help seeking

behaviours?

TrustWhat does trust mean to you?

Trusting authority figures!Who are

authority figures in school?

How to co-operate and work

in groups?

Who is trustworthy at

school?

How do you rebuild a sense of

trust?

Open and welcoming body

language?

Listen!“I care…”

Attachment

When you trust you connect?

What does trust mean to you?

Provide support!

How do we feel accepted and

valued?

Creating a sense of belonging?

Attachments to interests from back home –

dance, music?

ResponsibilityHow to regain

control of your life?

Suffer a loss of responsibility?

Student responsibility –

right place, right time?

Good decision making and self

help behaviours – gain attention

and ask for help?

How to become responsible?

SkillsHow can I build

your skills in the classroom?

What are you skilled in? – sport,

dancing?

What skills do you want to learn

in English?

How much schooling have

you missed?

Courtesies in Australian culture – knock on door,

please, thankyou?