Mercy Connect Ballarat is looking for volunteers with an educational background to help refugee students, both in the classroom and on a one-on-one basis.
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Program coordinator Paulene Barton said it was about providing academic support through mentoring.
“And it’s also a person in the community who cares about them,” she said.
The Sisters of Mercy program began in Ballarat in 2012 and is one of only four across Australia, with the others based in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
There are currently 26 volunteers working across 10 Ballarat schools with refugee and asylum seeker students from prep to year 12.
Ms Barton said a three hour a week commitment is required, along with a Working with Children Check and a Victorian Institute of Teaching registration, which Mercy Connect can help them update.
“We know that being disadvantaged in education can change your life in a negative way but we’ve see the change in the students over the year.
“A lot have traumatic backgrounds and it’s someone else they can talk to. It gives them connections in the community.”
Applications are open for the next compulsory two day training session on June 14 and 15.
For more information, call 0417 624330 or email mercyconnect@gmail.com.
