NSW (New South Wales) universities are doing their bit to help Syrian and Iraqi refugees have a better life by providing support programs and scholarships to those refugees who settle in NSW in the next 18 months.
“Education is Key To Unlocking Potential”
This help to access higher education will increase refugees’ job prospects and help them make a valuable contribution to Australian society. Peter Shergold, the NSW Coordinator General for Refugee Resettlement said “we know that education is key to unlocking potential, opportunities and jobs. Many refugees have been forced to abandon their studies and this support from across the states will enable them to rediscover and pursue their dreams”.
Western Sydney University Scholarship
Western Sydney University will offer an annual scholarship, the funds for which will come from the returns of a $500,000 investment in the Refugee Scholarship Fund. This will fund scholarships to the amount of $7,500 per year for each year of a recipient’s degree. The University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney are offering similar programs. Some universities are not offering scholarships but are instead offering the refugees support programs to help them transition to university, additional staff to supervise them and support through bridging programs.
Universities Providing Support
The universities that are providing to support Syrian and Iraqi refugees include: University of New South Wales, University of Sydney and Western Sydney University, the University of New England, University of Newcastle, University of Wollongong, Macquarie University, Charles Sturt University, Australian Catholic University and the University of Technology, Sydney.