S.T.A.R.S. in Schools: supporting students from refugee backgrounds is a 5 hour professional learning course that helps schools to support the successful resettlement of refugee students, to promote effective teaching and learning and to assist school staff in responding with sensitivity and awareness to behavioural issues that may arise for refugee students. It is based on the STARS  framework, developed by UNICEF. STARS stands for Safety, Trust, Attachment, Responsibility and Skills.

Teaching students from a refugee background

Teaching students from a refugee background is a 20 hour professional learning program that helps classroom teachers K-12 develop the skills and knowledge to effectively teach refugee students in mainstream classrooms. It also outlines specialist personnel, external agencies, training programs and resources available to support refugee students. Trained facilitators can assist in delivering training for schools.

STARTTS training programs

STARTTS is a specialist non-profit organisation, that partners with schools, to provide culturally appropriate psychological treatment and support for refugees and migrants who have experienced torture and trauma. STARTTS can provide training for school staff on issues related to refugees and refugee trauma through workshops, seminars or evening presentations. They also offer individual consultancy support to school counsellors.

Classrooms of Possibility

The Classrooms of Possibility resource has been developed by academics from UTS in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education. The site provides professional learning resources based on the research 'Classrooms of Possibility: Working with students from refugee backgrounds in mainstream classes'. These resources can support primary and high school teachers who are working in mainstream classes with recently arrived EAL/D students, including those from refugee backgrounds. A series of videos demonstrate different elements of EAL/D pedagogy in the classroom with accompanying discussion questions, suggestions for professional learning activities and further professional readings. This is a staff only resource and the videos can only be used in professional learning for teachers and researchers. In no circumstances should they be used for commercial purposes.