Innovation in practice
News 24 JulyA message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
23 June 2016
Share
ACU is working with a group of Rohingya young people from refugee backgrounds through soccer and an education program that prepares them for the work force.
Many Rohingya people have settled in Brisbane and for the past few months ACU staff and students have been working with a soccer team made up of young people from the local community.
Exercise Science Lecturer Matthew Pink said the Rohingya people are among the most persecuted people in the world and their own country does not recognise them as Burmese citizens.
“Without many resources, the Young Stars started their own soccer team and came to ACU for support in both soccer and education,” said Matthew, who is also involved with ACU’s Institute of Advancing Community Engagement (IACE).
After a soccer game against ACU students, the Rohingya youngsters take part in a pilot ‘Skill Up’ program, which is jointly run by ACU and Multicultural Development Association (MDA) Ltd as part of the Migrant Youth Vision Project (MYVP).
The MYVP is an initiative led by MDA and is aimed at young people from refugee or migrant background, aged 15-24 who have arrived in Australia less than 5 years ago.
The program links young people to education, training, employment and sport.
Skill-Up helps young people identify their personal strengths and allows them to work on skills that will help them in the workplace.
The group sessions provide a range of high-energy activities focused on the development of competencies in the common skills Employers need including communication, networking, problem solving, team work and developing a strong personal brand.
“This represents a 'Sport plus’ sport for development project where activities are structured around sport in order to achieve community outcomes,” Matthew said.
“The pilot has been very successful and with the help of Brisbane’s Health, Sport, and Well-being department we are looking to expand the program in semester 2 to a Futsal competition with multiple teams from various ethnic backgrounds, in addition to some student teams from ACU.
“We are also looking to make the employment education program bigger and better.”
Community Engagement Facilitator Janine Quine said the program was kick started by close connections made during IACE-operated homework club, which a number of Rohingya young people attended.
“We showed great interest in their lives, and I believe that someone talking so positively about their culture and wanting to know more had a lot to do with the boys coming to us,” she said.
“Working together has also been valuable for ACU students who have had the opportunity to get to know the Young stars through Futsal and also through helping out in the education sessions.
“It is hoped that student involvement will become an increasing feature of the ongoing program.”
MDA Youth Engagement Officer Anna Tate her organisation believes that our whole community prospers when young people are educated, employed and active.
“This pilot is an excellent example of people coming together to make a difference in the future of not only young people but of our whole community,” she said.
A message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
From Monday 22 July to Friday 9 August, Service Central will be available for extended hours to support staff.
A message from Vice President Father Anthony Casamento csma: From 5 – 9 August we will celebrate Mission Week across our campuses. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to cele...
Are you going to be a grandparent soon? Did you know ACU offers personal leave for staff to care for their child or grandchild after birth or adoption?
Discover the learning and career development opportunities that are available online, including the brand-new leadership development program, 'The Edge Series'.
Join ASCILITE and become a member of one of Australasia’s most vibrant professional technology enhanced learning communities, with more than 2200 members from tertiary institutions across Australia an...
Phones will be removed from all classrooms over the mid-semester break, from 23 September to 27 September.
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 5 (202455).
Australia’s first five-time diving Olympian, a Kiwi gymnast and the woman who taught actor Chris Hemsworth to row will be among 15 ACU students and alumni to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Para...
A message from acting Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy Associate Professor Richard Colledge: Recently, the faculty has hosted opportunities for reflection on the possibilities for reconcilia...
Are you on your parenthood journey? A practical guide is now available to support staff, and their supervisors, through the stages of becoming a parent and transitioning back to work.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the mysterious world of enrolments. Register to attend an enrolment information session for Semester 2, 2024.
Join upcoming online workshops in preparation for Semester 2. Secure your spot today to learn how you can utilise Canvas and its features to enhance your teaching practices.
A limitless professional horizon awaits ACU students after its three IT programs were awarded certification by the nation’s most trustworthy player in the tech sector, the Australian Computer Society.
Following evaluation and voting by a panel of ACU judges, Co-Lab is delighted to announce Thomas Clark and Xavier Chalkley as the winners of the $1000 prize for the ACU Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch ...
ACU Library staff will participate in professional development activities on Thursday 18 July. While away from their usual posts, they'll be working together across three locations to plan our future ...
Applications for 2024 Teaching Development Grants, Citations and Awards are open. Explore guidelines and resources to enhance your teaching project’s impact or gain recognition for your contributions.
As we sit in this small window of the winter break gearing up for Semester 2, it's important to recognise that not everyone experiences this period as downtime. For many, workloads and busy lifestyles...
This week is NAIDOC Week, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACU staff who are also members with UniSuper can now access free expert medical advice and services to support their health and wellbeing through MetLife 360Health.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.