Project to improve education access for refugee-background students

Research Assistant Doug Eacersall, Project Leader Aniko Hatoss, Research Assistant Wilson Oyat and nursing student Susan Aloyo

A new project being undertaken at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) aims to improve the tertiary education experience of students from refugee backgrounds.

The project will consider educational and career aspirations as well as factors that impact refugee-background students’ participation in tertiary studies and is funded by the Vice-Chancellor’s Equity Incentives Fund.

Project Leader, USQ Senior Lecturer in Education Dr Aniko Hatoss will collaborate with Faculty of Education Associate Professor Dr Shirley O'Neill, USQ Master of Applied Linguistics graduate Doug Eacersall and USQ graduate Wilson Oyat on the project.

Dr Hatoss said the findings of the project will be used to develop better support systems for students from refugee-backgrounds.

'The project aims to explore difficulties in tertiary studies for students from refugee-backgrounds,' Dr Hatoss said.

'We want to have a better understanding of the barriers that impede access to tertiary studies in order to improve supporting services and strategies at USQ for refugee-background students.'

Students from refugee-backgrounds face numerous challenges when commencing and completing a degree, Dr Hatoss said.

'Things that might affect their experience could be from being able to access tertiary studies to language difficulties; catching up with education - often students will have had a disrupted education in refugee camps; there may be family commitments and financial difficulties.

'We will be exploring those issues. We will use focus groups with students enrolled in USQ programs.

'We are also working in collaboration with several local schools to conduct a survey of grade 11 and 12 students about their study and career plans.'

USQ Business graduate Wilson Oyat is one of the Research Assistants for the project.

'Many students get enrolled but find it too difficult so they drop out,' Mr Oyat said.

'It is excellent that the uni is trying to develop ways of helping so the students don’t drop out.'

The project will run until the end of the year when a report will be produced for schools and the University.

Students from refugee backgrounds are invited to contact Dr Hatoss by phone (07) 4631 1680 or email: hatoss@usq.edu.au to talk about their experiences.

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559