AUT marks World Refugee Day
Refugees need long-term employment and career development opportunities to successfully adjust to their new lives.
Professor Max Abbott, Director of the Centre for Migrant and Refugee Research (CMRR) at AUT University, says: “There’s an ongoing commitment that is needed to provide jobs and training if we want people to be permanent members of society.”
Dr Shoba Nayar, Associate Director of CMRR, says: “Many refugees are highly educated and keen to re-establish their careers or re-train, and are more than happy to consider work experience as a way into employment.”
Tens of thousands of people around the world will recognise forcibly displaced people on World Refugee Day (Thursday 20 June). This year’s theme is "One family torn apart by conflict is too many."
Refugee and migrant research and support
CMRR, based at AUT’s North Shore Campus, conducts migrant and refugee research which advances knowledge and contributes to the health and wellbeing of people living in New Zealand and international understandings of migration and health.
AUT also supports refugees through its Centre for Refugee Education, located at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland, which provides an on-arrival six-week education programme for the 750 refugees who come to New Zealand each year under the government quota scheme.
Manager of the Centre Maria Hayward says providing a safe and welcoming environment on arrival is critical for easing resettlement challenges faced by individuals who have already experienced unimaginable losses and trauma.
“AUT staff's role is to allow former refugees to acclimatise and begin planning for a new life. Most refugees have had disrupted prior education and very few have had the opportunity to prepare for life in New Zealand.
Our environment ensures effective learning can take place - and that learning includes the development of English language skills as well as the acquisition of information about New Zealand society. These skills are empowering for newcomers - and it is the loss of power that is characteristic of the refugee experience.”
Open Day
An Open Day will be held at the Resettlement Centre on June 22 to mark World Refugee Day. For more information on the centre please contact Maria Hayward on 09 921 9784 or maria.hayward@aut.ac.nz.
Media enquiries
Esther Harward, Communications Manager, AUT
09 921 9688 / 021 632 309
eharward@aut.ac.nz