Assistant Principals' Report
Hello everyone and welcome to our newsletter article,
Refugee Education Support Program (RESP)
As previously communicated our school has received funding to be a part of the RESP Accelerate which a 1-year program. RESP is aimed at assisting schools to identify and implement strategies which have a positive impact on the achievement, engagement, and wellbeing outcomes of students from refugee or ‘refugee like’ backgrounds and their families. Students from refugee and ‘refugee like’ backgrounds bring a range of skills and strengths to school communities.
Throughout the RESP program, schools are supported to increase their capacity to have a positive impact on the educational and wellbeing outcomes of students from refugee backgrounds. RESP aims for all students and families from refugee backgrounds to feel welcomed and thrive in their school settings.
At one of our professional learning sessions our RESP team (Katelyn Tino, Libby Langlands, Candice Sheldon- Collins, Nicola Colgate-Jones, Melissa Katz and Thuy Farmer and Helen Thomas-Me!!) were most fortunate to hear Mamuch Chuoi speak about immigrating to Australia and his journey through schooling to university and now setting up his own not for profit organisation. On Monday 4th August we have Mamuch attending our whole school assembly to speak about his journey to Australia with his family back in 2007.
About Mamuch:
Mamuch and his parents came to Australia from Gambella, Ethiopia in 2007 when he was just 5 years old. His early memories of the country are few due to his young age, but he vividly remembers looking out of the airplane window and seeing the city lights of Melbourne.
One of the strongest points of community connection for Mamuch growing up was through sports, particularly football in his early years and then onto basketball through the South Sudanese National Basketball Tournament, a tournament that has faced several cancellations. Mamuch reflects on his childhood playing for the Waverley Falcons and Highett Football Club, a club he is now back playing for, as “a stepping stone into where my life has been leading me towards.”
Mamuch Chuol is a young South Sudanese Australian community leader and founder of Next-Gen Unite. Mamuch founded Next-Gen Unite in 2021 based on his personal experiences, having witnessed firsthand the difficulties that many South Sudanese refugees face in adapting to life in Australia.
Mamuch also volunteers with the Centre for Multicultural Youth. He has an Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice and is currently studying a double degree in laws/arts.https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/SSAYJ
Mamuch is a young South Sudanese leader, student and athlete who is dedicated to creating a brighter future for his community. As a refugee who arrived in Australia in 2007, Mamuch has overcome significant adversity and uses his experiences as a catalyst for positive change.
Mamuch is the founder of NextGen Unite, a youth-led non-profit organisation committed to empowering South Sudanese young people. He is also a basketball coach and mentor at Brighton Grammar School and is part of CMY’s Youth Advisory Group.
A passionate speaker on racial discrimination, the refugee experience, mental health, intergenerational trauma, youth crime and alcohol and drug use, Mamuch is currently pursuing a double degree in Law and Arts, with the aim of advancing people of colour representation and driving policy reforms to shape the legal framework in South Sudan.https://www.cmy.net.au/shout-out/browse-speakers/
We look forward to seeing everyone at the assembly on Monday.
Have a great weekend.
Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin
Assistant Principals
Heidelberg Primary School