Assistant Principals' Report

Hello and welcome to our newsletter item for this week. 

Refugee Week Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June.

This coming week is Refugee Week, this is Australia’s peak annual activity to promote greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face, and the contributions refugees are making to the Australian community – but it all began in the 1980s with a small local event and a grand dream of a global celebration.

Refugee Week is an annual celebration to recognise and showcase the contributions of refugees in enriching our communities and culture.

This year’s theme is ‘A Million Stories’.

• Our theme helps raise awareness of the issues affecting refugees. It aims to highlight aspects of the refugee experience and help the broader community to understand what it is like to be a refugee.
• Our theme helps to make Refugee Week a national celebration. It provides a focal point for events across Australia, uniting separate activities into a single nationwide celebration.
• Our theme promotes harmony and togetherness. It unites individuals, communities and organisations from many different backgrounds behind a common cause. It’s a reminder that, regardless of our differences, we all share a common humanity.

In response to the impact of World War II, Australia signed an initial agreement in 1947 to receive 4,000 refugees from Central Europe. 

Since then, Australia has issued one million permanent humanitarian visas to people from around the world. Refugee Week 2026 is a chance to reflect on this milestone and celebrate the million stories behind it.

School communities play an important role in supporting students and families from refugee backgrounds. This is particularly important during their first years in Australia.

Schools can also access on-demand advice and support through Foundation House’s School’s in for Refugees. It provides resources to help school staff support students of refugee backgrounds to thrive at school. Last year our school was involved in the Refugee Education Support Program (RESP), this was an opportunity to build the capacity of school leadership, teachers and support staff to better understand and support students and families from refugee backgrounds, as well as students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The program was fully funded by the Victorian Government and free for all government, Catholic and independent schools across Victoria.

Have a great weekend and week ahead.

Warm Regards

Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin

Assistant Principals

Heidelberg Primary School