Pilot project for intercultural understanding

Trinity College, SA

Trinity College is thrilled to have been selected as a recipient of a Together For Humanity’s Intercultural Understanding Partnerships Program (ICUP) grant. The College has received $10,000 to fund a project that addresses an intercultural challenge at the College as well as consultation time with intercultural experts from Together For Humanity’s SA partner organisation, The Abraham Institute.

Together For Humanity is a not-for-profit provider of educational services that works with schools to combat prejudice and advance belonging and inclusion and The Abraham Institute is an educational organisation that promotes interfaith and intercultural dialogue and understanding.

The opportunity to participate was identified by longserving teacher Mrs Pat Fabian who, in addition to working with international students attending the College, has spent many years teaching English as a Second Language. In her role as a teacher, she was familiar with a number of challenges students and families from culturally diverse backgrounds often face while attending school, including language and communication barriers, diversity in religious practices and customs as well as a lack of a local support networks. A desire to offer support for these students and their families was the driver to apply for the grant.

As Facilitator of the project, Pat is working with Principal of Trinity College Blakeview, Mrs Karen McMahon, Principal of Trinity College Senior, Mr Steven Bousfield, teacher Mrs Marnie East and Cultural Liaison Officer Mr Michael Akech.

“We worked closely with The Abraham Institute to design a project that will improve the learning and wellbeing of our students and help us build an even stronger, more cohesive school community,” Mrs Fabian said.

After consultation with parents, the group chose to establish a Middle School Homework Club at Trinity College Blakeview as their pilot project. The Homework

Club offers a quite space for students to review, practise and develop skills in a supportive environment out of school hours. The club was established in Term 1 this year and has proved so successful, a Senior School Homework Club is set to begin this term.

“As a multicultural College our goal is to build strong relationships with our students, parents and staff, increase intercultural understanding within the College and ensure all student have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Mrs Fabian

“We are thrilled with the success of the Blakeview Homework Club and are keen to see the success repeated at our Senior school this term. We also plan to increase opportunities for parents and families to engage with the College by establishing a welcoming drop-in hub as well as working towards increasing and refining our communication with parents and the wider community.”

The project will roll out over the next 12 months. Future plans include professional development sessions for staff to develop better intercultural understanding, increased parental attendance at College information sessions and other events, as well as building stronger links with community organisations, services and agencies to assist the College in early identification of needs and to collaboratively plan targeted support for students and families.