Amplify engagement with people from refugee backgrounds

Workshop overview:

Amplify Engagement with People from Refugee Backgrounds workshop is an engaging and interactive workshop that addresses the settlement needs of people from refugee backgrounds. People from refugee backgrounds have enormous potential but tend to face challenges in accessing the support and opportunities they need during their settlement in a new country. Despite challenges, they come to Australia with many strengths which, if recognised and supported, can have positive outcomes both for an individual and the community. This workshop provides an overview of the settlement process, addresses challenges, and provides practical strategies for supporting people from refugee backgrounds so they remain engaged in economic, social, and cultural opportunities.

The workshop will be facilitated by a presenter from a refugee background who has arrived in Australia as a young person. She will share her lived and industry experience and discuss the best practice principles and key service gaps in service delivery. Practical activities are an essential component of this workshop, and participants will have an opportunity to practice creating an inclusive workplace where people from refugee backgrounds can feel safe and have a sense of belonging.

Learning objectives:

After completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

· Increase awareness about forced and voluntary migration

· Acquire insight into the refugee settlement process

· Demonstrate skills in cross-cultural communication and use of interpreting services

· Gain an understanding of the role of refugee settlement services

· Develop practical strategies in supporting people on their settlement journey

Target audience:

This workshop is developed for workplaces that are working or intending to work with people from refugee backgrounds. This includes but is not limited to those working in the corporate, government and non-government sectors.

Zeljka Jovanovic is the founder of Apeiron Skills. She was born in Former Yugoslavia and arrived as a young refugee woman in Australia. Zeljka has over seventeen years of experience working in the community service industry. She supported clients from refugee backgrounds with settlement, integration, employment, and connections to the services and broader community. Zeljka has experience mentoring staff and providing consultation services to community groups, service providers, and funding bodies. Her expertise extends to the education sector, where she has been teaching community services and mental health subjects and delivered numerous trainings across NSW and ACT. Zeljka holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Diploma of Leadership and Management, Mental Health First Aid and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She believes that lived experience and practical examples are integral to the learning process. She worked with numerous people from diverse backgrounds, and her greatest achievement is being part of someone's journey to a better life and positively impacting our community. Zeljka is dedicated to creating an environment where every individual feels included and has opportunities to thrive.