Be a champion for refugee students

Is your tertiary education institution interested in participating in the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway pilot?

What is the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway?

Supported by the Australian Government, the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway pilot is aimed at creating a permanent complementary pathway for refugee students to migrate and settle in Australia to take up tertiary education opportunities. Philanthropic funding has been secured to run the pilot.

Participating students will migrate to Australia, each supported on their learning journey by an Australian university or TAFE, and a local campus support group to assist them with settlement and integration.

The pilot must demonstrate a refugee education pathway is a win-win: for refugee students and Australia’s economy and society.

What is required of participating institutions?

  • Allocate places for at least two students per campus

  • Cover essential student costs in their first year only (contribution of approx. $15,000 per student to cover initial accommodation and study support)

  • Assign a focal point to coordinate with Skill Path Australia

  • Promote staff and student participation in Student Welcome Groups to support settlement and integration

  • Assist with pilot evaluation

  • Be a champion for expanding refugee education pathways (including engaging with government and in international fora to expand these programs).

How does it work?

Talented refugee students are identified by Skill Path Australia from abroad (currently the program includes students displaced in Malaysia, Thailand and India).

Skill Path Australia matches each student with a participating Australian tertiary institution, based on agreed entry criteria. Skill Path proposes selected students for a permanent humanitarian visa to Australia. The Australian government processes visas, conducts medical and security screening, and works with Skill Path to facilitate exit and arrival plans.

Each student is matched with a Student Welcome Group, comprising students and staff affiliated with the campus where the student will be settling. Student Welcome Groups will be the first line of support for the student once they arrive - collecting them from the airport, and assisting them to orient themselves to life in Australia. Student Welcome Groups will be trained with the support of Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia.

Students arriving under the RSSP are eligible for the same support as any Australian domestic student, including study support such as the HECS-HELP loan scheme.

Help build an education bridge for refugees

Be the next institution to join the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway to provide an education lifeline to a talented refugee student.

Express interest