The Manor Lakes P–12 College case study under the Refugee Education Support Program (RESP) focuses on addressing racism and improving school climate for students from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Staff recognized that while students felt supported, they also regularly experienced racism. In response, the school partnered with Endeavour Youth Australia to run weekly student sessions over two ten-week cycles.
These sessions, led by young multicultural facilitators, provided safe spaces for students to discuss racism, build social connections, and develop leadership skills. The initiative helped staff better understand student experiences and fostered stronger relationships between staff and students. Students reported increased confidence in addressing racism and felt supported by facilitators like Mohamed, who became a positive role model.
While the sessions led to immediate improvements in student-staff interactions, student views on the school’s inclusivity remained mixed. The project highlighted the importance of lived experience in facilitation, safe dialogue spaces, and active involvement from school leadership. It demonstrated that meaningful change takes time and requires broad staff engagement.
