Mercy Works: Mentoring Program for Refugee and Asylum Seeker Students

Mercy Connect is a remarkable community support service dedicated to recruiting, training, and empowering volunteers to assist refugee and asylum seeker students (K-12/mature-aged 18-24) and adults in overcoming various obstacles to education, such as language, socio-cultural, and economic challenges during their settlement period. In-class mentoring sessions are carefully curated to enhance self-esteem and well-being, with a particular focus on boosting numeracy and literacy standards.

Revesby Workers’ Club generously contributed $10,000 to facilitate the program’s rollout within the Canterbury-Bankstown area with over 200 active participants. Recently, Christine Benham and Christine Butters visited Bankstown Senior College to witness firsthand the targeted assistance provided during this crucial transition phase. The program’s impact was evident in the heightened student engagement, the formation of social networks, increased confidence, self-esteem, and the potential for better life outcomes through continued education, training, and employment opportunities.