CANBERRA YOUTH VOLUNTEER REACHING OUT TO BURMESE REFUGEES IN THAILAND

Amie will be deployed to Thailand as an AYAD

Bruce resident Amie Hope will soon be using her experience supporting recent arrivals in Canberra to better prepare Burmese refugees for a new life in Australia.
As Australia marks Refugee Week this week (Saturday June 19 – Saturday, June 25), Amie is preparing for a nine month volunteer placement with the International Organization for Migration – Regional Office in Bangkok as a Resource Development Support Officer.
Amie will be working to enhance the Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) Program, a five-day cultural orientation course available to all refugee and special humanitarian entrants who are over five years of age. AUSCO is delivered prior to their departure to Australia and marks the beginning of the settlement process.
Amie will be developing teaching resources for youth and children’s cultural orientation classes, which will eventually be distributed around the globe, as well as reviewing and evaluating current AUSCO resources.
“I am passionate about empowering refugees through education so this assignment really appealed to me,” says Amie, who currently works with the Catholic Care New Arrivals Humanitarian Service in Red Hill.
“It provides me with the opportunity to utilise my current skills and deepen my understanding of the refugee journey.”
Amie will be deployed to Thailand through the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program (AYAD), which places skilled young Australians on assignments in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
Managed by Austraining International, the AYAD Program is part of the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) Program, and fully funded by AusAID. Launched by Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd in Canberra last month, the AVID Program places skilled volunteers in developing countries to work with local counterparts to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development as part of the overseas aid program.
Austraining is proud to be partnering with AusAID to support an increasing number of Australians Volunteers living and working abroad through the AVID program.
Austraining Director of Volunteering Anthony Rologas says Amie is a shining example of the hundreds of passionate and skilled AYADs deployed by Austraining each year.
“Austraining is proud to support volunteers such as Amie who are working to improve the quality of life and champion the cause of refugees and displaced people,” Anthony says.
To coincide with Refugee Week, Amie is encouraging the community to take a moment to think about the millions of refugees around the world who are displaced and living in uncertain circumstances.
“The sheer number of refugees can be overwhelming to think about; however, I believe it is important to remember that refugees are not just numbers - they are human beings with a story, a life, a family - and they require our compassion,” Amie says.
“It has always amazed me in my work with refugees in the community how they still remember a simple act of kindness from a member of the public that made them feel valued and worthwhile.”

The AYAD Team will be holding an information session in Canberra at Rydges Lakeside between 6.30pm – 8pm on Monday, August 15. To register visit www.ayad.com.au/info-sessions

To download a printable media release, click here. For further information on the AYAD Program or to arrange an interview with Amie Hope, contact: Jessica Whiting | Communications Coordinator | Austraining International | 08 8364 8561 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it