Wagga Wagga High School: Refugee Action Support Tutor
19th May 2015-18 September 2016
Personal reflection
Participating in Refugee Action Support (RAS) tutoring has been an incredibly rewarding and challenging experience. I have always had an interest in working with children and young adults with diverse needs. In this program under the guidance of Deborah Anscombe and Eric Brace, I learnt the benefits of scaffolding work. However, the most challenging experience came in navigating language barriers, with the most rewarding coming from understanding the needs of the students I tutored. This involved building rapport, engaging with staff and learning new ways to navigate difficult topics. At times the stories I heard would have me holding back tears, while other encounters certainly made me laugh. I am thankful for the experience that Wagga Wagga High School entrusted in me. I believe this experience will help me to work with students with diverse needs, engaging with peers and knowing students and how they learn. As the tutoring often took place in the High School classrooms, I also was fortunate to observe the practice of teaching and behaviour management. I believe this will help with my teaching strategies.