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University opens doors to students of refugee background

An NSW university has welcomed four new students of refugee background into its undergraduate law program, which was designed to make it easier to access higher education through scholarships and dedicated support throughout the degree.

March 07, 2022 By Naomi Neilson
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Newcastle University
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Through Newcastle Law School’s early entry scheme, four students from refugee backgrounds will start a law degree this year. Two of the new entrants received support through the university’s new Scholarship for Asylum Seekers Program.

 
 

The university has committed to supporting the scholarship by providing a 100 per cent fee waiver to allow the students to attend university. This is in addition to dedicated support throughout their studies and support from the staff at the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education, the university said in a statement.

In addition to the university’s support, it is seeking to raise money to provide these students with a stipend that will assist them with meeting basic needs, including housing, food and healthcare during their law degree.

“We wish our new students well in their studies and celebrate this milestone with them,” the university said.

“Research has shown how challenging it can be for students from refugee backgrounds to access higher education in Australia, and we hope to see growing numbers of refugee students joining our programs in coming years.”

Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly, as well as other titles under the Momentum Media umbrella. She regularly writes about matters before the Federal Court of Australia, the Supreme Courts, the Civil and Administrative Tribunals, and the Fair Work Commission. Naomi has also published investigative pieces about the legal profession, including sexual harassment and bullying, wage disputes, and staff exoduses. You can email Naomi at: naomi.neilson@momentummedia.com.au.