Dream Project.

A Refugee Mentoring Program in Sydney

DREAM

Developing. Rebuilding. Educating. And Motivating.

DREAM Project.

A mentoring program for students from
refugee backgrounds in Sydney.  

What the DREAM Project involves?

The Dream Project provides university students an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a young person's life; particularly from refugee families. Through the mentorship program the aim is to enhance the student's understanding of their different career paths available and empower them to learn and grow.

Dream Boys and Dream Girls have been operating for several years in the Fairfield area of NSW across a number of schools and communities. Each program has its own leadership team and actively selects and recruits other volunteers. A minimum of 1 year commitment to the program is required to participate.

Our Current Program for 2024

  • The aim of the term is to provide students with valuable knowledge about the different career pathways available to them with a range of engaging and interactive workshops with topics such as:

    • Inspiring Role Models

    • Identifying your Learning Styles

    • Knowing your personality

    • Career Pathways (Jobs that suit you)

    • Job Searching and Resume Building

    • Interview skills

  • The main objective of this program is to provide practical tips and valuable advice on how to find a job. It is important to discuss these topics to new migrants as it is critical knowledge used to enter the Australian workforce. The aim is to deliver a fun, team-building workshop alongside the educational aspect. The topics include:

    • Resume/CV Building

    • Cover Letter Writing

    • Job Searching and requirements

    • Interview skills

    • How to apply for a TFN

    • Knowing your employee rights

  • This program is based on the book ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens’ and is focused on character development and self improvement. Topics such as time management, responsibility, courage and leadership will be discussed alongside fun workshop activities.

We dream so

that

every young

person also can.

“DREAM did not just stick with me in the classroom, it rippled into my life moving forward. The connection you create amongst the girls and your fellow volunteers is so valuable and to be cherished”

—Talar Alzened, UTS student

“I loved the way we interacted with the kids and how we are their age, I think they felt more confident and they liked the idea of the same age mentors. I also like how we highlighted really important topics which are really useful for new arrivals before going into the workforce and choosing a field their interested in to study.”

—Grace Almansour, UNSW student

What we have achieved.

  • The DREAM Project program has been run across 12 schools or organisations since 2016.

  • 400 refugee students have participated in the program over the last 5 years.

  • On average, 20 active volunteers commit to the program for at least one year with other volunteers supporting the program in other ways (for example, through mentorship).

  • DREAM is part of a Refugee High School Teacher Network that meets regularly throughout the year.

  • Volunteers are trained and supported with training sessions from the core team of DREAM who are also volunteers.

Dream Career
Pilot Program.

Career pathway program for
Migrants from Refugee Backgrounds

The project.

Dream Career is a new program where Reledev Australia hopes to match Australian donors with a qualified Career Coach who can address the specific needs of individual refugees and thereby overcome the added barriers to entering their career of choice. 

Starting over in a new country is challenging, and too many skilled migrants struggle to secure a job in their chosen field – even with proven experience from their country of origin. Optimal work bridges economic and social gaps and builds a positive future for their families.

The pilot is implemented through Find Your Way to Work https://www.findyourwaytowork.com/ by which Australian donors fund the selected participant to undertake the 12-week program, which offers:

  • 10 sessions of individual coaching to create not just the tool kit for successful employment but also the soft interpersonal skills needed in using those tools effectively.

  • Refining presentation for networking platforms such as LinkedIn, resumes, cover letters, face-to-face, and online interviews.

  • Personal skills and mindset in goal setting, interview or group engagement, and conversational skills.

  • Self-value and confidence through Hope-Action-Training.