ANU to welcome refugee students as part of pilot program 

The Australian National University (ANU) will welcome two refugee students from the Asia Pacific in 2025 as part of a new Refugee Student Settlement Pathway (RSSP).  

The RSSP has been championed by ANU and supported by a consortium of 16 leading social impact universities, who have committed to sharing both the costs and responsibilities of helping young refugees to resettle safely and reach their academic potential.  

“We are absolutely delighted to share that ANU has led the development of this new ground-breaking educational pathway, which will resettle young refugee who are displaced in the Asia Pacific via a university degree,” Professor Bronwyn Parry, Dean of the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, said. 

“This initiative will build capacity for Australia in areas where we have significant future skills shortages and offer the students the opportunity to become productive and highly educated new Australians.” 

The youth-focused model will initially see 20 refugees aged 18 to 30 resettled in Australia as domestic students. University students and staff will work together to help the students integrate into the local community. The universities will also provide academic and English language support, as well as short-term student accommodation.  

Dr Sally Baker, an Associate Professor at ANU and Chair of Refugee Education Australia, said in a context of unprecedented global conflict, the RSSP offers an important opportunity for Australia to meet its commitment to increase the number of refugees who permanently resettle here via complementary pathways.  

“This pilot offers refugees the opportunity to fulfil their academic potential,” she said.  

“It also offers a ground-breaking opportunity for universities like ANU to actively enrich the educational landscape.  

“We are ideally placed to take the initiative for supporting refugee students to find their feet in Australia.”  

ANU is working closely with Skill Path Australia; a new nonprofit organisation established to identify students and administer the RSSP. The program will create an exciting new partnership between government, community organisations and the higher education sector that will open permanent settlement opportunities for displaced refugees via university study.  

An important part of the RSSP is the mobilisation of campus groups to assist the new refugee students to settle in their first year. Based on the Community Refugee Integration Settlement Pilot (CRISP) model, the Campus Supporter Groups will provide essential support, resources, networks and friendships. 

“The benefits of such a program will extend beyond the classroom,” Associate Professor Baker said.   

“By providing academic opportunities for these young refugees, the RSSP will support smoother transitions into local communities, enhance social cohesion, fill key skills shortages and employment needs, and contribute to Australia’s rich multicultural society.”