The+Rainbow+Program

The Rainbow program has been developed by the The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST), or ‘Foundation House’ as it is commonly known. The foundation provides services to refugees who have survived torture or trauma. The Rainbow Program is a school-based approach to meeting the needs of refugee students, and their families. The design of the program is to be used collaboratively with a counselling agency working alongside families from traumatic backgrounds. The program is one way of enhancing the potential of refugee students in school settings. Furthermore, it holds particular value in raising awareness of the special needs associated with these students.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that one in three of the world’s refugees have experienced torture, with almost seven out of ten being exposed to other events of trauma (cited in Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2008).

The Rainbow program guide states that most refugee students will have been subjected to, or witnessed events such as:

// • War, bombing or shelling // // • The destruction of their homes and schools // // • The violent death or injury of family or friends // // • Separation from members of their family // // • Sudden disappearances of members of their family or friends // // • Physical injury and limited medical attention // // • Deprivation of food, safe water and other resources essential for survival // // • Arrest, detention or torture or the fear of discovery or arrest // // • Forced conscription into armies or militias // // • Rape or sexual assault // // • Lack of opportunities for play //

(Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, 2002, p. 5).

The Rainbow Program is an early intervention measure aimed at families who have recently sought refuge in Australia. Its aim is to make a positive impact to the successful settlement of students from traumatic refugee backgrounds – and ultimately have a positive contribution to their academic success. The programs identified target is students aged 9-12, attending English Language Schools, or mainstream schools with a considerable amount of enrolments of new arrival families.

The program is made up of three components.
 * Seven group sessions for children, aimed to be delivered as a small group or as part of a classroom program. This component recognises the significance of children’s own understanding of their settlement in Australia.
 * Three sessions for parents, which aims to establish connections between the school and the family, and share concerns they may have.
 * A briefing session and professional development component for teachers aimed to develop a teachers ability to create a supportive environment.

Within the program, there is a number of interactive and engaging activities and exercises used to assess and explore the positive and negatives of coming to a new country. Self esteem is built through the understanding, and affirmation of diversities in culture. The program itself does not focus on the trauma directly, but aims to provide an outlet for students to tell their journey, express difficulties in a safe environment.

An expansive and in-depth guide has been developed for schools and teachers (link at the bottom) wanting to incorporate the program. It includes resources of particular value such as appropriate background information on issues, guidance of the practical aspects of the program, and comprehensive plans for all the components included.

As stated within the guide, it is not aimed for all participants to read in its entirety, rather it has been split up into give parts.


 * **PART 1** - Background reading for teachers and counsellors. In detail, it covers the impact of the refugee settlement experience on both student and family, and how the program can be implemented into the school to enhance the student’s potential for success.
 * **PART 2** – Comprehensive details for planning and implementing the program.
 * **PART 3** – Detailed session outlines for all the components
 * **PART 4** – Overheads for the teacher component.
 * **PART 5** – Support materials and resources included brochures and handouts. This includes template letters to send home to parents describing the program, and how they can be included – the templates are provided in a large variety of community relevant languages.

All support materials and resources are also provided in a digital format on a CD.


 * Implementation: **

The program manual states that at least two staff members should collaboratively conduct the program, one of them should have had some experience working with families from traumatic refugee backgrounds. Large amounts of English proficiency are not required, but students with lower levels of English communication may benefit from an interpreter. Furthermore, it is advised that interpreters are included for the parent components of the program when needed.


 * LINK TO THE RAINBOW PROGRAM GUIDE: **

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 * References: **

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2008) //Strengthening Outcomes: Refugee Students in Government Schools.// Melbourne, Australia.

Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (2002). //The Rainbow Program for Children in Refugee Families: a collaborative, school-based program to support refugee children and their families //. Parkville, Victoria.