Settlement Guide: Helping your child settle into school in Australia

Starting school is a crucial step for children and families in settling in Australia. Children of migrant families often experience additional barriers in connecting to their new school community. Parents play a vital role in their kid´s education and experts encourage them to be actively involved in their childs school. A 2015 OECD report says absorbing migrant children into the school system is the most effective way of integrating them into their new communities. The report found second-generation immigrant students in Australia performed better in problem solving, maths and reading than non-immigrant students, and well above the OECD average. It also states that the wellbeing of immigrant students is affected by how well schools and local communities help them overcome obstacles they face in succeeding at school and building a new life. Undoubtedly, parents play an important role in this process. The Australian Government calls this parent engagement which is being positively involved and active in your childs learning.