Ucan2 – an integrated approach to supporting recovery from trauma and resettlement

Disruptions to the lives, social connections and education of young people from refugee backgrounds who arrive in Australia are extensive. The skills and needs of these young people are generally not recognised in a... [ view full abstract ]

Disruptions to the lives, social connections and education of young people from refugee backgrounds who arrive in Australia are extensive. The skills and needs of these young people are generally not recognised in a traditional classroom where they may be unable to access the curriculum, leading to disengagement from education and training. Young people are often reluctant to engage with individual counselling to support recovery from trauma but benefit enormously from participating in a group program with other young people who have had similar experiences.
Ucan2 puts into practice two frameworks: the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture’s Framework for Recovery from Trauma and a conceptual framework of understanding integration by delivering on all 10 core domains of Ager and Strang’s integration model.
Ucan2 is an education and settlement program that facilitates and supports the social inclusion of newly arrived young people from refugee backgrounds between the ages of 16 and 25. The program assists with recovery from trauma and settlement in Australia. It builds on young people’s strengths, integrating their past and present experiences and supporting their future.
By fostering partnerships between education providers, social support and training and employment services, Ucan2 provides participants with:
- access to and engagement in education, training and employment
- mental health and wellbeing support
- social connections and networks.