Senior VCAL and Sociology students have had an insightful, and sometimes confronting, experience over the past two days, attending sessions presented by the Australian Red Cross called ‘Pathways to Protection’.

This morning, Red Cross Project Officer, Galia Bastoni, gave students an overview of human rights law, and the difference between asylum seekers and refugees, before leading them through a challenging role play that required them to walk in the shoes of someone seeking asylum.

Students were thrust into a life or death situation that required them to make snap decisions about whether they would flee or stay—what they would take with them—and whether they would go to a refugee camp or risk a journey by boat.

Students also had a first-hand account from Galia of her own experiences as a Syrian refugee back in 2012 and were able to ask questions about seeking safety and the challenges faced in settlement.

A huge thank you to the Australian Red Cross ‘In Search of Safety’ program for their honest and eye-opening sessions to raise understanding among BSSC students.