Community

Sydney Schools Launch Multilingual Family Support Program

Local schools in eastern suburbs roll out a new initiative to better engage immigrant families and boost student inclusion.

5 May 2025 at 10:00 PM | By BridgeView Bulletin Editorial Team

A group of public schools in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has launched a groundbreaking multilingual family support program aimed at improving communication and engagement between schools and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The initiative comes amid rising concerns over educational disparities linked to language barriers and socio-economic challenges.

Under the program, trained multilingual liaison officers have been appointed at 15 primary and secondary schools across the Waverley and Randwick local government areas. These officers assist families with school enrollment, parent-teacher conferences, and administrative paperwork in languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

The initiative also includes translated newsletters, culturally adapted learning materials, and community information nights hosted in various languages. School principals report that parents who previously felt excluded or overwhelmed by communication gaps are now actively participating in school life.

Education experts involved in the project emphasize that language access is not a luxury but a necessity in a city as diverse as Sydney. 'Parental involvement is one of the most important predictors of student success,' said Dr. Leanne Ho, a specialist in multicultural education. 'Without clear communication, families are left behind.'

Students, too, are benefitting. Children of non-English-speaking households have shown increased attendance and class participation. At one high school in Maroubra, student-led translation clubs have formed, allowing bilingual teens to support their younger peers and gain community service credit.

The NSW Department of Education has committed $2.1 million in funding over the next two years to expand the program, with an additional pilot planned for western Sydney. Funding covers staffing, translation services, and digital platforms for communication such as language-selectable school portals and SMS updates.

Parent reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. 'I used to dread opening school letters because I couldn’t understand them,' said Rosa Ramirez, a mother of three who emigrated from Peru. 'Now I get texts in Spanish, and I finally feel like part of the school community.'

In addition to language support, the initiative offers cultural orientation sessions for newly arrived families, covering topics such as the Australian school calendar, assessment expectations, and extracurricular involvement. These sessions are co-hosted by teachers and community leaders to foster trust and relatability.

Challenges remain, including the recruitment of staff with both linguistic and administrative training. To address this, the department is partnering with TAFE NSW to provide certification pathways for community interpreters interested in education roles.

Teachers have expressed appreciation for the additional support, noting that it reduces pressure on staff to navigate complex interactions in unfamiliar languages. 'It’s not just about language—it’s about understanding family dynamics and cultural nuances,' said Principal James Reilly of Clovelly Public School.

As Sydney’s demographic continues to evolve, the program is being viewed as a model for inclusive education. Education Minister Prue Car has praised the effort, stating that 'a child’s academic potential should never be limited by their parents’ ability to navigate the system.'