FOUR prospective Australian citizens have taken a significant step towards becoming locals, having completed a course designed to give them the skills and knowledge needed to pass the citizenship test.

Tatiana Osborne, Orapin Klaithin, Shayma Fouda, and Mohammed Gad completed a six-week Learn Local citizenship course at Sale Neighbourhood House on September 6.

It was the first of its kind delivered in Wellington.

Adult, Community and Further Education Board tutor for Learn Local Christine Brooks taught the program. She said there was a specific need in Gippsland to enhance support for individuals seeking Australian citizenship.

“We’ve had feedback from Latrobe Community Health that there was a real need for support and also from TAFE (Gippsland),” she said.

The course was ultimately a collaboration between several local organisations, including Heyfield Community Resource Centre, where Ms Brooks works; TAFE Gippsland, where participants were referred from; Latrobe Community Health; and Sale Neighbourhood House, a Learn Local course provider, where the program was taught in person.

Ms Brooks said they planned to trial the course in Sale and, if successful, introduce it in Bairnsdale next year. She said the course received good feedback.

In addition to English language and literacy classes at TAFE Gippsland, where she also teaches, Russian-born Tatiana Osborne found the course’s focus on other aspects of Australia, like democracy and its legislative process, to be a valuable extension of her studies.

Ms Brooks said the graduates are serious about embracing the responsibilities of Australian citizenship, including active community involvement. Ms Fouda, for example, volunteers at Wilson Lodge in Sale.

“They see it as a real privilege to be and to become an Australian citizen. And all of them are very interested in Australian democracy and how they can actively participate in their community – I think that’s a great thing,” Ms Brooks said.

Ms Brooks said the course was designed in two parts: teaching participants the content of the multiple-choice test and preparing for the interview, plus developing digital skills associated with the application process, like uploading documentation.

A mark of at least 75 per cent is required to pass the multiple-choice test. It asks 20 questions covering themes like freedom of speech, democracy, rule of law, and Australian values. People must achieve 100 per cent in the ‘values’ category, which might include answering questions like ‘What is the basis of Australian values?’

Graduates of the Learn Local program seem to have a firm appreciation for these values, telling the Gippsland Times that freedom, equality, and opportunity are reasons behind their decision to settle in Australia.

Ms Fouda migrated from Egypt and highlighted that peace, fairness, and freedom were the reasons Australia was an attractive place to settle. She said the course has made her feel more confident about completing her application.

Originally from Thailand, Orapin Klaithin lived in Sydney for the past five years before moving to Sale after marriage. Comparing bustling city life to Sale’s rural community, she said people were friendlier, making her feel safer and like she belonged.

Confidence in their knowledge of Australia isn’t all the graduates gain from the program.

Ms Osborne, Ms Klaithin, and Ms Fouda first met through their English classes at TAFE Gippsland. Since then, Ms Osborne said she has met Ms Fouda’s spouse and expanded her support network within Sale Neighbourhood House. She mentioned the course helped her connect with new people like Ms Brooks, Sale Neighbourhood House manager Sophie Tatterson and volunteers, who she said made her feel more familiar and comfortable in the community.

Ms Tatterson said neighbourhood houses are great meeting places and was pleased to have been where the program was taught.

Even after graduating, Ms Osborne said she would return to Sale Neighbourhood House if she ever needed support in the future.

“As a migrant, the idea of neighbourhood houses is different. In my country, I don’t think something like that exists, so it’s nice to understand what it is by coming here and seeing it firsthand and seeing that it’s fine to come here even if you’re not actually joined (in) a group or involved in anything. You can just come here and have a chat,” she said.

Tatiana Osborne, Orapin Klaithin and Shayma Fouda completed a four-week citizenship course run by Sale Neighbourhood House, TAFE Gippsland, Heyfield Community Resource Centre, Learn Local and Latrobe Community Health Service. Photos: Erika Allen