Our vision and purpose
Refugee Education Australia (REA) is a national charity that works to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for students with lived experience of forced migration. Established in 2024, REA is a Public Benevolent Institution and not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee.
Vision
Our vision is an education system that is inclusive and promotes refugee students to thrive and achieve their potential.
Purpose
The aim of REA is to work with refugee communities, government department, settlement agencies, and education providers to support people with lived experience of forced migration to access, participate, and succeed in education, from early childhood to higher education.
To this end, REA’s mission is:
- To work with refugees, refugee-led organisations, community/ settlement organisations, and education institutions, departments, and organisations to support people with lived experience of forced migration to access, participate, and succeed in education in Australia, from early childhood to higher education.
- To create a national network of people and organisations to support people with lived experience of forced migration to access, participate, and succeed in education.
- To foster awareness in the education sector of issues relating to the experiences of people who have experienced forced migration through training, workshops and sharing of educational resources and good practices.
- To fundraise to provide financial and other forms of assistance for people who are current or prospective students who have lived experience of forced migration.
- Advocates with and for people with lived experience of forced migration to participate in education in Australia.
Our operating principles
- REA should seek at least 50% lived experience of forced migration on the Board and in governance practices.
- A key principle underlying our work is to prioritise the lived experience (of refugees, young people, mature age learners, all types of education).
- We engage with refugee community groups to amplify the message through their networks.
Our Team
Dr Sally Baker
Dr Sally Baker is Founder and CEO of Refugee Education Australia, and a co-lead of the new Refugee Student Settlement Pathway to Australia. Sally is also a Research Affiliate with the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW.
Her research centres on policy and practice related to equity in higher education, particularly with students with forced migration backgrounds.
Rana Ebrahimi
Rana Ebrahimi is Chair of REA. Rana is the National Manager of MYAN, champions the rights of refugee and migrant youth and is an expert in social inclusion, influencing policy and practice. She is the first Iranian woman to serve as National Head of Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran. Rana was appointed as a reference group member for the Multicultural Framework Review, is the former President of the Equal Employment Opportunity Network, treasurer of Conversation at the Crossroad and member of several advisory groups, including SBS Community Advisory Committee, Welcoming Australia and National Youth Employment Body. She is a recipient of the Multicultural Award of Excellence 2024 and has been recognised as a Rotary Champion of Change.
Steph Couisins
Steph Cousins is the Secretary of REA, as well as a nonprofit leader and founder of Skill Path Australia, an organisation that supports refugees to access higher education, training, and professional recognition in Australia. Skill Path administers the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway. Prior to founding Skill Path, Steph was the Global CEO of Talent Beyond Boundaries.
Margaret Piper (AM)
Margaret Piper (AM) is a consultant who has worked in the refugee sector since 1986. Her current work involves research, training and capacity building, as well as policy and program planning through her membership of various government and non-government committees and boards. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2011 and in 2018 was awarded the Red Cross’ Distinguished Service Medal.
Andrea Morris
Andrea Morris is a seasoned nonprofit executive working in the human services and university sectors, primarily in philanthropy and engagement roles. Currently the Executive Manager of the Emmy Monash Foundation, she is the former Head of Advancement at the Australian National University, College of Arts and Social Sciences. Before moving to Australia, Andrea was CEO of two nonprofits, one a multi-service crisis centre and one a homelessness / housing services organisation.
James Delaney
James Delaney brings over 12 years’ experience in financial audit, assurance, and advisory services. As a Consultant at Callida and former Senior Manager at Deloitte, he’s worked extensively with CFOs, Boards, and Audit Committees across public and private sectors. He has served previously as a Non-executive Director with AYAC and brings governance expertise and strategic leadership capabilities
Sidiqa Faqihi
Sidiqa Faqihi (Victoria) is a passionate Refugee Ambassador, dedicated to sharing the powerful stories of people with lived experiences of displacement. Through her advocacy, she shines a light on the challenges they face and their incredible contributions to Australian society.
John Tran
John Tran (NSW) has worked in various roles supporting students in the higher education sector and is a strong advocate for refugees and asylum seekers, drawing from his own lived experience as a former refugee. He has held roles as a data analyst and program evaluator. John is passionate about creating opportunities for refugee resettlement and ensuring they receive the support they need upon arrival in their new country.
Snjezana Bilic
Dr Snjezana Bilic (South Australia) is a sociologist and a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia. Snjezana’s lived experience as a refugee informs her research interests and support for initiatives that include and make more visible the perspectives of refugees and asylum seekers at university and in wider society.
Dr Lisa Hartley
Dr Lisa Hartley (Western Australia) is an academic, researcher, educator, and advocate committed to advancing human rights, equity, and inclusion through collaborative initiatives, including partnerships with refugee and migrant communities to drive systemic change.
Dr Tebeje Molla
Dr Tebeje Molla (Victoria) is an ARC Future Fellow and Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University, Australia. His research centres on educational disadvantage and policy responses at systemic, sectoral, and institutional levels.
William Mude
William Mude (South Australia) is a Lecturer and Researcher with over a decade of diverse experience in public health across government and non-government sectors in Australia and Canada. His research focuses on health disparities, particularly in areas such as healthcare inequalities and barriers faced by culturally and linguistically diverse communities in accessing healthcare in Australia. He is dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of professionals, drawing from his own journey as a former refugee to academia.
Phoebe Burgess
Phoebe Burgess (Queensland) is a legally qualified professional living in North Queensland. Phoebe is a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, examining how refugee labour market integration is addressed within Australia’s labour market regulatory frameworks in the context of long-term settlement outcomes for refugees.
Dr Sally Morgan
Dr Sally Morgan (Victoria) is a Lecturer in education at Monash University. Educational equity for people of refugee and asylum-seeking background is central to her work, through participatory action research methodologies and pro-active academic citizenship.
Dr Tori Wilson
Dr Tori Wilson (Queensland) has been teaching English to speakers of other languages for 20 years and holds a PhD in trauma-informed second language education. She publishes and presents on inclusive education.