Training
Auckland Welcoming Schools for Students from Refugee Backgrounds Workshops 2026
Refugees as Survivors NZ (RASNZ) would like to invite you to the Welcoming Schools for Students from Refugee Backgrounds Workshop: A trauma-informed, culturally competent approach to education at the RASYouth training centre, 173 Captain Springs Road, 2nd Floor, Onehunga, Auckland.
- 14th Nov to Jan 30th Early Bird – $200 inc GST
- 1st Feb onward Standard – $250 inc GST
Lunch is included
The workshops are repeated – please choose one from the list below
Please select the workshop you wish to attend, complete the registration form, and email it to Annette Mortensen at
reception@rasnz.co.nz. Once we receive your form, we will send you an invoice for payment.
The training is offered by Refugees as Survivors NZ (RASNZ), a specialist mental health agency based at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre/Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa. The facilitators have many years experience in supporting children, young people and communities from refugee backgrounds through their resettlement journey.
We offer school teams insight into the realities of the refugee experience, settlement in New Zealand and of the impact on learning and students.
Ministry of Education teams, teachers, administrators, learning support teams and school-based health and social service providers will learn about how to effectively meet the needs of students from refugee backgrounds.
You will learn about:
- Who are refugees?
- The refugee journey and resettlement in New Zealand
- How trauma impacts young people’s brains, body, memory, emotions, relationships, behaviour and capacity to learn
- How to respond to traumatised children and young people
- Activities and strategies that help children and young people heal from the impacts of trauma
- How to improve student’s behavioural and cognitive capacity
- Best practice through exploration of case scenarios
- Services and supports for schools/agencies
There is free parking in the streets around the RASNZ Youth Services Office at 173 Captain Springs Road, 2nd Floor, Onehunga, Auckland.
Facilitator’s Bios
Abbi Scheepers: RASNZ Youth Counsellor
Dr Annette Mortensen: RASNZ Manager Training and Development
Abbigail Scheepers is a dedicated youth counsellor and mental health professional with over four years of specialised experience supporting young people from refugee backgrounds. Currently serving as a Youth Counsellor for the RASNZ Youth Team, she provides comprehensive one-on-one counselling services across multiple settings including community centres, schools, and universities.
Abbi holds a Degree in Health Science majoring in Counselling and a Post Graduate Diploma in Violence and Trauma Studies. She achieved full membership with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) in May 2024. Her professional expertise encompasses psychoeducation, group therapy facilitation, and working with interpreters to support refugee and asylum-seeking youth. She has co-designed therapeutic programs specifically tailored for refugee background youth. Prior to her current role, Abbi served as a Youth Counsellor at Genesis Youth Trust. She has demonstrated leadership in program development, having facilitated the Incredible Years Parenting Programme and served as a Group Facilitator and Associate Lecturer at AUT. Abbi’s specialised training includes suicide prevention (Lifekeepers), parenting through separation workshops, and family mentorship programs, positioning her as a well-rounded practitioner in youth mental health and family support services.
Annette has worked for over 20 years to improve healthcare responsiveness for Asian, refugee and migrant groups in New Zealand in a number of roles including as a public health nurse, project manager, researcher and educator. From 2000, Annette had the position of Refugee Health Coordinator for the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.
In 2007, Annette took up the position of Refugee and Migrant Project Manager for the NRA (Northern Regional Alliance) where she commissioned a number of studies including the Asian and MELAA (Middle Eastern, Latin American and African) Health Needs Assessments of people living in the Auckland region and the Asian Health in Aotearoa trend studies. In the same year, Annette was awarded with the Supreme Harmony Award for her contribution to Muslim relations in New Zealand by the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ).
In 2009, she received a doctorate from Massey University. The subject of her thesis was ‘Refugees as ‘Others’: Social and Cultural Citizenship Rights for Refugees in New Zealand Health Services’. Annette currently works for Refugees as Survivors NZ (RASNZ) as the manager of Training and Development.
Welcoming Schools Training Videos 2023
RASNZ Welcoming Schools and Tertiary Organisations for Students from Refugee Backgrounds online videos 2023
Thank you to the universities, schools and resettlement agencies who participated in this training
Working with English Language Learners from Refugee Backgrounds
Thank you to all ESOL Teachers who participated in this Training
Working with learners from refugee backgrounds for the Tertiary Education Sector
Thank you to all Tertiary Education Teachers who participated in this Training
At RASNZ, we provide mental health and well-being services, advocate for diversity, support Rainbow communities, protect children from harm, and detail this in our Child Protection Policy.
