Melbourne primary schools teaching migrant mums vital skills via Community Hubs

Since arriving in Australia after being forced to flee Iraq, Enas Hano has learnt English, computer skills and gained employment – all thanks to her kids’ Broadmeadows school.

When Iraqi migrant and mum of three Enas Hano enrolled in English language classes at her kids’ Broadmeadows school, she was still coming to terms with having her life stolen by the militia.

“I’ll never forget the day that we came to Australia (as refugees in 2016),” the now-36-year-old said. “(The militia) took our home and everything we had.”

Fast forward to 2025 and Ms Hano has learnt to speak English, can use a computer, has completed a Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and is employed part-time by the school to oversee its Healthy Start Breakfast Club and childminding services.

This is all thanks to the staff at St Dominic’s Primary – who, principal Katie Broadbent says, believe “we’re a school that doesn’t just enrol the child, we enrol the family”.

St Dominic’s Primary School principal Katie Broadbent and Community Hub leader Caroline Menassa with mums who were supported by the hub, Shatha Alhadai and Enas Hano. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“Inherent in that is a responsibility to embrace what that family looks like and needs, and to support them to engage with the community,” she said.

This ethos comes to life via the school’s Community Hub, which was established in 2012 to support migrant and refugee families with the ultimate aim of connecting them with each other, and the wider community.

“It’s my second home,” Ms Hano said. “I can’t visit my family in Iraq because it is too expensive, but I have met another family here and we help each other with everything.”

Four other schools governed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic primary schools also run Community Hubs: St Anthony’s in Noble Park, Dallas’s Holy Child Primary, Roxburgh Park’s Good Samaritan Catholic Primary and Holy Eucharist in St Albans South.

Staff at five Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, including St Dominics in Broadmeadows, are helping migrant mums learn a variety of vital skills. Picture: Tim Carrafa

St Dominic’s hub leader and learning support officer Caroline Menassa said the program responded directly to the evolving needs of the school community.

“Sometimes, (the community) comes to me with ideas,” she said. “Last week, an elderly couple said, ‘We’ve just bought our first mobile phones and we have no idea how to use them.’ I said, ‘No problem, I’ll find a teacher and we’ll run a mini class’.”

The hub also runs fitness classes, programs that increase employability and teach members how to book doctors’ appointments, use Myki cards, call triple-0 and more.

“The goal is to help families become more self-sustaining,” Ms Menassa said.

Ms Broadbent said the participants loved the hub so much, many of them volunteered or worked there even after their children had graduated.

“Two of the mums who now run our playgroup used to be students in the hub,” she said.

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Originally published as Melbourne primary schools teaching migrant mums vital skills via Community Hubs