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Australian schools, parishes and youth groups are being encouraged to engage young people in the contentious debate around refugee and asylum seekers.

Simply Sharing Week encourages Australians to learn about and become involved in issues of social justice. Schools and community groups will be provided with resources which will enable students to discuss the topic of refugee and asylum seekers in an informed and critical way.

This year Simply Sharing Week will be held from June 6-12 with resources sent to schools and parishes in May.

The educational resource, See the real me, not just the refugee, includes real-life stories of refugees and provides age-relevant classroom activities and bible studies.

The resource was put together by the Simply Sharing Week coalition which includes UnitingWorld, AngliCORD, Anglican Board of Mission (ABM), Act for Peace and Caritas Australia.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Caritas Australia CEO Jack de Groot said: “Refugees and asylum seekers are often portrayed in a negative light in Australia – sometimes by politicians and the media. This can mislead Australians to be critical of refugees and asylum seekers.

“Simply Sharing Week aims to tackle stereotyping and remind us that refugees and asylum seekers are unique individuals with their own experiences, strengths and identities.

“That’s why we are calling on all Australians to see the whole person instead of simply seeing people as ‘the refugee”.

Mr de Groot said the Simply Sharing Week resources and activities were designed to increase student understanding on an issue which is likely to feature predominantly in this year’s federal elections.

“The resource also encourages students to pass on their understanding through local community awareness-raising activities,” he said.