empowering young refugee &
Asylum Seeker women through education
Who We Are
We are an Independent Senior Secondary School providing a specialised and supportive educational experience that empowers young women from refugee backgrounds. We are a passionate, committed, and diverse group of people with a range of perspectives, skills and capabilities, committed to excellence in trauma-informed teaching and learning strategies and the removal of barriers to education faced by young women from refugee backgrounds.
Upcoming events
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River Nile School Book drive
We’re running a special book drive at River Nile School to get more books into our library – and we want these books to reflect you!
We asked students what kinds of books they’d love to read, and then we worked with our wonderful friends at Chestnut Tree Bookshop to help choose a list of books based on your ideas. Chestnut Tree put so much care and thought into the list, making sure it matches the interests, passions and backgrounds of our amazing students.
Now we’re asking our wider community to help by buying one of these books for our library.
Each book will help build a stronger, more exciting reading space for everyone at RNS. And every person who donates a book can even write a special message inside the cover for our students to read!
Want to get involved?
You can find the book list and donation link in our school bio or by asking at the office.Let’s build a library full of stories that feel like home. 💛📚
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RNS Youth Fest - Art Workshop
Monday 15th September 2025
1:00PM-2:00PM
📍 Level 3 Library @ River Nile School
Open and free to young people from refugee backgrounds, aged 15-24, and led by our incredible RNS students, this art workshop is a perfect way to explore your artistic side and identity in a welcoming, safe, relaxed environment.
Led by refugee youth for refugee youth.
Free lunch and all materials provided.
Registration is a must.
River Nile School acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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RNS Youth Fest - Live Radio Broadcast and Refugee Youth Voices Summit
Tuesday 16th September 2025
11:00AM-3:00PM
📍 Queen Victoria Market (Centre Alleway)
River Nile School will be taking over the Queen Victoria Market and elevating young refugee voices.
Young people from refugee backgrounds, aged 15-24, are invited to join River Nile School students on the day.
On the day there will be -
- Live RNS Radio Broadcast with students from RNS hosting programs and interviewing people with opportunities for young people from refugee backgrounds to be interviewed by RNS students
- Performances by RNS students
- Refugee Youth Voices Summit with design sprint workshops run by ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) facilitators where young people from refugee backgrounds will share challenges they face, work together to design solutions to address these, and share their ideas on the live radio program
Led by refugee youth for refugee youth.
Registration is a must.
River Nile School acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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RNS Youth Fest - Collage Poetry Workshop
Wednesday 17th September 2025
1:00PM-2:00PM
📍 Level 3 Library @ River Nile School
Express yourself and your identity in this FREE workshop for young people from refugee backgrounds, aged 15-24, led by RNS students.
Create a collage poetry and share your story in the spirit of Youth Fest.
Led by refugee youth for refugee youth.
Free lunch and all materials provided.
Registration is a must.
River Nile School acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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RNS YOUTH FEST - TALENT SHOW & CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Thursday 18th September 2025
1:30PM-4:00PM
📍 The Multicultural Hub Drill Hall - 506 Elizabeth Street Melbourne
To honour Youth Fest, River Nile School is hosting a Talent Quest and Cultural Celebration, designed especially for young people from refugee backgrounds.
Celebrate diverse talents, identities and cultures as we amplify refugee youth voices!
Are you a young person from a refugee background with a special talent to share?
Register for the RNS Youth Fest Talent Quest NOW!
If you would like to come along to watch, click the button below to buy your free ticket!
There will be other performances, food, activities and community service stalls to make the day extra special.
Led by refugee youth for refugee youth.
Registration is a must.
River Nile School acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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RNS Youth Fest - Beauty & Pamper Sessions
Friday 19th September 2025
🕒 Session Time
10:30AM – 11:30AM📍 Spaces: Only 11 spots per session – be quick!
📍 Level 1 Beauty Room @ River Nile School
Are you a young person from a refugee background, aged 15-24?
You deserve to be pampered.
Let the RNS VET Retail Cosmetic students pamper you in our dedicated salon!
Led by refugee youth for refugee youth.
Free lunch available on the day between 1PM-2PM.
Registration is a must.
River Nile School acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
