After 39 years of full-time teaching, Phil found himself in a new life with something he really didn’t experience much before: Free time.

Memories of teaching English to new Australians from Vietnam, Chile and El Salvador in the 80s at the Maribyrnong Language Centre, and from working with migrant and refugee communities in the 90s, came flooding back to Phil and gave him new ideas. Maybe the free time was an opportunity for him to do some more of what he knew and loved: Teaching.

Phil has volunteered at the ASRC for the past seven years, first as a speaker spreading the word of our work in secondary schools, and then as one of the leading English teachers. Phil has not only helped people seeking asylum to improve their language skills, but also worked with the ASRC Education team on projects that provide appropriate training pathways for their future in Australia.