More than 2400 students from 95 different nations started their educational journey at Warrawong Intensive English Centre.
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On Friday the centre known as Warrawong IEC celebrated its 40th anniversary.
The celebration doubled as the centre's annual Open Day and was held during Education Week.
The event was led largely by current IEC students who also performed cultural dance and drumming pieces for the assembled audience.
From its humble beginnings in demountables in the carpark of Warrawong High School, Warrawong IEC enrols students newly arrived to Australia and prepares them for study in mainstream high school.
Its students hail from countries all around the world and include students from refugee backgrounds as well as students with migrant and temporary resident visas.
"Today's Open day and Graduation Ceremony is a very special day in the history of Warrawong IEC as we celebrate our 40th year of operation," head teacher Ruth Cooke said.
"During our 40 years of operation, we have had the pleasure of meeting and teaching a total of 2452 students from 95 different countries.
'A staggering 25.9 million people, a number larger than Australia's population, are refugees. Of these, over half are aged under 18 years."
The centre enrols around 70 per cent of its students from refugee backgrounds and is currently enrolling students from countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Iraq, Myanmar and Eritrea
"We are extremely privileged and honoured to have been given the responsibility to guide these students, many of whom have overcome unbelievable hardship, in their initial journey here in Australia," Mrs Cooke said.
"I am in awe of the students' courage, determination and motivation to achieve success in this new and very different educational setting."
This year's Education Week theme, 'Every Student, Every Voice' was particularly relevant to these students who are finding their own voice within an unfamiliar educational system on their journey to becoming engaged Australian citizens.
Although guest speaker, former IEC student Elizabeth Jowanie, has prospered.
Miss Jowanie arrived with no English from Karenni State in 2008, aged just 13 years.
"I've now graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Wollongong," she said.
The Team for Refugees member also plays a prominent role working with Burmese and other refugee communities in the Illawarra.
"I have a lived experience, so I want to advocate for and help other refugees."
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
