NAYSS News - JUNE 2007
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IN THIS EDITION...
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> From the Lead Provider
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> Colony 47
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> MultiLink
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> Reminders About Updates to the Website
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From the Lead Provider
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Hi there all you NAYSSers! Well, this is the final e-newsletter from the current Lead Provider Team for now as Nadia and I are off on Maternity Leave. But fear not, these bulletins will continue with some new staffing arrangements to be worked out over the next month or so. In this month’s edition we hear from Colony 47 in Tasmania and MultiLink in Queensland.
We both wanted to take this opportunity to say what a privilege it has been to work with all of you. We have really enjoyed getting to know each of you, hearing about your work and doing what we can to support you in continuing to improve practice and document this through action research. We wish all of you the very best in the future and we will be sure to send you a photo of the NAYSS Lead Provider babies when they arrive!
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nayss@cmyi.net.au.
Leigh and Nadia
NAYSS Lead Provider Team
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Colony 47
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Michael and I had such an AMAZING weekend with the Launch Yourself Leadership Training for National Youth Week that we wanted to share a taste of it with all of you.
The weekend camp was funded by Colony 47 NAYSS and run by a committee of people working in the sector including: The Migrant Resource Centre; The Link Youth Health Service; Dept of Health and Human Services; and 3 young people.
During the camp we worked with14 young people: 7 males and 7 females from Sudan, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and the DR Congo from 20-22 April.
The goal was to explore Leadership skills with a focus on sexual health and relationships. The weekend was quite an amazing, emotional and intense experience for us all. It was as much about how we worked together as what we did. We were on our own at the camp and had to do everything for ourselves, and each other, including all cooking and cleaning. There were no age or gender distinctions and it’s humbling how people step up when given responsibility.
Our experiences included:
• toasting marshmallows around a beach fire at night,
• sessions discussing the qualities of leaders we admire and those we don’t,
• learning how to empower other people to be their best,
• talking relationships in a session with an educator from Family Planning,
• cooking for and with each other,
• outdoor team challenge activities,
• learning facilitation skills,
• musical chairs (see the photo to check out who had the most fun with this!!!)
One participant said in our Closing Ritual “I didn’t have confidence before this weekend, but now I know I can do anything”. Says it all really!!!
Michael and I feel so honoured to do the work we do!!!
Al Hines
Family Worker
Hobart
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MultiLink
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Hello to all the NAYSS crew around Australia, from all here at MultiLink. 2007 has definitely been our busiest year yet, and I’m sure other services can relate to this. We always find it very interesting hearing about what the needs are and current projects being run across the different regions and so we thought we would take this opportunity to share some of ours.
MultiLink is located within the Logan an area in Queensland which has a crime rate significantly higher than the state average. In fact Logan experiences double the state average for youth crime. Due to limited research data for CALD youth in relation to crime, we went into partnership with the Logan Police to identify anecdotally the crime behaviours and patterns amongst CALD young people. This partnership has also aimed to increase CALD young people’s knowledge of laws and legal systems as an early intervention/prevention measure.
The Project aimed to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors that can influence the “development of criminal potential”. The concept of youth participation and empowerment is increasingly being recognised as a protective factor and an effective form of crime prevention, so we held multiple forums where young people were able to self facilitate and interact directly with local police officers to discuss various issues such as: rights and responsibilities when interacting with police, police harassment, carrying concealed weapons, legal and illegal drugs, discrimination, rights of schools (eg bag checks, suspension, expulsion, bullying, appeals), sexual violence, juvenile justice systems and courtroom procedures. Amazingly we had very high numbers at each of the 9 forums. Feed back from the young people involved through pre and post surveys illustrated their enthusiasm to learn was focused around being able to gain a clearer understanding of local laws and their personal rights and obligations so as to avoid future conflicts with police and to stay clear of the juvenile justice system. Many participants still felt a great deal of distrust due to discrimination, around police officers and so MultiLink will continue to create opportunities for positive interactions between CALD youth and local police whereever possible.
Acknowledging a need for greater sexual health awareness, within the Logan City Community, Queensland Health funded an initiative to increase sexual health awareness amongst CALD Youth within the area. Partnering with Queensland Health, a Sexual Health Project was established to inform and educate young people about sexual health issues. Through forums we were able to gather information and statistics promoting culturally sensitive sexual health awareness and advocate the use of services and clinics available in the local area.
Forums were gender specific and were a great success, drawing a variety of age groups from different ethnic backgrounds. These forums incorporated numerous activities including; guest speakers, games, and surveys. The forums equipped young people who participated with key information that will hopefully enable and equip them to make informed choices in regards to their sexual health. New information is currently being collated in response to the forum surveys, so we can continue to develop research in the field of CALD youth sexual health.
Finally something a bit lighter, MultiLink has been focusing on a recreational activity in collaboration with Bridges Reconnect. Working with Bridges allows for greater integration between established Anglo-Australian families and our newly arrived CALD families. This partnership has allowed families, in particular the youth, to form positive new relationships while discovering the exciting challenges of indoor rock climbing.
The idea for the rock-climbing evenings came about through original discussions around the difficulties in engaging parents, especially fathers with the young people we support. Indoor rock-climbing was put forward by Dr Phil Crane as an activity that could be enjoyed by all ages and has strong team and trust elements. Phil’s personal involvement within this sport enabled the donation of equipment and access to expertise, which has been invaluable.
Parents who wish not to climb are encouraged to play a role in encouraging their children (often by yelling up at them) which is a great source of laughs and giggles. The evenings are kept relaxed and fun and include a shared meal. Everyone, including the staff, have a great time and so this activity has become one of our regular activities held monthly.
So that’s a little of what we’ve been up to here in Logan. We look forward to hearing and seeing you all at the Good practice/ Action Research forum here in Brisbane.
Take care
MultiLink NAYSS team- Jo, Judd and Natasha.
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Reminders About Updates to the Website
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Available Now
• 3 of our 4 Quarterly Reports to FACSIA
• Draft Discussion Paper about National AR Themes and Questions of National Significance
• A range of brief examples of NAYSS Providers’ action research
Coming Soon
• NAYSS Mentoring Framework
• Newly Developed ‘Sharing Good Practice’ section
• Final Quarterly Report from the Lead Provider to FACSIA for 06/07
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