|
 April 2008
|
|
|
|
NEWS AND VIEWS
|
YOUTH ADVOCATES CALL FOR BAN ON ULTRASONIC TEENAGE DETERRENT
|
By Stefanie Maccar, CMYI communications intern
|
The device commonly known as the Mosquito, which emits a high pitched sound and can only be heard by those under 25 years of age, has been introduced to a Melbourne suburban shop and is being advertised by manufacturers as "the solution to the eternal problem of unwanted gatherings of teenagers".
The device, invented in 2005, is being used in shopping centres, malls and parks throughout England and Scotland. Though an estimated 3,500 Mosquitoes have been installed in England, the public reaction is negative, with the Children's Commissioner for England calling for a ban on the device.
“Young people are citizens and have a right to be consumers and to enjoy public space the same as anyone else. Young people use public space to a greater extent than many other sections of the community,” said Ariel Coughman, Director of Youthlaw, in a recent media release (15/2/2008).
“Effectively [this kind of device] is treating under 25 year olds as second class citizens. How would the community feel if a device was used against old people or one race?”
CMYI’s Youth Participation Officer, Faten Mohamed, said that such a proposal was disappointing: “I feel that it’s an abuse of human rights; it’s restricting people’s freedom.… I think that when you are dealing with people, if you tell them they can’t do something then they will do it anyway, they will challenge, it can have the opposite effect.”
Public spaces that are used by young people are increasingly being regulated, which may help combat crime in some areas, but can also restrict young people’s activities and right to use public space (Salmon, 2005).
In 2005, ‘move on powers’ were proposed by the Victorian opposition as a possible measure to address anti-social behaviour. ‘Move on powers’ would allow the police to move people along if they are supposedly ‘engaging in anti-social activity’; even though no crime is committed or valid reason given. The ‘move on power’ was not age specific; however research indicates young people have been disproportionately affected by the powers in states where they have been introduced. For example, the NSW Ombudsman conducted a review of these police powers in 1999 and found that 48% of all directions were issued to people under 18, and about 50% of directions were issued without a valid reason’ (Salmon, 2005, p.11).
Research suggests that the image of young people is ‘heavily influenced by media images…Sensationalized and selective reporting in the media can influence community perceptions of young people’ (Salmon, 2005, p.7). As a result, young people are often targeted by authorities. Their physical appearance and the image of young people moving in groups are often portrayed as being anti-social; an image repeatedly mirrored by the media.
The increasing privatisation of public spheres such as shopping centers creates confusion and concerns about individual rights (Salmon, 2005, p.12). In addition, spaces where young people are ‘treated with respect and dignity, and where they feel safe, secure and welcomed’ are difficult to find in the metropolitan area...’ (Cook, 2008, p.4)
Homeless young people will also be affected by the introduction of the Mosquito device. 10% of homeless Australians were under the age of 12 years in 2001, and 36% of homeless Australians are between 12 and 24 years (ABS: Counting the Homeless Media report, 2001). The Mosquito device will affect public spaces where people may currently sleep and shelter themselves from weather and danger.
‘If services deliver projects properly, if the government put policies in place for young people to stay in school longer and to help family issues and conflict that many young people would go through, young people won’t feel the need to be at shopping centers,’ Faten Mohamed says.
‘More funding needs to go into youth initiatives, so young people can run their own activities and projects. We need a society that respects young people, and builds more youth friendly spaces.’
|
Further reading...
|
- 'Mosquito' article at Wikipedia
|
|
|
back to top
|
|
|
2020 Youth Summit recommends National Settlement Strategy
|
The 2020 Youth summit, held in the lead-up to the Australia 2020 Summit, was held on 12 and 13 April, with 100 young people from a variety of backgrounds engaging in discussion of various ‘good ideas’ for the future development of Australian society. As with the Australia 2020 summit, ten key areas were discussed, including infrastructure, sustainability and climate change, health, communities and families.
The Youth Summit concluded with the presentation of a communiqué to the Prime Minister, detailing the vision and key ideas that were developed during the forum. Among these was a recommendation regarding Australia’s commitment to holistic settlement support for newly arrived migrant and refugee communities:
|
National Migrant and Refugees Settlement Strategy
| | Managing and accommodating the influx of migrants and refugees into our country requires a multifaceted approach. There is a need to develop a national migrant and refugee settlement strategy to provide essential services aimed at settling and including newly-arrived migrants and refugees into Australian society. The outcomes of this strategy are to measure the proportion of migrants and refugees who access available health, language and capacity building services. The strategy will also evaluate the literacy levels of migrant and refugee communities and measure the employment rate and length of unemployment. Moreover this holistic approach will help wider Australian communities accommodate migrant and refugee settlement. This will be done through a process of widespread consultation with local migrants and refugee service providers, state governments and relevant stakeholders. |
|
|
Download a copy of the 2020 Youth Communiqué from the event's website.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Study into youth homelessness highlights complexity of issues
|
'Australia's Homeless Youth', a new report published by the National Youth Coalition, is calling for a $1 billion funding increase to tackle what it says is the worsening problem of youth homelessness. The inquiry, conducted by the National Youth Commission, has found the number of young homeless people in Australia has doubled in the last two decades, and suggests that about 36,000 Australians under the age of 25 do not have stable accommodation.
"Young people are staying in circumstances that just aren't healthy, they're just not safe, and we need to ensure that all young people have affordable housing," said inquiry chairman David Eldridge.
The report suggests that money needs to go towards more accommodation and early intervention programs to stop the causes of homelessness, like family breakdown.
Anglicare Australia executive director Kasy Chambers is endorsing the report's findings, saying it shows the complexity of the problem of youth homelessness: "It's not just about not having a roof over your head, there are mental health issues, there are substance abuse issues, there are issues from the young people's family or origin, and time and time again we see this greater complexity."
More reactions to the report the ABC News website.
|
back to top
|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW AT CMYI?
|
'Is It Cos I Is Different?' - Youth Against Discrimination
|
By Caitlin Wilks, CMYI Project Officer - Youth Participation
|
On Sunday 13 April at the Lithuanian Club, Project R.A.C.E held an anti-discrimination comedy event, “Is it ‘cos I is different?” - Youth Against Discrimination. This comedy event was a youth-led initiative run by a group of young people from diverse backgrounds in collaboration with CMYI, Youthlaw, the City of Whittlesea, and with support from the Scanlon Foundation, the Foundation of Young Australians, the Office for Youth and Student Youth Network (SYN FM).
This event used comedy to provide insight into the experiences of young people from diverse backgrounds with a particular focus on issues of stereotyping and racial discrimination. A fusion of stand up and sketch comedy performances by multicultural young people, “Is it ‘cos I is different?” aimed to increase awareness and understanding about diverse cultures and faiths, whilst also offering a frank and funny account of experiences of discrimination encountered by diverse young people.
The members of the Project R.A.C.E Ensemble have participated in an intensive series of comedy workshops culminating in their comedy debut at “Is it ‘cos I is different?” With the support of professional comedians Trent McCarthy, Candy from Sista She, Andrew McClelland and Lawrence Leung, the content of the comedy developed by the Project R.A.C.E poignantly highlighted personal experiences of discrimination related the aspects of their faith and cultural backgrounds. One young female comedian had the audience in stitches as she discussed a list of questions not to ask someone who wears a hijab, whilst others explored the cultural misunderstandings of various English phrases that she has come across in her short time in Australia having lived in Iraq.
Performing for the first time for over 115 audience members from a variety of diverse cultural and faith backgrounds, representing numerous organisations in the field as well as the general public, the Project R.A.C.E Ensemble, along with the headline acts of Nazeem Hussein, Mohamed El-Leissy (Fear of a Brown Planet) and Maysa Abouzeid (from A.R.A.B- VASS “It’s a blind chick thing”) entertained all for over an hour with great success.
Audience feedback reflected the great success of the event, with comments including:
|
- “Entertaining and funny” and “Great contemporary humour”;
|
- “Inclusive of young people – it was on their own terms, using their own ideas”;
|
- “Allowed young multicultural voices to be heard”.
|
|
The next stage of this project involves the delivery of comedy workshops and performances to a variety of audiences. If you are interested in more information about these, contact Caitlin Wilks, Project Officer at CMYI on (03) 9340 3700 or cwilks@cmyi.net.au.
|
back to top
|
|
|
New project to explore sporting opportunities for refugee and migrant young people with a disability
|
As part of broader programs funded by VicHealth, CMYI and the Victorian Network on Recreation and Disability (VICNORD) are investigating the experiences of refugee and migrant young people with a disability in accessing and participating in sport and recreation opportunities. A key goal of this project is to develop best practice recommendations for sports providers to assist them in working effectively with this group of young people. The project will also look at piloting new programs or expanding effective programs to different areas or sports.
The initial stages of this project require a broad outline of available programs, including both programs targeted specifically to refugee and migrant young people with a disability and those programs which are working with this group as part of a general program or a CLD-specific or disability-specific program.
We are keen to develop an accurate overview of what’s available and highlight some effective programs. For this we need the assistance of those working in the field.
If you are involved in (or aware of) any sports projects working with refugee and migrant young people with a disability, please contact Sarah at CMYI via scornfoot@cmyi.net.au or (03) 9340 3700 (Thursdays).
|
back to top
|
|
|
Upcoming Bi-cultural Workers Forum
|
Over the past three years, CMYI has held a series of forums exploring how community services can support and strengthen the role of bi-cultural and bi-lingual workers in our sector, particularly those working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. In late May, the next Bi-cultural Workers Forum will explore the question: What can and does work well in supporting bi-cultural youth workers in the community sector?
To find out more about this upcoming forum, and to register your interest in attending, please contact Louise Olliff, CMYI’s Co-ordinator – Sector Development, on louise@cmyi.net.au or (03) 9340 3742.
Details of date and venue will be posted on the CMYI website shortly.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Statewide Multicultural Youth Issues Network update
|
February meeting: Good projects engaging second generation young people
|
CMYI’s first Statewide Multicultural Youth Issues Network (SMYIN) meeting of 2008 was held on Thursday 28 February. This meeting highlighted some of the experiences and needs of second-generation young people as well as showcasing a number of excellent 'good practice projects'. Over 70 people attended the forum from a diverse range of agencies and services. A report of this meeting, including outlines of presentations and details of projects showcased, can be downloaded here (PDF, 158kb), or go to the CMYI Statewide Network webpage.
|
June meeting: Services for International students?
|
The next SMYIN meeting will be held on Thursday 26 June, offering a forum to share information and discuss issues around supports for international students. Further details will be sent to Network members (to sign up to the Statewide Network mailing list, email cbramwell@cmyi.net.au) and posted on the CMYI Statewide Network webpage.
|
For more information about the SMYIN, contact: Claire Bramwell, CMYI Project Officer - Community and Sector Development on cbramwell@cmyi.net.au or call (03) 9340 3700.
|
back to top
|
|
|
YRIPP needs volunteers
|
The law requires that an adult be present during formal police questioning of a young person under 18 years of age. When a parent or guardian is unavailable, an Independent Person (IP) is required. The role of the Independent Person is to observe the interview process and to ensure that the young person is supported and that his or her rights are protected.
CMYI, as the lead provider in the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program (YRIPP), is seeking volunteers in the North, West and South East of Melbourne to donate their time to undertake training and become Independent Persons to assist in the interview process between police and young people.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like to find out more about the program, please contact Francesca Pagani, YRIPP Program Administrative Officer on (03) 9340 3777 or admin@yripp.org.au. You can also take a look at the YRIPP webpage to find out more about the program.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Upcoming training session: Introduction to working with culturally and linguistically diverse young people
|
This session from CMYI's Professional Development team is designed to develop participants’ understanding of cultural diversity, in order to work effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) young people.
|
Learning Outcomes:
|
- Explore culture as a factor in all human behaviour;
|
- Identify strategies for good practice in working with CLD young people;
|
- Describe key strategies for communicating effectively with CLD young people, including working with interpreters;
|
- Explore barriers for agencies in delivering culturally-responsive services to CLD young people and key strategies to address these.
|
|
Date: Wednesday 28 May
|
Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
|
Cost: $190
|
 download registration form (199kb)
|
Registrations close Wednesday 14 May - complete and return the registration form, or contact (03) 9340 3700 or info@cmyi.net.au if you have any enquiries. Also, look out for CMYI's forthoming Professional Development and Training Calendar, which will be published on the CMYI website soon.
|
back to top
|
|
|
POSTCARD FROM THE NORTH
|
Voices of Young Australians – Youth Dialogue Forum
|
By Michael Prewer, Forum participant and Planning Team member
|
Last year, CMYI ran a program called ‘Voices of Young Australians’. The program included some in-school training sessions, before the students from about seven different schools came together for an ‘Intensive Training Week.’ The week was based on fighting racism and discrimination, and we came up with some project ideas to complete in our different communities. One of these was a Youth Dialogue Forum based on raising awareness about discrimination and racism.
Caitlin Wilks and Faten Mohamed, Project Officers for CMYI, put together a planning team, including myself, Sablaa Hassab, Adilah Rahamen, Rowaa Hassab, and themselves. We met twice to assess what was going to happen at the forum, who would be invited, where it was going to be and many more important questions.
The Youth Dialogue forum was held at the Epping Community Activity Centre on Thursday 20 March. We invited schools from the Hume and Whittlesea districts to send along some representative students, and we were impressed when we got a turnout of over sixty participants. The day started with an introduction, followed by a keynote speaker.
Next we separated into five different workshops:
|
- Racism - How to act and where to go;
|
- Ways to harness and invest in diversity;
|
- Learn about Anti-discrimination in your life, in schools and in sport;
|
- Young people and police issues; and
|
- Get involved in the media and have your say.
|
|
Our five speakers enlightened the audiences and were amazing in the ways they helped raise awareness and teach ways to deal with racism and discrimination.
We converged again for a light morning tea (that was large enough to feed an army!), before starting the afternoon activities. Again, in groups, we were given scenarios in which racism or discrimination was displayed. We were told to interpret them and create short plays to bring back and share with the main group. The students showed creativity and originality in creating plays that showed they had grasped the concept of racism and the best ways to deal with it.
At 1pm we all shared a Halal lunch. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the chicken, lamb or falafel kebabs and while we were eating we were entertained by a group of young krumpers.
Overall I think it was an exciting and successful day. I hope all the participants learnt something new and heaps of fun. I know Icertainly did.
|
back to top
|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW IN THE SECTOR
|
Details of upcoming events, conferences and new resources in the CLD youth sector. If you have an event or resource you want promoted through this newsletter, please send details to info@cmyi.net.au
|
New Resources
|
- StepOne- Community Harmony Guide for Local Government - StepOne is a website aimed at giving local councils and communities the tools to tackle racism, strengthen community cohesion and foster intercultural interaction in your neighborhood. Visit StepOne to get advice on building a community harmony strategy, and view local and international case studies of successful community harmony projects.
|
- Australian Citizenship Test Snapshot Report – the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has published a detailed report on citizenship tests, including the number of clients who have sat the test and the pass rates. This report is updated monthly and is available from the DIAC website.
|
- Adult Migrant English Program Booklet now in 24 languages - The new AMEP brochure ‘We can help you learn English’ has been translated into 24 languages and is available on the DIAC website.
|
- Australian Red Cross Survey: Australian Compassion - To coincide with the launch of the Red Cross Calling Appeal on 1 March, the Australian Red Cross has released the results of a survey of 1215 Australians to assess perceptions about which vulnerable groups in the community need greater levels of support and assistance. With 89% feeling that elderly people living alone had the greatest need, 57% believed that indigenous Australians needed more support and 39% felt refugees and asylum seekers needed more help.
|
- Community sector submission on Australia’s 2008-09 Refugee and Humanitarian Program - After months of community consultations and refining of recommendations, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has released its submission to the Australian Government on the 2008-09 Refugee and Humanitarian Program. The 113-page submission canvasses many issues, including the size and composition of the humanitarian intake, family reunion for refugees, employment issues, housing, language services, international cooperation and Australian support for UNHCR.
|
- Equal Opportunity Review Options Paper - Julian Gardner is conducting an independent review of the Victorial Equal Opportunity Act 1995. The release of the Options Paper marks the start of the second and final round of the consultation on the Equal Opportunity Review, with the final report to be submitted in June 2008. This final report will take into consideration submissions received in response to the Discussion Paper (released in November 2007 and the Options Paper. Download a copy of the Options Paper from the Department of Justice website. Further information relating to the Review can be found at the Review homepage; submissions on the Opinions Paper are open until Monday 12 May.
|
- 'Freedom Respect Equality Dignity: Action' Report - The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) contributed to the development of a shadow report for the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a process coordinated by the National Association of Community Legal Centres. Download a copy of the final report from the Human Rights Law Resource Centre website.
|
- Immigration Minister’s comments to Senate Estimates hearing - On 19 February 2008, the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee held an Estimates hearing on immigration matters. The transcript of the hearing gives some indications of the thinking of Senator Evans on a variety of policy matters. RCOA has edited the transcript of the Senate committee discussion, reorganising it into a series of topics relevant to refugee policy.
|
- Submissions on Job Network and Job Capacity Assessments - With new Federal Government Ministers seeking public feedback on a variety of matters, RCOA has responded to requests for submissions on the Job Network (from Employment Participation Minister Brendan O’Connor) and the Job Capacity Assessment system (from Human Services Minister, Senator Joe Ludwig). The two RCOA submissions, which put forward concerns raised in our recent community consultations, can be viewed at the RCOA website.
|
- 'Raising Children in Australia' Information Kit and DVD - Produced by the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, the kit provides a resource for service providers and a DVD for parents from African backgrounds. The DVD is in English, Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Dinka, Nuer, Kirundi, Kiswahili, Liberian English and Krio. A booklet on key services for parents and their young children also accompanies the DVD. For further information about the kit and how to obtain the DVD, visit the Foundation's website.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Training, Conferences and Forums
|
- Open Road Conference 2008: Multilingualism and the Information Society - 15 and 16 May, State Library of Victoria - The fourth biennial Open Road Conference features international and Australian keynote speakers, Plenary and concurrent sessions in the eve of the World Information Society Day celebrated worldwide on 17 May. Program and Registration forms can be downloaded from the conference website. For more information, email registrations@openroad.net.au or contact Sophie Tinney on (03) 8664 7426.
|
- Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria Regional Conference - Saturday 31 May, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE), Wangaratta - Guest Speakers at this free conference include Todd Harper (VicHealth Chief Executive Officer) and Ghassan Hage (Professor of Anthropology and Social Theory). For more information or to register your interest, contact Molly Peterson at the ECCV (molly@eccv.org.au, (03) 9349 4122) or Frances Salenga of the North East Multicultural Association (nema@wangaretta.vic.gov.au, (03) 5722 0726).
|
- Our World in Crisis? Interpretations and Responses - 29 April to 1 July, Fitzroy - A unique 10 week course to skill, inform and stimulate. For those interested in issues of development, environment, human rights, security, conflict resolution and democracy in our rapidly globalizing world, and Australia’s place in it. For more information visit the course website or contact Craig Woolley on owic2008@wachy.com or 0400 422 022.
|
- 'Globalisation for the Common Good - An interfaith Perspective' conference - 30 June to 4 July, University of Melbourne - The theme of the seventh annual conference is ‘From the Middle East to Asia Pacific: Arc of Conflict or Dialogue of Cultures & Religions?’. More information is available from the conference website.
|
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Conference - 4 to 6 June, Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre - This Conference is an opportunity for all leaders and workers who deliver services to Aboriginal children and families to discuss and learn how culture and self-determination creates a foundation for improving the lives of Aboriginal children for today and tomorrow. Contact Paula Crilly on (03) 8388 1855 or paulac@vacca.org for more information.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Events
|
- Refugee Week 2008 - 15 to 22 June - This year the theme of Refugee Week is 'A Place to Call Home’. For more information, see the RCOA website’s dedicated Refugee Week section.
|
- Anti-Poverty Week 2008 - 12 to 18 October - The event organisers of this year’s Anti-Poverty Week are encouraging a wide range of organisations to develop their own goals, proposals and activities. They are especially keen for organisations to arrange activities at local or regional levels. For more information visit the Anti-Poverty Week website.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Funding
|
- National Action Plan Community Projects Funding 2008-09 - The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is pleased to advise that the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security (NAP) 2008-09 community projects funding round is now open. A total of more than $500,000 is available to community organisations nationwide for the 2008-09 financial year. Further information is available in the Guidelines for NAP Community Project Funding 2008-09 - both the funding guidelines and Expression Of Interest form are available from the DIAC website. Applications close Tuesday 22 April 2008.
|
back to top
|
|
|
FROM THE SECTOR
|
Information and updates on new projects, programs and services in the sector. If you are involved in a project that you would like others in the sector to know about, send details to info@cmyi.net.au
|
New Projects, Programs and Services
|
- ‘By My Side’ Information Session - 30 April, Brunswick Town Hall - You are invited to the launch of ‘By My Side’, a Lebanese Mentoring project in Moreland. If you know any young Lebanese youth living, working or going to school in Moreland and think they would benefit from the program, please bring them along. For more information contact Sue Zoghaib (03 9387 4422 or szoghaib@bigpond.net.au) or Michael Mawal (03 9380 9346 or mmawal@bigpond.net.au).
|
- Awards for Young Leaders - The Foundation for Young Australians is seeking applications from young leaders for the Merlyn Myer Leadership Awards, which promote the pursuit of leadership and recognise young people as role models in their community. The Awards support Year 11 Victorian students, particularly those from low income families, in pursuit of their education. Eight Leadership Awards of $2,000 and eight Role Model awards of $500 will be offered to young people who demonstrate leadership attributes. More information, including application forms and eligibility criteria, is available from the Foundation for Young Australians website. Applications close Friday 6 June 2008.
|
- YouthSpeak survey underway - YouthSpeak is an exciting opportunity for Australian young people to have a direct line to the Government and talk about themselves, their concerns, and ideas for the future. Open to all young Australians aged 12-24, YouthSpeak can be accessed through their schools or educational institutions, or via the YouthSpeak website. The YouthSpeak reports will be completed and launched at the end of June 2008.
|
back to top
|
|
|
IN THE MEDIA
|
Multicultural youth issues in the media – what are some of the issues that are making it into the news? If you come across media articles you think should be highlighted in this newsletter, please forward to info@cmyi.net.au
|
Escape from the mire (The Australian newspaper, 16 April 2008)
|
"Morwell is a long way from Maiwut, Nhial Bangoang's home town in southern Sudan, but it is reminiscent of his birthplace's idyllic charms before the conflict."
|
> read the article at The Australian website
|
We're not racist, but... (The Age newspaper, 5 April 2008)
|
Research for VicHealth has exposed the contradictions in Australian society over attitudes to race. There seems to be agreement among the experts that Australia generally is one of the least racist countries in the world, yet "pockets of racism" exist across the country.
|
> read the article at The Age website
|
Media Watch: 'Crime stats' (ABC1 Television, 26 March 2008)
|
If you're going to get a reporter who isn't a statistician to plough through detailed police figures on immigrants committing crimes in Australia, you'd better make sure he gets it right. The Sunday Herald Sun newspaper didn't.
|
> read the transcript on the Media Watch website
|
> view video of the segment
|
The buck stops with the Immigration Minister (The Age, 3 March 2008)
|
"It seems the motivating factor Evans has for abrogating responsibility is that he is uncomfortable about having to make decisions that may not please all people at all times. But that's what happens when voters choose your team to make decisions in government for them."
|
> read the article at The Age website
|
back to top
|
