|
 April 2007
|
|
|
|
NEWS AND VIEWS
|
A YOUTH PERSPECTIVE ON RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION: BEYOND 'TOLERANCE'
|
By Mohammed El-Leissy, Youth Facilitator, CMYI
|
Australia has always been a multicultural society – first inhabited by our diverse indigenous communities and more recently through waves of settlement of migrants and refugees from all corners of the globe. This has brought a certain richness to our landscape and there is no doubt the nation is better off for it. Sadly, for all of us and for our social cohesion, living harmoniously as a multicultural nation is not always realised and, to the contrary, people from certain ethnic backgrounds are targeted in incidents that highlight a concern in the way some people view others.
|
We have seen in the last few years a changing face of discrimination and racism in Australia. While the vast majority of Australians are generally accepting of others, some people have made their feelings quite public. These are on two levels: On a large scale and on a one-on-one basis. Large scale incidents include the horrific events at Cronulla in December 2005 which showed a strong visual picture of large groups of people showing very ugly sentiments towards people of darker skin (the Sydney Morning Herald estimate over 5000 took part –photographs of this scene appear on the right of this page) The victims were predominately youth. Like all young people, they wanted to be accepted in Australia. That is, they were not targeted because they hate this country – but because of their DNA makeup. This experience for them was certainly a hard one to bear.
Then there was the racial violence at The Big Day Out in 2006. Again for many of the brown people who were there last year, it was a very big day out. The victims did not reject Australia. They had gone out to a mainstream music festival and shared a common passion for music. But this pseudo-patriotism kicked in and many non-whites who refused to literally kiss the flag were attacked. While some people blamed alcohol, the truth is that drunkenness only revealed an ugliness that has been covered up by the whole idea of “tolerance” – meaning you hate people secretly but “tolerate” them publicly.
The second level – racism one-on-one is the part we rarely hear about. It doesn’t make headlines and the media rarely mention it. So while large scale displays of racism are on the rise, how are we going on the one-on-one front, particularly for young people? The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) have noted an increase in racial discrimination; however these figures do not specifically mention young people. In 2004-05 HREOC reported 849 race-related complaints and in 2005-06 that number had risen to 1,042. It is hard to tell just how much young people are experiencing discrimination. This may be due to young people either not being familiar with how to report instances of discrimination, or their feeling that it won’t achieve anything if they do report incidents.
Young people’s experiences of racism (one-on-one) have been documented by organisations such as the Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN) in Melbourne. Comments by young people have included:
| I'll be walking in the street and people will stare at me, just because I am black. (15-year-old young person of Sudanese background)
| People automatically assume that I can't speak English and speak to me really slowly, just because I wear a hijab. (18-year-old young person of Somali background)
| Footscray is a very multicultural area but often when I go to the city or other suburbs you still get the odd person who stares at me just because I wear the hijab and have black skin. I have got used to the stares. Last year I was walking down the road in Footscray and a bus full of older people drove past. As the bus passed a older white male yelled out gesturing an abusive finger, "blackie go back to where you came from!"
|
| |
|
At first I was stunned as I was just walking in a familiar area and usually feel comfortable in this area. I then began to feel that everyone around me was also looking at me as if I was an alien. I felt like I didn't belong and that I didn't have a right to walk in this area because I was black.”
|
In March 2007, the NSW Youth Advisory Council also invited young people living in New South Wales to participate in an online forum about their experiences of racism and what they thought could be done to promote community harmony. The forum received submissions from young people living in both rural and urban areas, talking about issues specific to their community or their own experience, as well as the issue of racism as a whole. Many people shared their ideas about what young people can do to improve community harmony and stamp out racism:
|
I am a Muslim myself, I do face a lot of racism, [whether] it be comments or looks. I decide to ignore people like that and just walk off, but I don’t think I have to tolerate it. I love to mix with other cultures and religions, and Australia is supposed to be a multicultural country, however, there is still injustice towards races, because if there wasn’t injustice then I don’t think there would be much problems as there is. I think people need to understand that you can’t judge the whole race because of a small group... (Anonymous)
|
I am in year 12 and throughout my high school from year 7-10 I was ashamed to be who I was. I am of Lebanese descent and Muslim and when people would ask what I was I’d be embarrassed to say because I saw how others like me were treated at school and I didn’t want the same thing to happen to me so I’d pretend I was something else; something that I wasn’t. Going to a multicultural school after year 10 made me proud of who I was and proud of what I had. (Fatima)
|
Kids from my school used to say, ‘Wog, go home!’ to me when my family and I arrived in Australia, and they threw rocks at our house. It made it really difficult to study, and I didn’t want to leave the house. One of my friends nearly failed their year because the teasing was so bad. We came to Australia to escape war, and this is what we have to face? (Young male of Serbian background)
|
Thankfully, there are programs and organisations that are making a difference and striving to do something. For example, in March this year CMYI held a Discrimination and the Law Youth Forum at Trades Hall in which over 50 young people were in attendance. Different issues were raised through the various workshops, including young people’s individual experiences of racism, as well as discrimination in employment, education and with the police. More importantly, participants came up with ways to combat racism and discrimination. They included engaging with police who act on certain stereotypes, including their interactions with young African Australians.
Another suggested strategy included something that most Australians enjoy – comedy. As an outcome of the forum, it is hoped that an ethnic comedy unit will be set up that will tackle issues of racism and discrimination publicly and make people think about these difficult issues using a light-hearted medium.
Also in Melbourne, the Victorian Arab Social Services are running A.R.A.B (Anti Racism Action Band). A.R.A.B is a performing arts project that has engaged 120 youth since May 2004 from 30 different cultures and has preformed to over 30,000 people. By giving the chance to young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, who otherwise might not have had the opportunity or inspiration to show their artistic side, they have provided a way to promote issues around themes of race, culture, difference and identity.
At the end of the day, older people often stay within their circles; they set up ethnic social clubs and churches and mosques based on ethnic lines due to linguistic barriers in communicating with others. Their children, on the other hand, are often trying to venture out into mainstream society and frequently embody what is great about multiculturalism. However, it is important in promoting a socially cohesive multicultural society that we do not simply “tolerate” people based on the colour of their skin, because too many beers will uncover what lies under that “tolerance”. We must learn to respect and even engage with one another. We need to learn to embrace the wonderful diversity around us; a diversity that is rarely seen in other countries. If we are human enough to realise abusing, bashing and spitting on people because of their DNA is wrong and must be stopped, then “tolerance” is not enough.
|
The quotes appearing in this article have been taken from the website of the Western Young People's Independent Network (WYPIN) - http://home.vicnet.net.au/~wypin/beatracism.htm
|
back to top
|
|
|
NEWS > INTRODUCTION OF CITIZENSHIP TEST
|
Under new requirements, prospective new citizens will need to undertake an internet based test which will require them to demonstrate their knowledge of the English language and of Australia.
According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, a formal citizenship test will be designed to demonstrate a basic level of English, as well as knowledge of the Australian way of life and our shared values. “The introduction of the test follows extensive consultations and 1600 responses to the Citizenship discussion paper that confirmed strong community support for such a test.”
The material about Australia and the test questions will be based on the current AMEP introductory course, ‘Let’s Participate: A Course in Australian Citizenship’ (which has been running for at least 5 years) and other relevant materials. There will also be an oral component of the test. Whilst all prospective citizens will need to take a test there will be provision for alternative testing arrangements for people who cannot attain the literacy standards required. Prospective applicants for Citizenship will also be asked to sign a statement of commitment to Australia.
Commenting on the introduction of the new citizenship test, Swinburne University’s Brian Costar and Peter Mares argue that these tests will exclude people who for all practical purposes are Australians: “In our view the test will unfairly penalise and disenfranchise certain vulnerable migrants, especially when combined with changes (contained in the Australian Citizenship Bill 2006) that double the period of prior residency required for citizenship from two years to four.
“Citizenship tests hold out the superficial promise of acting as some kind of population filter to ensure that migrants measure up to certain predetermined Australian qualities and values. But the test will have no impact on the composition of the migration program or make-up of Australian society, since all potential candidates for the test are by definition already living here as permanent residents. If permanent residents fail the test, they will probably go on living here, having expressed the desire to become citizens and suffered humiliating rejection.”
Akoch Manhiem, Director of the Sudanese Lost Boys Association of Australia, writes that: The English language requirement of the Citizenship test may be an inadvertent barrier to older refugees, particularly if there is not sufficient flexibility in the English teaching system to meet their educational needs.
"It would be tragic to exclude older people from Citizenship in this way as they have often suffered for most of their life already and wish to feel like an Australian who fully belongs to this wonderful country."
"In general, the full potential of refugees to contribute to Australia would be greatly bolstered by the sense of belonging and acceptance that only Citizenship can confer," Manhiem writes.
For more information on the new citizenship requirements, go to: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/news/citizenship-test/index.htm
|
To read the Costar and Mares article, go to: http://www.apo.org.au/webboard/results.chtml?filename_num=127508
|
To read article by Akoch Manhiem, go to: http://www.lostboys.org.au/article-ageletter207.php
|
back to top
|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW AT CMYI?
|
Leisure Centre Training Resource Kit
|
Through our VicHealth funding, CMYI has been working to increase culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) young people’s access to recreation and leisure centres. Part of this funding has involved developing a Multicultural Resource Kit for Leisure and Recreation Centres.
The aim of the resource is to broaden the capacity of Leisure and Recreation Centres to diversify, acknowledging the benefits to both the centres and the community. It will ensure that all community members, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds, have the opportunity to participate, feel welcome and enjoy taking part in physical activity in Victoria.
The kit will be available at leisure centre training being conducted by CMYI throughout May. If you are interested in this training or obtaining a copy of the kit, please contact:
Alex Prado, Sport and Recreation Project Officer
(03) 9340 3721
|
aprado@cmyi.net.au
|
Ee-Ha-Yeah: Women’s only event
|
Ee-Ha-Yeah is a women’s only event open to women of all ages, cultures and religions. The Ee-Ha-Yeah event will feature music, dance, food and laughter; things loved and enjoyed by women from all cultures. The event will provide an opportunity for exploring the common threads that bind us all whilst respecting the differences we may not understand.
The event has been organised by a group of young women who met through CMYI’s Building Bridges Project. As a group, the young women decided they would put on an event in Broadmeadows that would assist in bringing the wider community to the same conclusions they had discovered through participating in the project; that true friendships can be made with people from different cultural and religious backgrounds and that, through coming together and learning from each other, your own life is greatly enhanced.
The event will feature fire twirling, a fashion parade, hip hop, dancing, delicious halal food, a traditional coffee ceremony and much more!
|
Date: Saturday 28 April 2007
|
Time: 6pm - 10pm
|
Location: Youth Central, Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows 3047
|
Cost: $5 entry (halal food included) / children free (boys under 8 are welcome)
|
 Download Ee-Ha-Yeah invitation PDF
|
Short Burst Training for young people
|
The Short Burst Training Series is designed to assist young people (12-25 y.o.) from refugee and migrant backgrounds who are involved in youth groups and/or youth-led initiatives. The training modules (2-3 hours each in length) cover topics including leadership, fundraising, project management, media and team building.
Delivered with young people as peer facilitators, the training will be free for all young people to attend. Training can be accessed through individual/organisational requests or by attending scheduled training in the city. The Short Burst Training Series has been developed by the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) with the support of the Australian Government.
|
Various sessions:
|
Sat 28th April - Leadership
Sat 26th May - Project Management
Sat 30th June - Fundraising
Sat 28th July - Media
|
Time: 1.00 – 4.00pm
|
Location: Ground Floor Room 1, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
|
Download registration form as PDF
|
 Download registration form as Word doc
|
To register for the series, contact Joseph at CMYI by calling (03) 9340 3700 or email info@cmyi.net.au
|
Social Inclusion: Sport and recreation as a tool for ‘good settlement’
|
On 4 April, CMYI’s Social Inclusion: Sport and recreation as a tool for ‘good settlement’ forum was held at CO.AS.IT in Carlton, with over 60 people in attendance. The forum provided an opportunity for representatives from sporting associations, community groups, local council and settlement workers to come together to discuss good practice in providing sport and recreation opportunities that facilitate social inclusion and good settlement outcomes for newly arrived and refugee young people. The forum included a panel of representatives from refugee and migrant communities who spoke about effective strategies for engaging both parents and young people and a keynote speech by Brett Hutchins from Monash University.
CMYI will be developing a refugee youth policy paper as a result of this forum and a series of consultations currently being held. We welcome input into this policy paper and are asking for contributions from workers and community representatives around the following three questions:
|
• What are the main barriers to refugee and migrant young people participating in sport and recreation?
• How can we improve the links between sport and community organisations to promote good settlement outcomes for refugee and migrant young people?
• What are pathways to sustainable inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for refugee and migrant young people? (e.g. funding for settlement workers, access to facilities, etc)
|
Responses to these questions should be emailed to louise@cmyi.net.au by Friday 4th May.
|
A new CMYI Sports Tip sheet has also been developed around Social inclusion and the experiences of refugee and migrant young people in participating in sport and recreation.
|
Download tip sheet here
|
Volunteers needed for Independent Person’s Project
|
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 feels supported and that his or her rights are protected. YRIPP is seeking volunteers in the below listed local areas to donate their time to undertake training and become Independent Persons.
|
| If you are interested in volunteering or would like to find out more about the program, please contact your YRIPP Local Coordinator: |
- Darebin - Debbie Brown, 9484 4751
|
- Hume - Joanne Joosten, 9302 3911
|
- Maribyrnong / Brimbank - Michelle Chumbley, 9689 8444
|
- Moonee Valley - Georgia Taylor, 9376 4355
|
- Dandenong / Casey - Francesca Pagani, 9793 1993
|
An information night for new volunteers will be held at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria at 6.30pm on 24th April 2007.
|
YRIPP is a partnership of CMYI, the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, Victoria Police, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Crime and Violence Prevention (program funder) and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It aims to work with and improve the existing system of Independent Person support provided to young people in police custody and to divert young people, particularly refugee and newly arrived young people, from progression to higher levels of the criminal justice system.
|
Discrimination and the Law Youth Forum Report
|
Over 45 young participants from a diverse range of backgrounds congregated at Trades Hall on the 22nd of March to discuss the pertinent issue of discrimination and to come up with real strategies to address it. The day had many engaging speakers, including Waleed Aly from The Age and the Islamic Council of Victoria, a rap performance by Muslim rap group The Brothahood, and arguably the highlight of the day – a free scrumptious lunch!
The bulk of the day was spent discussing the issues around discrimination in three groups; with police, in schools/universities/educational institutions and in the workplace or when applying for work. After the issues were thrashed out, the participants began the assiduous task of developing solutions and strategies to address the issues. The discussion was intelligent, positive, and at times, highly animated. One participant said “we need more forums like this. They are such eye openers. I feel extremely empowered!”
Overall, the strategies presented on the day will be used in determining the best possible approach to address discrimination through the project. Project R.A.C.E. is currently finalising a project proposal to submit to the Foundation for Young Australians in the hope of securing funding for the project.
For more information about Project R.A.C.E. contact Nazeem Hussain, CMYI Youth Facilitator, on nhussain@cmyi.net.au
|
back to top
|
|
|
NEW STAFF
|
CMYI would like to announce the following new staff and changes to our team:
|
Joni Gear - Communications & Publications Officer
| Joni Gear joined CMYI in April as the Communications & Publications Officer. Joni is based in the Carlton office on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Her role involves maintaining the CMYI website, the Multicultural Sport and Recreation website and the website for the Newly Arrived Youth Support Service (NAYSS) initiative. Joni will also produce the CMYI’s bi monthly e-newsletter, design and develop internal publications and liaise with printers and designers to manage the production of CMYI publications and materials.
Outside of CMYI, Joni also works at the Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre. She graduated from a double degree in Law and Arts in 2006. In her spare time, Joni enjoys hanging out with friends, seeing live music, playing basketball, performing in a community concert band and playing mah jong.
| Joni can be contacted on: jgear@cmyi.net.au
|
| Sarah Cornfoot – Research Officer
| Sarah started in March three days a week as a part-time Research Officer. She is currently working on two national papers commissioned from CMYI by the Australian Research Alliance on Children and Youth. The first paper will identify some key issues for multicultural youth in Australia; the second paper looks at effective programs across the country addressing such issues, and highlights gaps in programs.
Sarah completed a Masters in Gender and Development at Melbourne University in 2004, with a thesis focused on international maternal and child health policy. Since then, she has been working as a casual research assistant for university staff and also for CMYI providing background research for a number of projects. Sarah also works in bookshops and volunteers at the International Women's Development Agency. She loves reading, finding out new things, visiting family in Brisbane, live music and getting out of the city.
| Sarah can be contacted on: scornfoot@cmyi.net.au
|
|
|
|
back to top
|
|
|
POSTCARD FROM THE SOUTH EAST
|
Each newsletter, we ask one of our program team to write about emerging issues and new initiatives that are taking place in their region. In this edition, Claudia Abakah, Multicultural Youth Liaison Officer at Springers Leisure Centre in Keysborough, writes about what’s happening in the Southeast.
|
THE SPRING LINK PROJECT
|
| CMYI’s work in the sector has identified that young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds are under-represented in accessing sport and recreational facilities. Programs at facilities are often too expensive or are not culturally sensitive to the needs of young people from diverse backgrounds.
Participation in sport and recreation for newly arrived and refugee young people can assist in integration into the broader community, assist with settlement issues and provide a distraction from anti social behaviour.
The Spring Link Project (a 12 month project based at Springers Leisure Centre in Keysborough) has aimed to:
• Actively target and engage CLD youth into the existing programs of the Springers Leisure Centre
• Create new programs for school holidays.
• Capacity build the staff of the facility to better respond to the needs of CLD clients
• Assist with resource development which would assist the facility to better service CLD clients
• Offer strategic advice and support to the organisation
• Assist the organisation to implement strategies that will sustainable
The aim of the project is to target CLD young people aged between 12-25 who are not accessing physical activity or sports facilities in the Greater Dandenong area. So far we have been running a weekly soccer competition for boys, hip hop classes, dance aerobics, a couple of school holiday programs and we will be commencing a girls’ basketball competition in the next few weeks. Over 150 young people have participated in these programs so far.
| Challenges and barriers
| There are a number of challenges and barriers facing this type of program, some of which I have outlined:
| Transport: The Springer Leisure Centre is located on Cheltenham Rd, Keysborough, and is difficult to access via public transport (i.e. buses stop a few blocks from the centre which is in a fairly isolated location, connections between buses and trains are difficult and services run infrequently). Hiring buses to transport young people to and from programs is a costly part of the program, particularly as local council who have access to buses sometimes charge prohibitive fees.
| Cost: The cost for participating in these programs can be very expensive for leisure centres as the centres are businesses. In running programs, a large amount of the budget for my project has been spent on paying the cost of hire for courts and multi-purpose rooms. With newly arrived young people, keeping costs low is imperative in enabling their participation in activities. For example, a recent basketball event asked participants to make a gold-coin donation. This covered the costs of refreshments but did not exclude young people with limited resources.
| Centre involvement: Running successful programs requires the involvement and commitment of centre staff and management – in terms of training, resources and general support. Some of the challenges for my project is when activities with refugee and migrant young people are viewed as something different and not part of or included as regular activities of the centre.
| Sustainability: Ensuring the ongoing sustainability of my project – and the continued participation and involvement of migrant and refugee young people in the centre – is an issue of concern. I have suggested that a member of the centre staff be present and involved in running programs so that the centre can build rapport with the young people and community that will sustain their future involvement.
| To find out more information please contact:
Claudia Abakah
Multicultural Youth Liaison Officer
Phone: 9701 5900
Email: cabakah@cmyi.net.au
|
|
|
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
|
- Refugees and employment: the effect of visible difference on discrimination - Final report of the sociological research project Refugees and employment: the effect of visible difference on discrimination funded by the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project scheme and undertaken by Murdoch University’s Centre for Social and Community Research. The report has a number of policy implications in the areas of refugee resettlement, qualification and skills recognition, employment assistance for culturally and linguistically diverse migrants and especially refugees, and equal opportunity and anti-discrimination. http://www.cscr.murdoch.edu.au/refugees_and_employment.pdf
|
- New children’s book focuses on detention of asylum seekers - New Frontier Publishing has recently published a new children’s book, focusing on asylum seekers’ right to freedom. “A True Person”, written by Gabiann Marin and illustrated by Jacqui Grantford, is a moving story highlighting the bond between mother and daughter in times of adversity. Having escaped their war torn country in search for freedom, the mother and daughter instead find themselves in a detention centre, where Zallah, the daughter, struggles to comprehend the situation. More information: http://www.newfrontier.com.au/books_new/true_person.htm
|
- Location Data on Settlement Database (SDB) now updated by Medicare - In the past SDB data on residential location was updated for only the first few years following a refugee or migrant’s arrival in Australia. DIAC is pleased to advise that location data is now being kept up-to-date thanks to reciprocal arrangements between DIAC and Medicare. The long-awaited Medicare Australia updating of location data is now operative. Records for those who arrived before 1/1/2000 will not be updated by these changes. This data is available from the DIAC website at: http://www.settlement.immi.gov.au/settlement/enterSelectReport.do
|
back to top
|
|
|
Training, Conferences and Forums
|
- The WRANA Women's Report Card project - Three workshops to "bring the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). recommendations home" and provide an opportunity to plan how to incorporate the findings of the 2006 CEDAW review into ongoing work have been planned for:
o Friday 27th April – Warrnambool
o Thursday 3rd May - Melbourne
o Friday 11th May – Bendigo
The workshops are the end point of the Women's Report Card project that WRANA has been working on for three-four years. For more information and to register go to: www.wrana.org.au
|
- Human Rights: The Privacy Balancing Act - (15 May, 12-12.45pm). Public lecture, presented as part of Law Week by the Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner. Victoria University Conference Centre, 12th Floor, 300 Flinders Street Melbourne. RSVP/more information: 1300 666 444 or enquiries@privacy.vic.gov.au
|
- Rights in Resettlement: Refugees’ perspectives on expectations and realities - (30 May, 5.30-6.30pm (registration at 5pm). Monthly Refugee Health Research Centre, La Trobe University seminar series on research into human rights, asylum processes and refugee resettlement. Speaker: Dr Apollo Nsubuga-Kyobe, School of Business, La Trobe University. Venue: Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture), 6 Gardiner St, Brunswick, 3056. More information: rhrc@latrobe.edu.au, tel: 9479 5874 or visit the RHRC website: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/rhrc/conferences
|
- MoneyMinded is a comprehensive financial literacy toolkit and facilitator training course open to staff or volunteers who could benefit from having such a resource to use with their clients. This is a FREE 2 day professional development opportunity which adds a comprehensive financial literacy resource to your 'toolkit' enabling you to provide your clients with the skills and knowledge they need to make informed and empowered financial choices and judgements. MoneyMinded is also able to travel and deliver training sessions to groups of staff, both in metropolitan and regional Victoria. Visit www.moneyminded.com.au for more information about the MoneyMinded resource and the workshops it contains.
|
- Unpacking the Suitcase - Maintaining the Well Being of Newly Arrived Young People - The South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre – Dandenong is delivering a Statewide 2 day conference which will explore the importance of well being and the impact it has on refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse young people’s settlement. This conference is an interactive, learning experience for youth workers, community development workers, teachers, well being workers etc.
If you would like to be on the contact list or for more information contact Nancy Badr (03) 9706 8933 or email nancyb@sermrc.org.au . Unpacking the Suitcase - Maintaining the Well Being of Newly Arrived Young People will be held on the 12 and 13 July 2007 – Melbourne Victoria.
|
- Annual International Metropolis Conference - (8-12 October 2007). In October 2007, the annual International Metropolis Conference will be held for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere – in Melbourne, Australia. Hosted by Monash University and the Australian Multicultural Foundation in association with the Federal Government, the Victorian State Government and the City of Melbourne, Metropolis International 2007 is an internationally significant research-based conference that focuses on immigration and settlement issues. Metropolis 2007 will feature Australian and global leaders and officials, renowned academics and key stakeholders who will gather to examine migration, economic growth and social cohesion. The Conference will bring together some of the world's key migration and diversity experts to discuss key issues and, in particular, to examine:
• the patterns of current and future migration
• the scope for reinforcing its favourable impact on economic growth
• strengthening social cohesion.
For more information go to: http://www.metropolis2007.org/
|
- Diversity in Emergency Services Conference - 31 October-2 November 2007, Melbourne. The conference will further explore opportunities for Australian emergency services to act as leaders, showing the way as emergency services in Australia and internationally learn to adapt to change. It is expected that the range of speakers and presentations will provide much needed research insights into how Australian Emergency Services are responding to the challenge of diversity. The conference aims to offer a rich source of research and good practice in a range of areas related to diversity challenges in emergency services. The range of themes to be explored will offer new insights into how emergency services are responding and planning for the future. As Australian workplaces become more diverse and adapt to change, such insights can be of broader benefit in feeding into public policy on equal opportunity, inclusive work cultures and means to achieve the balance between workplace norms and community and civic goals.
For more information go to: www.des2007.com
|
back to top
|
|
|
Events
|
- Screening @ SIGNAL - A festival of short films made by young people. SIGNAL Youth Space at North Bank is a dedicated space for young people’s art and culture. Screening @ Signal will be a festival of short films made by young people for young people held during National Youth Week. The event is from 7.30-10pm on Sunday 22 April 2007. The event is suitable for young people between 16-25 years of age. An MC will introduce the films and there will be prizes (including An Ipod Shuffle) to be won on the night. Bring your own chair or cushion and enjoy this short movie festival. For more information on other events supported by City of Melbourne go to: http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=43&pg=3587
|
- The 2007 National Youth Commission into Youth Homelessness is an independent community inquiry funded by The Caledonia Foundation. The inquiry is the first independent since the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission inquiry into youth homelessness headed by Commissioner Brian Burdekin in 1989. The NYC inquiry will gather evidence on the issue of youth homelessness and seek input on the reforms and actions that need to be taken to prevent and ameliorate homelessness for young Australians. All community stakeholders interested in youth homelessness are invited to contribute submissions, give testimony at the NYC hearings, participate through online input or in other out of session discussions. The scheduled hearing for Melbourne will be held on 23-24 April. For more info: Please contact the NYC on 03 9940 1573 or info@nyc.net.au as soon as possible to discuss your participation.
|
- Community Meeting for a Women Only Swimming Program in the North West - There is an upcoming community consultation meeting to discuss the Life Saving Victoria City of Hume CALD Aquatic and Recreation project. The meeting with be held at 10am on Tuesday 24th April, 2007 at Hume Global Learning Centre, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows. RSVP by ringing Manar on 0413607970 by Monday 23rd April, 2007. Download PDF flyer here.
|
- RELEASE - The A.R.A.B, VASS project is launching its 2007 Artistic Program, funky new website and stage 1 evaluation report on Friday 27 April 6:30-8:30pm at the Hume Global Learning Centre, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows. If you're coming along, email a.r.a.b_vass@bigpond.com so we know numbers, it's going to be big and loud! Download the flyer here.
|
- Ee Ha Yeah - Ee-Ha-Yeah is a women’s only event open to women of all ages, cultures and religions. The Ee-Ha-Yeah event will feature music, dance, food and laughter; things loved and enjoyed by women from all cultures. The event will provide an opportunity for exploring the common threads that bind us all whilst respecting the differences we may not understand. Ee-Ha-Yeah will be held from 6-10pm on Saturday 28th April 2007 at Youth Central, Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows. Cost: $5 (halal food included) - Children free (boys under 8 welcome). Download flyer here!
|
- Amnesty International Candle Day – 4 May - more details, and to get involved, visit: http://vic.amnesty.org.au/home/candle_day
|
- Nominations for the Victorian Refugee Recognition Record - For the fourth year running, the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) is welcoming nominations for the Victorian Refugee Recognition Record (VRRR). The VRRR is an initiative of the VMC as a way for the State Government to officially recognise the remarkable contributions that refugees have made, both to their own ethnic communities as well as the Victorian community as a whole. This initiative was launched in 2004 and is now held annually to coincide with Refugee Week, which commences this year on June 17. Please nominate a member of your community, a friend or a relative who you think has made a real difference to the Victorian community, or to pass the nomination form on to those who might like to put forward a nomination. The nomination deadline is Monday 7 May 2007. For more information: download the nomination form
|
- Law Week held in the 3rd week of May each year, reaches out to members of our community with FREE events, to learn about our law and justice system. Coordinated in Victoria by Victoria Law Foundation and the Law Institute of Victoria, Law Week runs from 13 - 19 May 2007 with a range of activities to interest everyone. This year we take on a Human Rights theme in recognition of Victoria’s new ‘Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities’ in which we are partnered by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Visit www.vic.lawweek.com.au for the program of events, including seminars, displays, debates, court tours, and much more!
|
- Refugee Week 2007 - Sunday, June 17 to Saturday, June 24 - The Refugee Council of Australia is encouraging organisations around Australia to celebrate Refugee Week 2007 from Sunday, June 17 to Saturday, June 24. This date coincides with the celebration of World Refugee Day on June 20 and offers greater opportunities for creating awareness of local, national and international issues affecting refugees. The recommended theme for Refugee Week in Australia is "The Voices of Young Refugees".
The Refugee Council will be keen to promote any events held this year as part of Refugee Week. Please send details of any local, regional or national events to info@refugeecouncil.org.au for us to include in public information about Refugee Week events.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Funding
|
- Living in Harmony Community Grants Funding - The next round of Living in Harmony Community Grants Funding was announced on 31 March. Assistant Minister Teresa Gambaro encourages community organisations, schools and local councils to apply for funds to develop local projects that will promote Australian values such as fairness, acceptance and a fair go, and help people realise the opportunities offered by living in Australia. Closing date for expressions of interest is 27 April 2007. Details of how to apply, guidelines and other information can be obtained from: http://www.harmony.gov.au/grants/
|
- City of Casey 2007/2008 Counselling and Support Services - These grants are offered to agencies providing counselling and support services to the local Casey community. Agencies applying for a grant will need to contribute an equivalent monetary allocation. Requests for funding will be considered based on demonstrated need and merit and any allocation will be for a continuous period of three years, at which time the allocation will be reviewed. Community groups and agencies are invited to apply for these grants which close at close of business, Friday 18 May 2007. Application forms are available from Customer Service, Casey’s website or from the Grants Officers. For more details visit: www.casey.vic.gov.au
|
- Launch Pad Grants is a two-stage grant to support community development initiatives designed and delivered locally by young people based on a partnership model. Young people will work with a local community organisation to identify and prioritise local youth needs and develop an innovative and responsive initiative. The aim of Launch Pad Grants is for young people and organisations to work together to implement a creative idea that results in meaningful change with young people aged 12-25 years. Applications close Monday 4 June 2007. For more information, application forms and guidelines visit http://www.youngaustralians.org/ or call 03 9670 5436.
|
- The Foundation for Young Australians' new creative grant opportunity Your Eyes Only is for young people 12 -15 years to celebrate the strengths of their community by submitting a creative application celebrating their community through their eyes. Successful applicants will nominate a community group working with young people in their community (for example a school, youth group or sporting group) to receive a donation. This donation would then be used by the community group to further its work by either purchasing much needed equipment or adding funds to an existing program. Applications close Monday 18 June 2007. A second funding round will open in July 2007. More details and application forms available at www.youngaustralians.org or call 03 9670 5436/1800 252 316.
|
back to top
|
|
|
Jobs
|
- The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre - The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (www.asrc.org.au) has 4 newly created paid positions going at the moment. Applications for all positions close Tuesday 1st of May 2007.
- Solicitor (Human Rights Law Program)
- Counsellor/Advocate (Counselling Program)
- Duty Caseworker (Casework Program)
- Small Business Mentoring Program Co-ordinator (Employment Program)
|
back to top
|
|
|
FROM THE SECTOR: PROJECT, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
|
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 louise@cmyi.net.au.
|
New Projects and Programs
|
- Youth Access Project – City of Greater Dandenong -The Youth Access Project (YAP) is an exciting initiative aiming to develop an effective mental health promotion model and maximise accessibility to support services for young people in the City of Greater Dandenong. The project intends to achieve this through youth engagement and training, service self-assessment tools development and close partnerships with local youth support services, GPs and schools.
YAP will engage a group of young people to work closely with youth support service providers and provide answers for the challenges of accessibility by creating a “Youth Friendliness” assessment tool. This can potentially lead to generating the ideal youth service that will suit local youth needs and allow service providers to promote their services and mental health issues to youth.
The group of young people participating in the project (Youth Access Project Team) will have the opportunity to develop personal, social and professional skills and receive ongoing professional support and guidance by undertaking tailored training and becoming project consultants.
Your organization and the participants of the project could be part of creating new and integrated youth support health services that will be easy to access, useful, professional, culturally sensitive and much more.
For more information about YAP contact Mila Waise, YAP Officer, on (03) 9547 2463 or email mwaise@cgd.vic.gov.au.
|
- Documentary Series: Tolerance: Global Conflict – Local Dialogue - Invitation to submit a story or stories for a new television documentary series. Filmmaker Andrew Wiseman is seeking stories that will become part of a new multi-part documentary series with the overarching title of: Tolerance: Global Conflict – Local Dialogue.
He is looking for stories which broadly reflect the message of the title, i.e. stories which demonstrate individuals and/or groups across Australia who, through their actions and words, have sought to build bridges with others who many not be of the same faith, culture or belief system.
For more information or to express interest, contact Andrew Wiseman on andrew@periclesfilms.com.au or call (03) 9417 6622.
|
- Creative Women's Circus Initative - The Creative Women's Circle in collaboration with the Queen Victoria Women's Centre was recently awarded a government grant to run a series of creative workshops for a group of refugee and migrant women. The aim of the workshops is to use creative outlets to introduce women who normally feel isolated from the greater community, to Australian women, in a safe environment. The participants come mainly from Somalian/African backgrounds and are already very skilled with their traditional handicrafts but are also keen to learn about other creative practices, small business and to practice their English speaking. The culmination of these workshops will be an exhibition that tells the personal story of each workshop participant, alongside the items they have made during and after the workshops.
The workshops have leaders assigned to conduct them, now we need volunteers to aid the workshop leaders and help with the final exhibition of work, and that's where YOU can get involved in this great program.
Critical dates are:
Saturday 5th May 10AM - 2PM
Workshop 1 - Homewares textiles
Saturday 26th May 10AM - 2PM
Workshop 2 - Jewellery making
Saturday 16th June 10AM - 2PM
Workshop 3 - Knitting and Crochet
Saturday 14th July 10AM - 2PM
Workshop 4 - Painting and embellishing textiles
Saturday 28th July 10AM - 2PM
Workshop 5 - Exhibition preparation, work produced by the participants will be displayed and selected for the exhibition. A personal coaching session will be conducted to boost the women's self confidence.
Sunday 26th August 2PM - 4PM
Exhibition opening with afternoon tea, QVWC ground floor exhibition space
If you are interested in finding out more, contact Dearne Herrenberg on 03 9507 2304 or email info@dearneherrenberg.com.au.
|
- Harmony Day and the AFL Multicultural Program - To demonstrate the Collingwood Football Club’s commitment to being all embracing, we are one of 5 AFL Clubs that are part of the Multicultural Program. The program is a joint initiative between AFL Victoria, the AFL and the Victorian Government through the Department for Victorian Communities. The program aims to introduce young people from targeted culturally and linguistically diverse communities to Australian Football and to influence mainstream Australian football clubs to embrace multicultural diversity as part of their ongoing operations. Current Collingwood player Harry O’Brien is the Ambassador for the program and is a shining example for new Australians as he has family links in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Download article about Harmony Day here
|
- Call for volunteers to assist Sudanese community with driving practice - Akoch Manhiem from the Sudanese Lost Boys Association has called for volunteers who have a full drivers licence and would be interested in mentoring Sudanese refugees living in Fitzroy with driving practice. The community members have access to cars, but require people who can support them to get the necessary driving practice.
For more information or to volunteer your time, contact: Akoch Manhiem, Director, Sudanese Lost Boys Association of Australia Inc. via akoc@lostboys.org.au or call 0416 335 163.
|
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 jgear@cmyi.net.au.
|
Somalia in the Suburbs (The Age, 13 April)
|
"It's a long way from Mogadishu to Melbourne, and not just in kilometres. Life here is much better than in a Somalia ruined by 17 years of civil war, Nadia Mohamed agrees, but that doesn't mean it's easy."
Barney Zwartz interviews a number of local youth workers who came to Melbourne from Somalia as refugees, including our very own Nadia Mohamed. They speak about the future for Somalis in Australia and the obstacles faced by their community.
|
> read The Age article here
|
Some Kind of Beat Up (The Age, 10 February)
|
This article, written by Gary Tippet, was published in The Age newspaper in February 2007. The author speaks with Betty, a young 19-year-old Sudanese-Australian woman, about her views on recent media reports highlighting crimes among Melbourne's African community. The article addresses the continual need to breakdown the stereotype perpetuated by the media that African young people are running in 'gangs'.
|
> read The Age article here
|
Togolese refugees to call Ballarat home (Ballarat Courier, 9 March)
|
Ballarat is to become home to 10 refugee families from the troubled west African country of Togo. The families will be brought to Australia from a refugee camp in neighbouring Ghana.
|
Download the Ballarat Courier article here
|
Ban HIV-positive migrants: PM (Sydney Morning Herald, 13 April)
|
HIV-positive people should be denied entry to Australia as migrants or refugees, Prime Minister John Howard says. While saying he would like "more counsel" on the issue, Mr Howard said HIV positive people should not be allowed to migrate to Australia. CMYI understands from the latest health data however that the number of HIV-positive people from newly arrived backgrounds in Victoria are so few as to be statistically insignificant.
|
> read The Sydney Morning Herald article here
|
back to top
|
