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 August 2006
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NEWS AND VIEWS
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CLD YOUNG PEOPLE AND HOUSING: THE NEED FOR A HOLISTIC SERVICE APPROACH
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On 22nd June, participants at CMYI’s Statewide Multicultural Youth Issues Network (SMYIN) meeting explored issues relating to housing, housing support services and culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) young people in Victoria. The meeting provided a forum for discussion around what is working well in the housing sector (good practice) as well as the gaps and barriers facing young people accessing housing and support services in general.
Three housing support services that work extensively with CLD young people – Footscray Youth Housing Group, WISHIN and Iramoo – provided an overview of their work and the practices that have been effective in supporting young people from diverse backgrounds. In particular, these services stressed the importance of networking across sectors and linking young people in with a range of services (e.g. mental health, education & employment etc) to ensure a service approach that goes beyond addressing only housing issues.
Derek Wilson and Meseret Abebe from Footscray Youth Housing Group, for example, talked about the need to adopt a holistic approach by trying to understand young people’s experiences of being a refugee, resettlement issues, homelessness, structure and trauma issues, and helping young people with issues of racism, legal issues and education.
‘We understand that the young people we work with have complex issues and therefore need long term support. So although DHS only fund us to work with a young person for 13 weeks, we often work with them for longer and sometimes for years.’
In terms of gaps and barriers relating to housing services, some of the issues identified in the focus groups included:
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- Lack of resources within housing sector to be able to work with CLD young people in a holistic way;
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- Discrimination in rental market (need for programs/policy to address racism in private rental, among real estate agents) – see following article for parallel discussions taking place in Queensland;
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- Shortage of affordable, appropriately-sized housing (overcrowding leading to tensions within families, risk of homelessness for young people);
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- Location of housing where CLD young people and families end up often in outer suburbs, leading to questions around what support is available to link young people and families into services and community? (also lack of infrastructure, such as public transport);
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- Importance of housing services being networked (e.g. able to provide advice, information and referral on related issues; provision of interpreter services);
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- Need for training within housing sector around working with CLD/Indigenous/disability clients (e.g. in TAFE courses, on SAAP training calendar; use of interpreters);
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- Shortage of public housing stock (suggestion for bungalows/caravans to be made accessible so that young people can live with families but independently); and
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- There was concern around the introduction of the ‘Front Door’ model and how this will work for CLD young people. Lack of consultation around the introduction of this model was also highlighted.
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CMYI is working in partnership with the Council for the Homeless Person (CHP) to develop a resource and recommendations following on from the June SMYIN meeting. For more information or to have your say, contact Alison Coelho, CMYI Sector Development Officer, on acoelho@cmyi.net.au or call 9340 3700.
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THERE IS NO ROOM FOR RACISM: CALD YOUNG PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES OF RACISM IN THE QUEENSLAND HOUSING SECTOR
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Kate Morioka, Multicultural Development Officer, Youth Affairs Network of Queensland
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Having a roof over one’s head is a basic human right, just as having food to eat and water to drink is essential to one’s survival as a human being. But what if you are denied of finding a place to live because of your skin colour, language or the way you dress?
Well, this is not a case unfamiliar to young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. There has been a report of a young African refugee in Queensland being told by a real estate agent that there are no places available for rent even though they had a full list of rental properties!
With the rapid population growth driving up the housing prices in Queensland, young people are finding it difficult to find an affordable, safe and accessible place to live. But if you are a young person from a CALD background, then you face the additional challenge of being discriminated against: a) because you are ‘young’ and b) because you look or sound different.
Previous studies have found that very few young people from CALD backgrounds are likely to be informed about how to report racist incidents (O’Conner, Gowing & MacDonald 1994) and the fact that reporting an incident is less of a priority than finding a place to live, there are difficulties in obtaining data related to CALD young people’s actual experiences of racism in the housing sector.
As a first step to assess and document the types of difficulties experienced by CALD young people in securing housing, YANQ’s Multicultural Development Officer undertook consultations with youth and community service providers in southeast Queensland.
A total of 16 youth and community workers participated in a discussion on housing and CALD young people at the Multicultural Youth Network Queensland (MYNQ) meeting in June. Their concerns highlighted the evident gap in housing information and support, and living conditions for CALD young people. The issues identified at the MYNQ meeting included:
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1. Self-identification of homelessness and verification of identity
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- There are difficulties in identifying appropriate housing support services for CALD young people if their ‘documented’ age does not match their biological age. Some CALD young people have multiple names on their documentation which create difficulties when verifying their identity to access social services such as Centrelink.
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- Some CALD young people do not self identify themselves as being homeless. For example, a CALD young person who sleeps in a public park does not feel that he/she is homeless because they see the park as being a safe and familiar place.
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2. Access to Interpreting Services
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- There is no guarantee of long-term availability of fee-free interpreting services.
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- Cost and quality of interpreting services needs to be considered, particularly to support CALD young people in finding housing.
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3. Communication, Information and Support
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- Lack of community awareness about CALD young people and their housing needs.
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- There is limited information and understanding within certain CALD communities on Centrelink’s youth allowance for young people. This has resulted in some CALD families expressing their concern that Centrelink is actually encouraging their children to move out of home. Centrelink has informed families that all young people who seek financial assistance from Centrelink are required to be assessed by a Centrelink officer/counsellor regarding their family circumstances before a decision can be made as to whether he/she is eligible to access Centrelink’s youth allowance.
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- There needs to be a clear explanation given to refugee families about the settlement processes, including processes for accessing social services to prevent family breakdowns, which subsequently leads to young people moving out of their family home.
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- CALD young people who move out of home are at serious risk of being in debt.
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- CALD young people have no or very few referees when applying for private rental accommodation.
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4. Housing Type and Location
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- There are reported cases of overcrowding within CALD households.
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- Limited access to transport and other related support services can contribute to social isolation of CALD young people.
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The issues identified at the MYNQ meeting will inform the development of a discussion paper on CALD young people, housing and racism. In the next couple of months, YANQ’s Multicultural Development Officer will also consult Indigenous and CALD young people in regional areas to document their stories on racism. For more details, please contact Kate Morioka at YANQ on (07) 3844 7713 or at cald@yanq.org.au
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A CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR VICTORIA
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Stephanie Cauchi, Policy Analyst, Victorian Council of Social Service
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The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act was passed by the Victorian Parliament in July. It will come into effect on 1 January 2007.
The rights protected by the Charter are essentially the group of rights known as ‘civil and political rights’. They include the right to life, protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, freedom of expression, thought, conscience, religion, movement and association, cultural rights, the right to take part in public life and a collection of rights around equality before the law and treatment in the criminal justice process.
No rights are absolute, but can be restricted only by ‘reasonable limits as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom’.
Government, the courts, and – perhaps most importantly for the community sector – ‘public authorities’ will be bound by the Charter. Public authorities will include public service employees, police, local councils and any entities which are exercising a public function on behalf of the State. It is unclear exactly how many organisations will fall within this definition, but may possibly include organisations providing health, education and welfare services.
The Charter will not give people the right to take a case to court if they think their rights have been breached. What it will do is to make sure that all new laws are examined for compatibility with the human rights in the Charter, and allow judges to interpret existing laws in a way that takes into account the Charter rights. It will also ensure that all people working for government services or organisations providing services on behalf of the government will have to act in a way that is consistent with human rights.
VCOSS and others (including CMYI) had strongly advocated for the inclusion of ‘social, economic and cultural rights’, including the right to housing, education, health and an adequate standard of living. VCOSS also advocated for the right of Indigenous people to self-determination, and for specific protection of the rights of women and children. While these were not included, a review of the Charter will take place after four years, at which time the government must consider whether or not to amend the Charter to include these rights.
If anyone would like more information about the Charter or the human rights work that VCOSS is doing, please contact me on stephanie.cauchi@vcoss.org.au
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VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES ‘FUTURE DIRECTIONS’ YOUTH POLICY
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| CMYI Director, Carmel Guerra, with Premier Steve Bracks at the launch of the State Government's 'Future Directions' Youth Policy.
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|  | Future Directions replaces the Victorian Government’s 2002 youth policy, Respect, and outlines a ‘Top 40’ list of initiatives (mainly funded in this year’s Budget) for young Victorians aged 12-25.
These initiatives aimed at benefiting young Victorians are grouped under 5 desired outcomes:
| 1. Contributing and Making a Difference: Young people are valued in their communities for their contributions. Young people have opportunities, and are acknowledged and supported, to participate in meaningful ways.
| 2. Achieving Potential Through Informed Life Choices: Young people are engaged with school, training or employment. They have options for staying connected to learning and are valued for their creative expression.
| 3. Having Resources and Making Connections: Young people are resourced to build and gain access to networks in their communities. Services and resources are easier for young people to access.
| 4. Managing Healthy, Active and Diverse Lives: Young people choose healthy lives in communities that are inclusive and welcoming of their diversity.
| 5. Being Safe and Promoting Safe Behaviours: Young people feel safe in environments that matter to them and are able to negotiate decisions about their own safety.
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CMYI welcomes the Future Directions youth policy as it clearly recognises the diversity of Victoria's youth population. In particular, Future Directions gives a focus to the specific needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) young people living in Victoria.
CMYI looks forward to the opportunity of working with the State Government to support the meaningful participation of young people from CLD backgrounds in initiatives such as the Youth Foundations Victoria (Action 1).
CMYI particularly supports the $10m funding of Youth Transition Support workers (Action 6) over the next four years and hopes, where relevant, transition officers can work in a targeted way with refugee, newly arrived and Arabic-speaking young people to ensure these groups are able to access training, education and employment opportunities.
For full details of the State Government’s Future Directions policy, go to: Office for Youth website
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HOW DO YOUNG PEOPLE FARE WITHIN CURRENT SETTLEMENT FUNDING? AN ANALYSIS OF DIMA SETTLEMENT GRANTS
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Kate O’Sullivan, Senior Policy Officer – Refugee Youth Resettlement, CMYI
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Successful Settlement Grants Programme (SGP) providers for 2006-7 have recently been announced by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA). The SGP is a new funding scheme which is being gradually phased in to replace the existing Community Settlement Support Scheme (CSSS), which funds many existing MRCS, ethno-specific and generalist settlement services.
The SGP funding aims to provide resettlement support to humanitarian entrants, people arriving through family sponsorship who have low English proficiency, newly arrived communities who would like support to develop and organise, and families of skilled migrants in rural areas with low English proficiency. Funded organisations work with clients who have arrived in Australia in the last five years.
CMYI welcomes the funding of a number of youth-specific positions within the SGP program. According to CMYI calculations, approximately 10% of the total combined expenditure for new SGP and existing CSSS positions for 2006-7 in Victoria has been dedicated specifically to young people’s settlement support. This translates to about 13 youth worker positions from among 80 projects funded across the State. Nationally, there are approximately 35 dedicated youth positions currently funded, representing approximately 10% of the total number of projects funded (13 in Victoria, 12 in NSW, 4 in WA, 3 in SA, 2 in Tasmania, 0 in Queensland, ACT and NT).
In the last five years, DIMA Victoria has made a strong commitment to young people through the Victorian Settlement Planning Committee-Humanitarian Youth Working Groups, and through the funding of a number of youth projects. Our colleagues interstate have also been advocating for similar responses and CMYI believes this model could provide a template for a national strategy.
How young people fare within generalist settlement services (i.e. services that are not youth-focused but accommodate young people) is an issue of some concern. That is, while the family-centred approach to much resettlement assistance can undoubtedly benefit younger family members, our consultation with Victorian service providers and discussions at a national level have highlighted that young people’s specific settlement needs (in relation to education, social support, family issues etc) are often overlooked within generalist services.
In moving beyond the structures of a traditional adult-based resettlement assistance model, youth-specific programs can provide individual support and a range of creative and engaging programs more appropriate for this age bracket. Our experience is that early intervention with young people is very effective at assisting their resettlement and integration into the wider Australian community.
Building on the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Committee’s Refugee Youth Strategy, CMYI would like to see the roll out of a national refugee youth strategy which articulates a structural commitment to youth-specific funding models in each state. We also advocate for funding continuity for youth positions, so that wherever possible projects are funded for a minimum of two years to maximise the productivity services can provide, and build on successes.
We welcome the settlement needs analysis process that has recently been introduced to create greater transparency and clarity around priority settlement needs, but given that youth issues have been raised across a number of regions in this analysis, a question arises as to how these needs will be addressed in the existing funding framework. That is, given the proportion of young people in the humanitarian program has increased significantly over the past five years, and that children and young people below the age of 25 made up approximately 64% of the humanitarian intake in 2005 (31% were aged between 12-24), a much more significant component of the total grant pool needs to be dedicated to youth positions. To assist in the process of funding allocation, a youth focus needs to be incorporated into the grant application process more overtly.
CMYI would also welcome a cross-government/departmental strategy for refugee youth support, ensuring that young people’s needs are met beyond the initial settlement period.
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ASYLUM SEEKER NEWS: WITHDRAWAL OF BILL AND DENTAL SERVICES
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CMYI welcomes the government’s recent withdrawal of the Asylum Seeker Bill and wishes to congratulate all those who fought to protect the human rights of people fleeing persecution. We encourage the government to maintain Australia’s commitment to offering support and compassion to refugees.
Following the Victorian Government's decision to allow free medical access for asylum seekers at Victorian public hospitals, a decision has now been made to ensure free access to public dental services as well. This is a very significant move and follows the hard work and lobbying of many here in Victoria, particularly NASAVic agencies and RASHN. All CEOs of public dental services have been sent a letter outlining free access for Medicare ineligible asylum seekers. For more information, contact: Asylum Seeker Project, Hotham Mission
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WHAT'S NEW AT CMYI?
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UPCOMING STATEWIDE MULTICULTURAL YOUTH ISSUES NETWORK (SMYIN) MEETING TO FOCUS ON INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILY CONFLICT – 7 SEPTEMBER
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It is widely accepted that intergenerational family conflict can lead to a number of negative outcomes for young people, such as low self-esteem and the prevalence of mental health issues. The third Statewide Multicultural Youth Issues Network (SMYIN) Meeting of 2006 will provide a forum to share knowledge and discuss strategies around issues relating to migrant and refugee young people, family violence and forced early marriage.
Presentations have been selected that highlight the need for structural approaches that are sensitive to, and inclusive of, the needs and rights of all young people (and their families). Small groups will explore some structural and grassroots strategies used to address: Intergenerational conflict; Family violence; and Forced early marriage.
As with all SMYIN meetings, issues and recommendations raised by the sector will contribute to policy development processes and advocacy strategies.
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| | | | | Level 20, Marland House, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000
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| | Joseph, CMYI Administration Officer, by Monday 31 August 2006 on info@cmyi.net.au
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 Download Statewide Network Invitation (339Kb)
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MULTIFAITH MULTICULTURAL YOUTH FORUM: YOUNG PEOPLE UNITE TO PROMOTE CROSS CULTURAL HARMONY
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Ricki Knoetze, Victorian Office for Multicultural Affairs
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Over 150 passionate young people from a variety of cultural and faith backgrounds attended the Multifaith Multicultural Youth Forum at the Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday 30th July. Coordinated by the Department for Victorian Communities, in partnership with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Australian Multicultural Foundation, the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues and the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria, the event was the first of its kind in Victoria.
The purpose of the Forum was to promote ongoing dialogue between young people from a range of backgrounds and beliefs and strengthen youth participation and leadership in the community.
The day began with an address from Jacinta Allan MP, Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs, followed by an inspirational keynote address from Khaled Abdulwahab, who arrived in Australia as a refugee from Eritrea five years ago. Khaled spoke of the challenges he has faced in his short life, his determination to succeed, and the need for young people to speak up and get involved. The audience was delighted to hear from Khaled again later in the day, when his award-winning hip hop group, Diafrix, performed during lunchtime.
The final session of the morning was a panel discussion, involving Hung Nguyen, a volunteer from the ‘Just Like You’ campaign, Manyang Berberi, the President of the Longhorns Basketball Club, Iktimal Hage-Ali, a youth representative from the national Muslim Community Reference Group, and Matthew Albert, the founder of the Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning program. The panellists offered their unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of living in a multicultural society, and gave the audience much to think about in the afternoon workshop sessions.
During the afternoon sessions, attendees participated in break-out groups facilitated by youth representatives, on 10 different issues that had previously been identified as concerns for young people, including discrimination, media representation, and youth participation. More than 30 government, faith and community representatives joined the audience in the final session of the day to hear the outcomes of the break-out groups, answer questions posed by the audience, and indicate how their organisations might take on board some of the suggested ideas and initiatives.
The success of the Forum was noted by all, with many calls to have another of its kind in the future. The Forum outcomes report will be distributed in August, and will provide further information on follow-up recommendations and actions from the day.
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CMYI MULTICULTUAL SPORT AND RECREATION PROJECT UPDATE
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Alex Prado, Multicultural Sport and Recreation Officer, CMYI
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Sports Network and Website Launch
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The purpose of the CMYI Sports Network meetings are to provide a regular forum in which workers who are engaged with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) young people have the opportunity to meet and share information. Workers with specialised skills and knowledge impart current information about the sector to their colleagues, and individual workers are given the chance to network with other workers in the field.
The last Sports Network meeting took place at VicHealth on the 28th July. The major feature of this network was the launch of the new CMYI Multicultural Sports website (www.cmyi.net.au/MulticulturalSport). The website was developed with funding from Sport and Recreation Victoria and contains useful information and resources for anyone interested in increasing participation of CLD young people in physical activity. Over 65 people attended the network and a focus group was conducted by Garry Henshall and Associates to inform the evaluation they are conducting of the CMYI Multicultural Sport and Recreation Project.
The Network meeting also saw the launch of the discussion paper ‘Engaging CLD Communities in Physical Activity’ by the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH). The paper identifies and presents key considerations for health and community service providers to include in their planning, implementation and evaluation of physical activity programs for CLD communities. This discussion paper is a product of CEH’s work with the Mooney Valley Melbourne Primary Care Partnership.
The major highlight of the meeting was the performances of young people from the Anti Racism Action Band (A.R.A.B.). A.R.A.B. is a youth performing arts project open to young people from all cultures, which aims to raise self-esteem and challenge racial tensions and gang culture in the Northern region of Melbourne.
For more information about the CMYI Sports Network, go to www.cmyi.net.au/MulticulturalSport/CMYISportsNetwork
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Leisure Centre Forum
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On 4th September, CMYI will be hosting a forum for staff in local government and the Leisure and Fitness sector who want to increase accessibility for culturally and linguistically diverse young people and address the barriers they face.
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Download Leisure Centre Forum Invitation (390Kb)
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The end of an era
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CMYI was sad to say goodbye to Assunta Morrone, Senior Policy Officer, who leaves the Sport and Recreation Project with a strong legacy. We wish Assunta all the very best in her new position at the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, and look forward to welcoming our new Sports Coordinator in September.
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CMYI TRAINING: JUGGLING EXPECTATIONS – SUPPORTING CLD YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CONTEXT OF FAMILY CONFLICT
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| Wednesday, 15 November, 2006
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| | | | | | Training exploring issues around family conflict and how this relates to the experiences of CLD young people. Session learning outcomes include:
| - Explore changes to migrant and refugee families relationships and dynamics
| - Discuss strategies for working with young people in the family context
| - Identify some causes of and responses to conflict
| - Identify strategies to address conflict between generations in newly arrived families
| - Work towards strengthening family relationships
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| | | | $160 (including GST) - lunch and refreshments provided
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NEW STAFF
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CMYI would like to announce the following new staff and changes to our team:
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| Jacinta Dykes – Sports Network Officer
| CMYI would like to welcome Jacinta Dykes back to the team as our new Sports Network Officer. Jacinta, who previously worked with the Multicultural Sport and Recreation Project before going on maternity leave, will be based in the Carlton office one day a week. Jacinta will oversee the Multicultural Sports Network, newsletter and website.
| Jacinta can be contacted on: jdykes@cmyi.net.au
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NEW RESOURCES
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What is a Youth Service?
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 CMYI has recently developed 'What is a Youth Service?' a booklet designed to increase migrant families’ understanding of youth workers and the youth service system in Australia. 'What is a Youth Service?' provides culturally relevant information about the role and importance of youth workers, types of youth programs and services, and explains concepts like confidentiality and duty of care. It also outlines and addresses some of the common fears or concerns that migrant families have about youth services.
'What is a Youth Service?' has been designed as a tool for use by youth workers and services in engaging CLD communities and increasing the participation of CLD communities in their programs or service more broadly. This has been a DIMA-funded project and has been informed by consultations with bi-cultural workers, NMYIN/YAPA in NSW and Arabic-speaking parents.
'What is a Youth Service?' has been translated into 6 community languages (Amharic, Arabic, Persian, Somali, Tigrinya, Vietnamese) and CMYI is currently investigating the possibilities of developing the booklet into a CD for broadcast on community radio.
Go to What is a Youth Service?
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Info Sheet 13 – Humanitarian Youth Arrivals to Victoria (Update 7/06)
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CMYI has developed a new info sheet that provides a general overview of the primary source countries and settlement trends for refugee young people currently residing in Victoria.
Go to Info Sheet #13
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POSTCARD FROM DANDENONG
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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, Archangelo Madut, Project Worker, writes about some recent initiatives that have taken place through the African Youth and Family Project in the City of Greater Dandenong.
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African Youth and Family Project: Fun, creativity and togetherness
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| Participants from the
African Youth Advisory
Committee meet
regularly in Dandenong;
The young people at
Camp Howqua.
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| In April 2006, an African Youth Advisory Committee was established in the City of Greater Dandenong to be the driving force behind the African Youth and Family Project. The project aims at empowering African young people to articulate settlement issues affecting them.
Since the establishment of the Advisory Committee, young people have taken ownership and the project directions and activities are guided by the needs and consensus arrived at by the young people.
| June School Holiday Camp
| In June, a unanimous and exciting decision was made by the young people to go camping. Organising and planning the camp with less than a week seemed impossible initially, but we endeavoured to make it happen. The choice of the right camp was dictated by the availability of accommodation and the right activities that would suit the young people. Camp Howqua, near Mansfield at the foot of Mt Buller, stood out as the favourite choice for a two day camp.
There were plenty of indoor and outdoor activities in our timetable, leaving not much time for idleness. The energy the young people had did them good, and much fun was had.
Day One was spent in getting to know the camp, outdoor and indoor soccer (thanks to the World Cup), basketball and evening stories. The storytelling and sharing took most of the night and a strong bond was created within the group on the first day of the camp.
Day Two started at 7am with breakfast and orienteering on the hills. The young people quickly mastered the instructions and all the two tasks of orienteering were successfully done before they moved to the next activity of the day, ‘Archery’. This proved challenging to begin with – you could see “arrows flying” above the targets but this slowly changed as the young people mastered the art. Following lunch, BMX bikes were supposed to be our last activity of the day. However, as some of the bikes were due for service we ended up going for basketball. Soon we were on our way back to Melbourne – what an experience! It was all fun.
The feedback from the young people was more surprising: More camps, more days and more activities were all they wanted. Some said it was their best moment in Australia, not only because of the fun and creative activities, but the beauty of the country Australia was stunning. One young person said: “I never thought this country was this beautiful. It’s amazing here. I can move and live here if am given a choice”.
| For more information about the African Youth and Family Project, contact Archangelo on amadut@cmyi.net.au or call (03) 9771 6645.
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE SECTOR
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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
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New Resources
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- Lebanese Crisis Hotline 9387 4422 – A Hotline has been setup for Victoria’s Arabic and Lebanese community who have been affected by the Lebanese-Israeli conflict. This Hotline is a joint initiative between Department of Human Services, Victorian Multicultural Commission and Australia Lebanese Welfare. The Hotline will provide answers to all queries for English and Arabic speaking individuals, families or groups regarding the current Lebanese conflict. The Hotline is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
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- Victoria Police Policy and Pamphlets - Download Victoria Police Child & Youth Policy 2006-2008 and information about the role of the Youth Resource Officer
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- New Legal Information Sheets - Youthlaw and Fitzroy Legal Service have teamed up to produce a number of new legal information sheets for young people. The info sheets are on the Youthlaw website and provide information on: Infringement (fines) systems; Mobile phone contracts; and, Police powers. To download, go to: www.youthlaw.asn.au/legalinfo/infosheets.html
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- Reducing the Risk of Transmission of HIV/AIDS in African and Arabic-speaking Communities in Victoria – report prepared for the Department of Human Services. Download here
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- The Numbers of Speakers of African Languages Emerging in Victoria – Helen Borland and Charles Mphande (Victoria University, 2006) Through the Languages Services Strategy, the Victorian Office of Multicultural Affairs (VOMA) is working to support strategic improvements to interpreting and translating services in Victoria. This report provides an overview of the numbers of speakers of African languages in Victorian communities, including a breakdown by LGA and useful analysis of language services in Victoria. Download report at: http://eprints.vu.edu.au/archive/00000439/
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- New Interpreter Symbol and Interpreter Card - A new national public information symbol was launched on 24 May 2006 to help Victorians with limited English proficiency identify where they can ask for language assistance, including interpreters, when they use government services. The Interpreter Symbol will be displayed in places such as public hospitals, community health centres, local councils, police stations, migrant resource centres and employment and housing offices. The symbol was launched in conjunction with a new Victorian Interpreter Card. The card, which features the symbol, will make it easier for people who need interpreter assistance to get help. The card also assists staff by making it much easier to identify when someone needs help from an interpreter and in what language. For more information on the symbol or card go to www.voma.vic.gov.au
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- CLD communities accessing interpreters in health services - The Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Office of the Health Services Commissioner launched a campaign to raise awareness of the rights of CLD communities to access interpreter in health services. Brochures are now available in 25 languages and can be accessed on: www.multicultural.vic.gov.au. For hard copy version you can call OHSC on 8601 5222.
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- Noor Events – Muslim Youth Website. The only central place where you can learn about all the latest Muslim youth events in Australia. Be it trips, functions, youth nights or even educational courses, Noor Events has it all covered. www.noorevents.com.au
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- Anti-Racism Cartoon - Death's Door is a hard-hitting story of how ignorance and perceptions of each other can destroy lives. The book shows how people are fearful, suspicious of each other, regardless of race, and indeed how damaging that can be. For more information go to: www.geocities.com/lall_jag/door.html
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- Aspects Of Social Capital, Australia, 2006 – Drawing together the currently available information on social interactions from the 2002 General Social Survey and other ABS surveys, this compendium presents topics relating to selected elements of the ABS Social Capital Framework. Geographic and structural features of the Australian population set the scene, with further topics on feelings of safety, reciprocity and aspects of community support and social participation. Short articles with graphics present summary information for demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Some data are presented at state/territory and Remoteness Area level. For more information go to the Australian Bureau of Statistics: www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/4911.0?OpenDocument
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- Young people are part of safer communities - A new research report highlighting the importance of positive media coverage of youth and youth issues, plus working with young people to improve youth participation in community events, as key factors for 'improving the positive profile of young people in local communities'. The report 'Young people are part of safer communities' highlights the characteristics of different groups within the adolescent social system, noting that the media's over-reporting of youth offences, their focus on 'youth gangs' as perpetrators of crime and their 'overt over-representation of the rate of crime committed against elderly people' has led to community misconceptions about youth and 'youth gangs'. According to research, low youth participation rates in community events and State and local government strategies to incorporate young people into communities are due to a lack of access to transport and a lack of appropriate, youth-oriented marketing of such events. Copies of the report can be obtained by contacting Samantha Spooner at Knox City Council, ph: (03) 9298 8415; email: samantha.spooner@knox.vic.gov.au
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Training, Conferences and Forums
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- Police, Young People and Families Forum – 22 August, 7pm (Kensington YMCA, Altona Street, Kensington). Victoria Police together with the City of Melbourne, MacKillop Family Services, Kensington Management Company, School Focussed Youth Service, Youthlaw, Youth Unlimited and the Kensington YMCA. The purpose of the meeting is to give us a chance to meet on a personal basis and to discuss local issues affecting our community. Guest speakers will cover useful information for all residents (particularly newly arrived families) on everyday aspects of life within our community. For more information, contact: Sergeants Dean McGOWAN and Paul KELLEHER from the Melbourne West Police Station on 9247 5385 or email: dean.mcgowan@police.vic.gov.au
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- Place, Power and Privilege: The Challenge for Local Government: Lessons from Cronulla – 23 August, 8am-5pm (Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre). This seminar aims at exploring the politics of public space especially in the way inter-ethnic, inter-racial relations are expressed and managed. This seminar is relevant not only to workers in the local government sector but also to workers in NGOs, State and Federal governments who intersect with local government and impact on the work done at the grass roots level. Places are limited to 120 people only. Full details of the seminar are available on the City of Darebin website: www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=3294&h=0
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- School’s In for Refugees: a Whole School Approach to Refugee Readiness - 23rd August & 30th August (Dandenong); 11th October & 18th October (Brunswick), 4.00pm–7.00pm $88. Includes a copy of School’s In for Refugees and a light supper. Please download the Foundation House Training Calendar and Registration Form for full details: www.foundationhouse.org.au/professional_current.php
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- Working with Young Men in the North: Promoting diverse masculinities based on equality and respect – 29 August, 4.00-5.30pm (Preston Council Chambers, Cnr High and Gower Streets, Preston). An interview with Tim Delany (Northcote High School – Success for Boys Project Leader) about his recent experience in working through the Commonwealth Professional Development program on Boys Education with teachers and other staff in a northern suburban secondary school. RSVP & more information contact: Martin Pradel-Spendier (Northern CASA-Counsellor): 9497 1768 / 0408 571 165l Siobhan Muir-Smith (School Focused Youth Service Co-ordinator) 8401 0117
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- Free Grant Writing Workshop - 29 August, 10am. Melbourne’s West Area Consultative Committee Inc. is offering a FREE 3 hour Basic Grant Writing Workshop. This seminar has been created to help participants gain expertise in writing funding submissions. This workshop will be beneficial to community groups, small business, local government... anyone who is interested and eligible to apply for funding grants. Bookings close strictly Friday 25th August 2006. To be held at: First Floor, Unit 32/91 Moreland Street, Footscray. To secure your place phone Melbourne’s West ACC on 9687 7319 or email mwacc@jobsacc.org.au
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- Grief a Community Issue – 30 August, The National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG) Victoria invites organisations and individuals to the 2006 NALAG Grief Awareness Week Forum. Themes include: Historical perspectives — how communities have supported the bereaved; Loss and grief issues in relation to aged care, children, disability etc; Coping with community attitudes and responses to one’s grief; Cultural, religious and spiritual perspectives; Disenfranchised grief and franchising grief e.g. elderly, same sex relationships, abortion, war veterans, adoption etc; Creative responses to loss and grief. For more information contact NALAG Victoria, Suite 4, Level 1 182 Victoria Pde East Melbourne Vic 3002. Or email info@nalagvic.org.au
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- Orientation: the Refugee Experience – 21 September, 9.30am–12.30pm (Springvale). $88 for single session, $132 for both Orientation and Introduction modules. A light lunch is included. Please download the Foundation House Training Calendar and Registration Form for full details: www.foundationhouse.org.au/professional_current.php
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- Introduction: a Framework for Working with Refugee Survivors of Torture and Trauma - 21 September, 1.30pm–4.30pm (Springvale). $88 for single session, $132 for both Orientation and Introduction modules. A light lunch is included. Please download the Foundation House Training Calendar and Registration Form for full details: www.foundationhouse.org.au/professional_current.php
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- Governments & Communities in Partnership: From Theory to Practice conference, to be held between 25-27 September, 2006 (Melbourne). Go to www.public-policy.unimelb.edu.au/conference06/ for more information about the call for papers, call for practitioner presentations and the early bird registration discount.
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- Political and Human Rights Dimensions of the Kurdish Question: Conference – 3 October, 9am-4pm (Melbourne University). The Kurdish Question remains one of the most protracted unresolved problems in the increasingly volatile Middle East. This conference will bring together politicians, academics, human rights advocates and lawyers who will discuss various aspects of the Kurdish question and Australia’s position toward it. Download flyer here
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- Course for Counsellors: Skills for Working with Refugee Survivors in Counselling Practice - 12th and 19th October 9.30 – 4.30pm (Brunswick), 9.30 – 4.30pm. $198. Light lunch included on both days. Prerequisite: Orientation and Introduction modules or equivalent. Please download the Foundation House Training Calendar and Registration Form for full details: www.foundationhouse.org.au/professional_current.php
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- The Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC) are calling for submissions for the Conference will be held in Melbourne at the Northcote Town Hall, 13-15 October, 2006. General Enquiries: contact@agmc.org.au or 0431 432 412. Or go to: www.agmc.org.au
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- BodyThink: A Program to promote positive body image and self esteem - 20 October (Springvale); 25 October (Carlton). The Butterfly Foundation is proud to be working towards assisting young people re-address these feelings of low self worth that often lead to low self esteem and dangerous dieting practices - a major predictor of developing an eating disorder. This training is for primary and secondary school teachers, youth workers and health and community professionals in the use of “BodyThink” – an internationally acclaimed program designed to assist young people improve their body image, self esteem and media literacy. “BodyThink” can be used from Years 6 – 9 in classrooms and small groups. For more information, download flyer here
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- Strengths Based Solution Oriented Practice – 18-19 October; Solution Oriented Counselling – 20 October; Collaborative Solution Oriented Team Management – 26-27 October. Courses offered by Bernadette Glass & Associates for anyone working in human services. For more information, call 0417 601 817 or email: bgss@bigpond.com
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- Community Development with Refugee Communities – 26 October, 9.30am–4.30pm (Brunswick). $132. Light lunch included. Please download the Foundation House Training Calendar and Registration Form for full details: www.foundationhouse.org.au/professional_current.php
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- Towards a Healthy Nation: Meeting the challenges of a diverse society for good health and well-being. October 30 & 31 2006 (Adelaide). The Australian Multicultural Foundation, Diversity Health Institute and South Australian Government will host a pre-conference event, leading into the Diversity in Health conference 2007. To register your interest contact: Conference Secretariat, Australian Multicultural Foundation, PO Box 538 Carlton South VIC, 3053, info@amf.net.au, ph 03 93476622 fax 03 9347 2218
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- Involve 06 aims to reflect and connect the diversity of people who work with and for young people. The conference themes are: creativity, diversity and connection. Involve 06 will be held at Lincoln University, NZ, from 1–3 November, with an additional, optional one-day workshop on 4 November on motivational interviewing. Find out more: www.involve.org.nz
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- Young People's Health - What's it going to take? Youth Health 2006 Conference - 13-15 November 2006 (Sydney Showground, Olympic Park, Sydney). The Youth Health 2006 Conference program and registration brochure is up on the website at www.youthhealth2006.org
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