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 December 2006
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NEWS AND VIEWS
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CMYI END OF YEAR EVENT
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| CMYI held another successful and entertaining end of year event on Thursday December 7th at the Treacy Conference Centre with over 80 people in attendance.
Newly appointed Minister for Youth Affairs the Hon. James Merlino MP made himself available to meet with the sector and outline his plans for the Youth Affairs portfolio at the event.
The event was an opportunity for CMYI to share its year’s achievements and to officially launch its Annual Report of Activities as well as two significant new resources:
• Settling In: Exploring Good Settlement for Refugee Young People in Australia
• What is a Youth Service?
Entertainment on the day was provided by the incredibly entertaining Nazeem Hussain from the award winning, light hearted panel show Salam Cafe, presented on Channel 31 by young members of Melbourne's Muslim Community.
The event was a fantastic way to celebrate another great year of achievements at CMYI and to thank those that have contributed to making the year such a great success.
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YACVIC'S RESPONSE TO STATE GOVERNMENT YOUTH AGENDA
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In August 2006, the Bracks Government launched Future Directions: An Action Agenda for Young Victorians. The agenda outlines the Government's vision for young people and some key principles that will underpin the Government's approach to achieving its vision. It also outlines some key outcomes the Government would like to achieve for young people and a 'Top 40' list of initiatives that will assist to achieve these.
To read YACVic's response to Future Directions, please visit www.yacvic.org.au
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CONGRATULATIONS TO KHALED ABDULWAHAB WINNER OF THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL 2006 YOUNG LEADERS AWARD
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Source: www.multiculturalarts.com.au
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The Australia Council for the Arts has honoured Khaled Abdulwahab, youth officer and cultural development worker at Multicultural Arts Victoria with an award for outstanding leadership and contribution to the advancement of community arts and culture.
Khaled was one of three young arts workers that received an Australia Council award worth $10,000 from Community Partnerships Chair Mr Tim O’Loughlin and Acting CEO Megan Coombs on Friday 13th October in Melbourne at the Koori Heritage Trust.
“The Australia Council is a strong advocate for the advancement of arts leadership and the nurturing of young talent and these awards are a reflection of our enduring commitment”, Mr O’Loughlin said.
Khaled was successfully nominated by Multicultural Arts Victoria. Ms Jill Morgan Executive Officer of Multicultural Arts Victoria said,” Khaled is very deserving of this award. He is a highly skilled hip hop artist with outstanding talent and a valuable member of the staff at MAV. I congratulate him on this significant award. He is an inspiration to all other young people and refugees locally as well as nationally.”
MAVs Chair Stefan Romaniw said “Khaled is a very talented young artist and arts worker who arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2001 from Eritrea. He has demonstrated determination and commitment to become a leader in multicultural arts. We are very proud of his efforts and achievements.“
“Khaled’s work highlights the valuable contribution refugees and asylum seekers make to the cultural life of our community “Jill Morgan said.
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WHAT'S NEW AT CMYI?
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ONGOING FUNDING FOR OUR ROLE AS NAYSS LEAD PROVIDER
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| CMYI is pleased to announce that we have received ongoing funding from the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA) for our role as the Newly Arrived Youth Support Service (NAYSS) Lead Provider. Over the next 12 months there will be a particular focus on supporting NAYSS providers to incorporate action research and to share their findings. There will be a two day forum held in early December in Sydney which CMYI is facilitating and there will be other important services such as a regular e-newsletter, website additions, and support for mentoring/peer support between services. In terms of staffing, Faorligh (Leigh) Hunter will continue on as Coordinator and will be joined by Nadia Mohamed as Project Officer. Both are looking forward to working with all 14 NAYSS services around Australia. |
 For more info visit the NAYSS website at www.cmyi.net.au/NAYSS
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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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 | Diana Amato – Co-ordinator, Community and Sector Development
| Based in the Carlton Office full-time, Diana will be taking over from Kate O’Sullivan in both the Refugee Youth Policy role and the Young Refugee in the Picture Project.
Diana will oversee the continued roll out and expansion of the programme which is currently funded by DIMA. Working closely with local government, Diana will facilitate round table discussions, provide local government workshops and provide secondary consultation to professionals working with refugee young people. Diana will actively participate in a range of settlement planning forums and networks at a local, regional and national level to promote the needs of refugee young people identified through policy work “Settling in : Exploring good settlement for refugee young people in Australia”. In addition Diana looks forward to convening a refugee Youth Policy Forum and providing policy papers on refugee youth issues in 2007.
Diana’s previous experience has included her role as a senior project officer working on the issues of sexual health and teenage pregnancy in London for over 4 years. Prior to this Diana worked as an Area Co-ordinator, project manager and a case manager within the community, local government and department of human services areas.
Diana is passionate about traveling and learning about new cultures in far off places. Her interests also include music from African tribal beats to hip hop and R and B.
| Diana can be contacted on: damato@cmyi.net.au
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| | Sophie Macaulay
| Sophie Macaulay joined CMYI in November. A part time member of staff, Sophie will be advising on communications and fundraising; a priority will be to research potential new funding streams for CMYI. Sophie has recently arrived from London and worked for 13 years for a UK charity called the National Missing Persons Helpline. Sophie started as a case manager working with families, but soon moved to Communications and by the time she left was Head of Marketing and Communications. For five years Sophie co-presented a television programme on missing people and runaways.
| Sophie can be contacted on: smacaulay@cmyi.net.au
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NEW RESOURCES
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CMYI's Annual Report of Activities 05/06
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 2005-2006 has been a year of significant growth for CMYI. We expanded our services to young people as well as continued our sector development work with ongoing funding from both State and Federal government. CMYI continues to deliver innovative programs as well as advocate and develop policy on a range of issues relating to migrant and refugee young people, their families and communities.
The Annual Report of Activities highlights some of our key achievements in 2005-06. Annual Report of Activities 05/06
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Settling In: Exploring Good Settlement for Refugee Young People in Australia
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 This resource explores what it means for a refugee young person to ‘settle well’ in Australia. Australia is a country with a long history of effectively resettling refugees; however shifts in the make-up of our humanitarian intake, as well as changing political, international and socio-economic environments, impact on the settlement experiences and outcomes of newly arrived young people and communities. Reviewing the Australian settlement system can help identify gaps in services as well as positive practices, and assist in planning for better outcomes for refugee young people and the broader Australian community.
The paper explores definitions and meanings of ‘good settlement’, investigates our current service system, introduces some of the components of effective settlement systems which address young people’s needs, and makes a series of recommendations within a ‘framework for good youth settlement’. Settling In: Exploring Good Settlement for Refugee Young People in Australia
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What is a Youth Service?
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 CMYI 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. This information is now available to download in 7 languages. What is a Youth Service?
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Leisure Centre Forum Report
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 The Leisure Centre Forum was delivered by the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) inpartnership with the Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health (CEH) and Local Government Physical Activity Network on the 4th September 2006.
The aim of the forum was to engage staff in the Leisure, Fitness and Local Government Sectors who want to increase access to CLD young people. Leisure Centre Forum Report
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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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- How young people are faring 2006 This is the latest report in the Dusseldorp Skills Forum's annual series, How young people are faring. Download the report as a PDF from http://www.dsf.org.au/hypaf.html
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- 'We've boundless plains to share: The first report of the People's Inquiry into Immigration Detention' - The report can be viewed at: www.peoplesinquiry.org.au. This first report highlights journeys to detention and the detention experience. The final report, to be released in mid 2007, will expand on these themes and will also include information on the processing of asylum claims and the aftermath of detention.
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- Mission Australia's blueprint to tackle Australia's youth unemployment - One of the country's leading providers of employment and training programs has launched a new blueprint calling for greater co-ordination between governments, business and community, and a raft of new initiatives and policies to address the causes of Australia 's youth unemployment problem.
Mission Australia says concerted action is needed to engage thousands of marginalised young people and reduce youth unemployment which is four times (14.3 per cent for 15-19 year olds) and two times (6.7 per cent for 20-24 year olds) higher than unemployment among those aged 25 and above (3.6 per cent).
The publication of the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) is a community-business partnership between Mission Australia and its Youth Strategy and Advocacy Group, Chaired by Rupert Myer, and is based on several years of national and international research and analysis.
The Youth Employment Strategy report is available online at http://www.missionaustralia.com.au
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- Legal Aid Resources - Did you know that the VLA publications on your shelves may be out of date?
Most of VLA’s booklets are updated and reprinted every year.
2006 versions of the following are now available:
-Your rights - police powers in Victoria (English and Arabic only, April 2006)
-'You and family law - a short guide' (July 2006). 'You and family law' is very out of date.
- 'Applying for an intervention order' (English only, translated short guide coming soon)
-'Responding to an intervention order' (as above).
Check the inside cover to make sure you have the most recent version, recycle the old ones and order more free copies form us now. You can see and order the latest versions of all our publications at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
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- VIYAC Voices Telling it like it is: Young Aboriginal Victorians on Culture, Identity and Racism is a report produced in partnership by the Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (VIYAC) and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria. Members of the VIYAC have shared their perspectives and stories on the themes of Culture, Identity and Racism while YACVic has collated some stats and facts on issues such as the age structure of the Victorian Indigenous population, education, employment, housing health and well-being and strength and protective factors. www.yacvic.org.au
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- Who's Carrying the Can? Youth Support Services - A report on youth services gaps in Victoria is also a joint report, undertaken by YACVic in partnership with the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS). The report documents the findings of consultations conducted with the youth sector regarding gaps in generalist youth support services across the State and their impact on young people and existing youth service providers. The report makes several recommendations around how these service gaps may be addressed, including a call on Government to establish a cohesive, integrated youth services system in Victoria. www.yacvic.org.au
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- Somazone Help And Support Services Database - Somazone has just launched an exciting new feature of our website: the Help & Support Services Database. The Australian Drug Foundation's Somazone website (www.somazone.com.au) was developed by young people for young people, and provides fast, free, anonymous access to quality assured health information. Somazone aims to empower young people to address their physical, emotional and social health needs in a way that is relevant, non-judgemental and anonymous and receives over 80,000 visits from young people every month.
The new Help & Support Services Database is a directory of over 200 on-ground and online youth-friendly services. It allows young people using the site to search for services and support groups in all states, territories and regions of Australia, from a GP in Brisbane to a drug and alcohol counselling service in Wangaratta. Through the services database, Somazone aims to improve young people's awareness of and access to youth-friendly health services and to reduce the stigma of help-seeking behaviours. We aim to include many more services in the future. Please visit the Help & Support Services Database for further information. To suggest your own youth-friendly service, send an email to
somazone@adf.org.au
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For more info: www.somazone.com.au
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Training, Conferences and Forums
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- Inaugural African Resettlement in Australia Conference – will be held at the University of Melbourne from 11th – 13th April 2007. This grass-root initiative Conference is to be hosted by Victoria’s African communities and aims to increase awareness and assist African communities and individuals to integrate in the mainstream Australian society. The forum will provide an opportunity for service providers, local, state and federal government agencies and policy makers, professionals and community members/leaders to share past and present success/failures, common concerns, and hopes for the future.
The Conference theme, “Walking together at same speed” A forum to dialogue…a cultural journey reflects the belief that both African refugees and Australian society need to come together in the spirit of learning and mutual understanding. A series of keynote addresses, case studies and presentations will reflect the theme and topic areas of settlement needs, community building, acclimatisation, gender roles, health and well-being, employment, youth, education, African family
values and cultural awareness.
The conference aims to attract extensive press coverage and over 200 delegates from members of the African community, service providers, social workers, state and federal government representatives, police, youth drug and alcohol counsellors, community health representatives, educators, academics, business leaders and policy makers from around Australia.
Further queries should be directed to Conference Management on 03 8344 3682 or email heather.wringe@union.unimelb.edu.au
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Events
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- Community Register For Celebrate Our Cultural Diversity Week 2007- The VMC is continuing to develop a register of organisations and artists by local area that are willing to participate in Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week 2007 (17-23 March). This is a wonderful opportunity for your community organisation to establish and develop relationships with the schools in your local area and provide them with valuable insight into the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity that enriches Victoria.
Your organisation could:
• Present a cultural or artistic performance
• Provide a cooking demonstration
• Teach the rules of a sport from your country of origin
• Present an art or craft workshop
• Talk to students about your cultural and/or religious traditions and customs
If you would like to participate please email your contact details and the type of activity your organisation could provide to vmc@dvc.vic.gov.au If you have any queries please call (03) 9208 3184.
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- Young Women Carer’s Day! Wednesday 17th January 2007- If you’re a young woman living in Hume, Whittlesea or Nillumbik, aged between 12 and 18 and caring for a family member then this is for you
• Wanna meet other young women your age who are also caring for a family member?
• Wanna be part of fun day out to laugh, relax and make some friends?• Wanna know more about support services for carers like you in your local area?
If you’ve answered YES to any of those questions then come along on the 17th of January. We
would love to meet you. Just give us a buzz to let us know you’re coming and we’ll do the rest!!
C’mon! Join us for this awesome event, have a little laugh, make some new friends and if for no other reason then just come along for the free funky little showbag!
Lunch and transport will be provided. Support for the person you are caring for can be provided.
For more information or bookings please contact: Connie Montagner: Carer Support Worker Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre / Young Carers ‘at risk’ Respite Program ph. 9495 2504 or Email: ConnieM@mchs.org.au Bookings are essential.
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- From Welfare to Social Investment: Reimagining Social Policy for the Life Course - The CPP, in association with partners including the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Latrobe University, the Melbourne Institute, the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales and the Ronald Henderson Research Foundation, will be hosting a conference titled From Welfare to Social Investment: Reimagining Social Policy for the Life Course on February 21 and 22, 2007, in Melbourne. This conference will build upon themes explored in our highly successful 2005 Transitions and Risk conference which focused on the ideas of Gunther Schmid in relation to labour market transitions as applicable to the Australian context.
The 2007 From Welfare to Social Investment conference will be an exploration of policy proposals designed to assist people in making transitions across the life course. This conference will boast a focus on social investment and an investigation into how such ideas can translate into an updated participation income - or guaranteed minimum income - proposal. Sir Tony Atkinson from Nuffield College, Oxford University, will be a keynote speaker at this conference. Sir Tony is internationally known for his work on inequality and income distribution. He has been the Warden of Nuffield College, University of Oxford since 1994, and has been involved as an advisor to the European Union on social policy issues. Sir Tony's address at this conference will focus on ways of harmonising social and economic policy in an information society.
Other confirmed speakers for this event include: Terry Carney (University of Sydney); Kim Carr (ALP); John Freebairn (Melbourne Institute of Social and Economic Research); Kanishka Jayasuriya (Murdoch University); Ilan Katz (University of New South Wales); Deborah Mitchell (Australian National University); Pauline Niemirowski (University of Adelaide); Peter Saunders (University of New South Wales); Timothy Smeeding (Syracuse University); Alex Wearing (University of Melbourne) and many others. February 21 and 22, 2007 @ Hotel Y, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
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FROM THE SECTOR: PROJECT, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
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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.
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New Projects and Programs
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CMYI & Environment Victoria's new Multicultural Leaders in Sustainability Program
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An exciting opportunity is available for young people (18-25 years) who are passionate about the environment and working with their communities to make a difference.
We are seeking applicants to participate in an accreditted 4 month training course beginning next February. Participants will gain skills and knowledge to develop projects to help educate communities about environmental sustainability issues. During the training support will be provided to implement sustainability projects in the community.
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Download the application form here
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For more information view the recruitment flyer here
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Employment Opportunity for Unemployed Young People
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The Big Issue is one of the most well-known magazines in Australia. It is sold on the streets by people who are homeless or struggling to find regular work – anybody who needs a bit of cash, support and stability. Become a vendor and you will make friends with other young people who will support and look out for you. The Big Issue is a not-for-profit company, and only exists to help people earn an income, make friends and meet people in the community. It’s like running your own business. You buy the magazine for $2 and sell it for $4 and keep the difference – and tips – for yourself. You get to work your own hours and be your own boss. For more info please call The Big Issue on 9663-4733 and ask to speak to either the youth worker or a vendor support worker.”
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WhyTry
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Can the WhyTry social and emotional life skills program benefit the youth you serve?
More and more youth agencies are embracing the WhyTry program to benefit youth in schools and empowering youth out of school to decide to re-engage learning and/or employment. WhyTry works for youth who are 'substance abuse challenged'. WhyTry works very well as a parenting and youth mentoring program. Carers will enjoy using WhyTry - a self-directed cognitive behaviour program that is strength based practice and solution focussed training.
Schools are applying WhyTry to as many as 300 students in their school - an entire Year level. One school, Victoria, intends to apply WhyTry to 600 students at their school in 2007.
WhyTry schools and youth agencies will be invited to consider joining the Noble Prize Awards project, a world first, to help youth reinforce their WhyTry social and emotional skills by practising over 18 months to develop 'intrinsic' motivation for self-improvement.
Would your organisation be interested? Oztry intends to firm up strategic alliances with youth service providers to achieve win-win outcomes.
For more information contact
David Yap, Rotarian
President, Oztry Foundation Inc ( non-profit )
Tel: 02 9981 6208
Or visit www.oztry.org
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Refugee and Asylum Seeker Scholarship
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Refugee and Asylum Seeker Scholarships are available to students who currently hold an Australian Bridging visa or a Temporary Protection visa, and who wish to study at the University of Melbourne in 2007. Applicants may be currently enrolled students or students who will be new to the University in 2007. Applicants may be undergraduate or postgraduate coursework students. The scholarships are awarded primarily on the basis of need and academic merit.
The benefits are a fee remission and an annual allowance. The amount of the allowance will be determined by the selection committee, according to the level of assistance needed, up to a maximum of $10,000 p.a. The duration of the scholarship
will be the normal duration of the course, subject to satisfactory academic progress.
Application forms are available online at: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships/ugrad/or can be obtained from Undergraduate Scholarships, Melbourne Scholarships Office, 3rd.floor, John Smyth building, between 9am and 5pm.
Enquiries: contact Kiera Stevens on 8344 4677 or via email at: kieraes@unimelb.edu.au
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IN THE MEDIA
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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 louise@cmyi.net.au.
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A View on Citizenship
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Peter van Vliet - Executive Officer of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria.
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The Howard Government’s recent citizenship paper raises some important issues for Australia’s future. Few things are more important to a person’s identity than their national citizenship.
Being an Australian citizen is like being part of the great Australian family. It carries rights as well as responsibilities. Citizenship gives you an Australian passport, more opportunities for employment and importantly a vote in elections to decide who rules over you.
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Read the full article here
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Multicultural Youth on Political Agenda
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CMYI Welcomes Announcements in Lead Up to State Election The Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) today welcomed the youth focussed initiatives announced by both the Victorian Government and the Victorian Opposition in the lead up to the State election.
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Download the full press release
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