New program to ensure a ‘Seat at the Table’ for young women from refugee and migrant backgrounds
The Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) is delighted to be among 60 organisations across Australia to receive a grant in the Women’s Leadership and Development Program, announced this week by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women.
You can read more about the program in the media release from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne here.
The funding is for a wide range of projects designed to improve outcomes for Australian women across five key areas: job creation; economic security; workforce participation; leadership; and safety.
“These projects are estimated to benefit around 40,000 Australian women nation-wide, including women from diverse backgrounds and those at high risk of long-term unemployment,” Minister Payne said.
CMY will be using the funding to deliver ‘A Seat at the Table’, a project which will address the under-representation of young women from refugee and migrant backgrounds in leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated industries.
By providing leadership training and placements, CMY will support young women, firstly in Victoria and then around Australia, to build skills, knowledge and networks increasing their employment pathways and the representation of diverse, young women in leadership.
CMY will partner with The Leadership Centre (TLC) and the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN Australia) to develop, pilot and evaluate the project and draw on our collective networks in the sports and STEM sectors. ‘A Seat at the Table’ will feature leadership immersion programs with training, leadership placements on Boards/Committees, mentoring, and paid internships.
“We want to see more young women from migrant and refugee backgrounds in influential leadership roles, and we’re really grateful to the Office for Women for backing this exciting new project,” said CEO Carmel Guerra.
“Giving diverse young women an opportunity, a Seat at the Table, will no doubt show Australia the endless skills and strengths they bring to our society; and we’re confident they will embed ongoing and sustainable change through their contributions, paving the way for other young women in future.”
‘A Seat at the Table’ will be delivered between 2022-23 by the Centre for Multicultural Youth with support from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women.