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Pictured L-R: Dr Rimi Khan, Dr Pilar Rioseco, MYAN National Coordinator Nadine Liddy, Dr Helena De Anstiss and Mohammad Javir
AIFS Conference 2018 Symposium on young humanitarian entrants and active citizenship
MYAN was delighted to work with the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) on a symposium at the recent AIFS 2018 conference held in Melbourne. The symposium, Young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Australia: facilitating their active citizenship, was an important opportunity to bring together research, policy and practice and young people’s voices on the settlement journey.
Panellists included Dr Rimi Khan, sharing preliminary findings from MyCensus - Australia’s first multicultural youth census, Dr Pilar Rioseco speaking on findings from the Building a New Life in Australia: Settlement humanitarian outcomes of youth and active citizenship, Dr Helena deAnstiss sharing preliminary findings on the ARC Pathways Project and Mohammad Javir, sharing his perspectives on the settlement journey as a young person, including racism and discrimination, belonging and education and employment transitions. Nadine Liddy was the discussant, facilitating vibrant conversation on what needs to happen in policy, practice and research to facilitate active citizenship for young people. Two clips from MYAN’s short film series, Life in Australia: celebrating young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, were also screened, featuring the voices of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds on the settlement journey in Australia.
Presentation links:
Dr Helena De Antstiss Education to Work: Young people from refugee backgrounds
Dr Rimi Khan, Mobile belonging and multicultural youth in Australia
Dr Pilar Rioseco, English language proficiency among humanitarian youth, a longitudinal study
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International Youth Day 2018
MYAN celebrated International Youth Day by promoting the voices of young people on how they identify with safe spaces and some key ideas on what needs to be done to ensure young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds feel safe and included in a diverse and inclusive multicultural Australia. In case you missed it, read our IYD mailout here.
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Thanks Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner
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MYAN would like to take the opportunity to thank Dr Tim Soutphommasane for his work as Race Discrimination Commissioner over the last five years, as his term with the Australian Human Rights Commission concludes. MYAN has valued Tim’s leadership in combatting racism and discrimination across all sections of Australian society and enjoyed working with his team to deliver the National Youth Anti-Racism Leadership Initiative (pictured above) as part of the National Anti-Racism Strategy. Read more in the AHRC report on the activities of the National Anti-Racism Strategy, Anti-Racism in 2018 and Beyond (2018).
In his final speech as Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Tim Soutphommasane highlighted major concerns over a return of race politics in Australia and its threat to Australia's successful story of multiculturalism, urging us to remain vigilant against divisive attitudes. We wish Tim all the best and look forward to his continued dedication to combating racism and discrimination in Australia.
MYAN notes the importance of the role and function of the Race Discrimination Commissioner and looks forward to working with the AHRC in this work.
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News from states and territories
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Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) to deliver two new Community Support Groups with South Sudanese communities
CMY has received two grants funded by the Victorian Government to deliver two Community Support Groups with South Sudanese communities in Dandenong and Melton. CMY will co-design activities with communities and young people in Melbourne’s South East and North West, with the overall aim of strengthening services and support for South Sudanese families and communities. Read more about the programs from Jenny Mikakos MP and CMY.
In the midst of divisive political debate around immigration policies, as Carmel Guerra, CMY's CEO, recently said in a media release, 'our collective efforts to fight against racism and discrimination have never been more urgent'.
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Submission on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
MYAN made a submission to the National Children's Commissioner on Australia's progress on implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). MYAN conducted a survey with young people to hear their views on what the CRC means to them and what needs to be done to better protect and promote the rights of children and young people in Australia. Read MYAN's submission.
Melaleuca Refugee Centre and YAN member for NT, Jane Alia also conducted consultations with young people from refugee backgrounds in the Northern Territory, in consultation with UNICEF, pictured at work below.
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Youth Transition Support Pilot Period Evaluation Report
The Youth Transition Support (YTS) Pilot Period (January 2016 to June 2017) Evaluation Report has been publicly released. The report examines the 18-month YTS pilot period from 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2017.
The Report demonstrates that the pilot is showing some early success and that YTS services are filling an important gap in the range of settlement services required by humanitarian entrants and other young migrants. It highlights increased client confidence, self-esteem and motivation, increased work readiness and access to work experience opportunities. The Report found that the YTS pilot is also showing some early success in generating medium-term outcomes, such as increased employability for young people and clients completing vocational qualifications.
MYAN Australia plays a national support role with the YTS, including overseeing the independent evaluation and coordinating the YTS Community of Practice (COP). The COP regularly brings together the existing YTS providers from QLD, NSW and VIC, to share and document good practice, highlight and explore emerging program and policy issues, and develop a YTS outcomes framework.
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Pictured: The YTS Community of Practice sharing expertise in Brisbane earlier this year
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Submission on The Next Generation of Employment Services
MYAN prepared a submission to the Department of Jobs and Small Business on the next generation of employment services, detailing the experiences of young people in navigating employment services and the labour market in Australia. The submission, informed by MYAN's youth consultations on employment held across Australia earlier in the year, highlighted particular concerns of and recommendations from young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Australia in relation to current employment services and proposed changes for the next generation.
ABS recently released Australian Census and Migrants Integrated Dataset (ACMID) 2016 demonstrating young people’s willingness to engage in employment opportunities. Accordingly, 79% of the permanent migrant young people aged 15 to 24 who were in labor force at the time of 2016 Census were employed. New findings from The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey however report that immigrants are more likely to be underemployed than Australian born persons, with more than 17% of workers from non-English speaking countries being underemployed.
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Changes to Federal Government Cabinet
With recent changes to the Federal Government Cabinet, MYAN looks forward to working with the Minister for Families and Social Services, The Hon Paul Fletcher MP; Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Ms Sarah Henderson MP; Assistant Minister for Children and Families, Ms Michelle Landry MP, and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, The Hon David Coleman MP. Read the announcement here.
Australia scoring low in Global NextGen Index on ending child immigration detention
Youth Work added to the list of free TAFE courses in Victoria
The Victorian Government recently announced 12 additional courses to their free TAFE scheme. Certificate IV in Youth Work and Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention have been added, among other courses for high-demand industries. MYAN congratulates YACVic for their strong advocacy of the value of youth work through their #youthworkmatters campaign for Youth Work to be added to the priority courses.
Grattan Institute analysis finds children of migrant families do better at school
Analysis of the NAPLAN data by Grattan Institute shows children of migrant families in Australia consistently outperform their non-migrant peers at school. The analysis also shows schools with higher numbers of students from migrant backgrounds achieve at higher levels, and have higher growth over time on average. An analysis of Census data by the Grattan Institute's Andrew Norton also found that 18 to 20 year-olds from households where another language is spoken at home are far more likely to study at university than those from households where only English is spoken. According to this analysis, young people who speak one of African languages at home attend university in higher rates compared to their peers who speak exclusively English at home.
Research project urges young refugees to aim higher
Navigating Resettlement research project undertaken in Sydney found language difficulties, uncertainty in living circumstances and feelings of loneliness as challenging factors for young refugees in early period of settlement to Australia. The research finds that the best way to engage young refugees is providing a flexible, safe, consistent and informal space to explore their hopes and dreams supported by a team of educators and youth workers with diverse areas of expertise.
Members of Victoria's South Sudanese community call on politicians to stop the fear campaign
MYAN applauds members of Victoria's South Sudanese community who are sharing stories and calling out racial profiling in a plea for politicians to stop the fear campaign. Watch a powerful new campaign here.
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Opportunities
2019 Youth Representative to the United Nations
Each year, UN Youth Australia, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, select the Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations. The selected Youth Representative holds the role for a year, travelling the country to listen to young people across the nation, guided by a unique theme. Applications close 31st August. Find out more.
Applications open for Ideally. YLab Global
How would you create an ideal world for people of all gender identities? Ideally. is open to young people aged 15-24 living in Victoria who have an idea to make gender equity a reality. Selected participants will be matched up with a mentor, a community of others doing similar projects, plus online and face to face training.
2019 Victorian Youth Congress
The Victorian Youth Congress will comprise 21 young people aged between 12 and 24, appointed through an open application process. The term for each member will be up to one year, with selection taking into account the need for a balance of skills, metropolitan or regional representation and diverse representation. Find out more.
Grant applications open for Try, Test and Learn Fund
Try, Test and Learn Fund is open for grant applications until 28 September 2018. This grant opportunity invites applications for small‑scale trials to provide services or supports delivered anywhere across Australia to improve workforce participation or capacity to work for people at risk of long‑term welfare dependency. The grants will provide funding for both the co‑development and delivery of projects.
Techfugees Global Challenge 2018
Techfugees Global Challenge competition is open for innovations offering technological products and services for displaced people until 2 September 2018. The 25 best projects will be pitching at the Techfugees Global Summit on 25th-26th October 2018 in Germany.
Australian LGBTIQ+ Multicultural Council
What has happened in the last 10 years for multicultural and/or multifaith LGBTIQ and their communities? Has there been progress toward equality? Has there been a change in approach to connecting with multicultural or LGBTIQ communities? This will all be discussed and workshopped in the AGMC Conference. A Youth Day Conference will also be incorporated this year. Find out more here.
You Can't Ask That
A new series of You Can't Ask That, coming to ABC and iview in 2019, is looking for participants in a range of areas and experiences to be on the show. You Can't Ask That asks groups of misunderstood, judged or marginalised Australians the awkward, inappropriate or uncomfortable questions you've always wanted to know the answers to, but always been too afraid to ask. Find out more here.
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The Youth Solutions Report is a flagship initiative of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth, featuring 50 game-changing projects led by young people which aim to address solutions towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by UN Member States in 2015.
European Commission released a new resource, Step by Step: Support, Tips, Examples and Possibilities for youth work with young refugees offering practical tools for youth work on the inclusion and participation of young refugees at local level with a focus on youth participation.
Victorian Refugee Health Network released a report, Service responses for people with disabilities from refugee backgrounds in northern Melbourne also detailing service context for young people with disabilities and available supports. AMPARO Advocacy has fact sheets providing information about disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 33 languages.
Chatloop connects refugees and people seeking asylum to volunteers via a messaging app for some convenient communicative language practice through text and audio messages. With Chatloop, refugees connect to a partner, and together they work through a communicative language learning activity.
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The SAGE Handbook of Youth Work Practice showcases the value of professional work with young people as it is practiced in diverse forms in locations around the world. The Handbook is structured to explore histories, current practice and future directions through a broad range of approaches. Jen Couch has authored chapter 16; Together we Walk: The Importance of Relationship in Youth Work with Refugee Young People.
Australian Institute of Criminology’s study Antisocial behaviour during the teenage years: Understanding developmental risks reports on the need to invest in programs and services improving young people’s resilience from an early age, and interventions that reduce adolescent delinquency, reconnecting them with supports from families, schools and communities.
A new study by researchers with the University’s Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI) for the International Journal of Intercultural Relations is the first to examine whether knowing more facts about Islam as a religion and knowing more Muslims predicts lower levels of prejudice regardless of people’s age, education and political views. The research found hat having more factual knowledge of Islam and contact with Muslims is linked to less prejudice against Muslims. Read more here.
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