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As Refugee Week kicks in, MYAN would like to say a big congratulations to NSW's Apajok Biar who has been at the UNHCR NGO Consultations in Geneva - representing and sharing the ideas, issues and experiences of young people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds living in Australia.
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"It feels so, so surreal, I have always wanted to advocate at an international platform," said Apajok. "However, I never believed I would be able to do it...until now. I am so happy."
Born in a refugee camp in Kenya, Apajok arrived in Australia with her family as a curious two year old. Now 22, she is studying social work, volunteering at her local community centre engaging with refugee young people, she is a youth adviser for Multicultural NSW, a MYAN NSW Multicultural Youth Ambassador, as well as the chairperson and co-founder of South Sudan Voices of Salvation Inc - a not-for profit youth run and led organisation.
At the Opening Plenary of the UNHCR NGO Consultations she asked High Commissioner Filippo Grandi about how young people would be recognised in the Global Compact.
She gave a presentation following up on the Global Refugee Youth Consultations, speaking about why meaningfully engaging young people remains essential for prevention, response and future recovery, especially in the context of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and Global Compact for refugees.
She recommended that any youth engagement should incorporate co-design.
"To be able to genuinely listen to the youth: not be tokenistic, but actually listen to them, and have them be an active part... not only in the planning, but the implementing of projects involving future youth," she said.
"I also ask you to support their ideas. They might be a bit different and more creative, but definitely support them and encourage them.
"The reason it is important for refugee youth to be included in the CRRF and the Global Compact is because our needs are complex, we need to be recognised... we can't just be moulded in with the adults and children. We have skills that we can help you with, and we are willing to assist you.
"We are not just now, we are the future."
Lead pic courtesy of International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).
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L-R (Clockwise): Apajok with Deputy Director of the African Bureau, Opening Plenary, youth representatives with MYAN Chair Carmel Guerra and UNHCR staff.
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Young people in a multicultural world: Rethinking a new policy and practice agenda
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
The 2017 MYAN Conference will consider the experience of young people in the context of current global challenges and explore how research, policy and practice can best respond into the future.
Exploring the themes ‘Global Citizenship’, ‘Education to Work’ and ‘Social Cohesion’, this two day event will bring together international and local policymakers, practitioners, young people, academics and the business sector. More info here.
Early bird tickets are on sale now - book before August 17 for a 15% discount. Registrations close November 17.
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Two Melbourne sisters, Christine and Chido, run an excellent podcast called SOS in Oz (Sassy Opionated Sisters in Oz) serving up the latest trending topics and thought provoking conversations, such as inter-racial dating, cultural appropriation, and "being black in Australia". Listen here.
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The Social Studio, based in Collingwood, Melbourne trains and employs refugees in the design and manufacture of textiles fashion for its own fashion label. This Refugee Week the modestly funded The Social Studio is seeking donor support for its Winter Appeal to maintain its work. Read a great story on Daily Review about the Social Studio here.
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Tassie's got talent
Some of Tasmania's best multicultural talent will be on show as part of the exciting new Inspire project, coordinated by Migrant Resource Centre of Southern Tasmania.
Earlier this year Exit Left Performance Academy worked with a select group of multicultural musicians, dancers and public speakers to refine their skills and train them on how to promote, negotiate and manage paid and voluntary performances.
The Inspire website will be launched on Thursday (June 22), allowing Tasmanian businesses, local and state government, schools and community members to book performers for events. On the same day the Inspire performers will entertain an audience of VIPs, members of the Tasmanian entertainment industry and community at a red carpet event in Hobart.
For more info on the project, please email Inspire.
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Proposed Citizenship Changes
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Earlier this year the Australian Government put a call out for community input on a number of proposed changes to Australia’s citizenship test. MYAN sought input from young people, their families and those working with them to
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inform a response that focused on how the proposed changes would impact upon young people. You can read MYAN’s submission here.
MYAN were disappointed to see that the concerns for young people raised in our submission were not taken into consideration when the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 was put to Parliament last Thursday.
MYAN were also concerned to see a number of additional proposals in the Bill that were not foreshadowed in the Discussion Paper, most notably: the proposal to apply the assessment of ‘good character’ in the test to prospective citizens who are under 18 years of age. We understand that the ALP have confirmed that they will oppose the Bill and we support referring the Bill to a Senate Inquiry
MYAN will continue to advocate to Government on how these proposed changes are likely to impact upon young people.
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We want to hear from you
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The National Youth Settlement Framework is Australia’s first evidence-based framework supporting and measuring good practice in youth settlement. A conceptual and practical resource, the Framework is designed to enable services to respond more effectively to the needs of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds and support their active participation in Australian society.
A year on from the launch of the Framework MYAN are inviting your input to make some updates to these resources and training. We will be undertaking consultations with those using the Framework and resources in their work with young people. We are currently seeking feedback via a short online survey, which you can complete here.
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Supporting young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds
Bringing together research, policy and practice perspectives to discuss how to support young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, the March webinar recording, slides and transcript are now available on the Child Family Community Australia website.
The webinar had great reach: 273 sites attended, with an estimated 350 total participants representing over 120 organisations.
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US Refugee Consultations
"Don't forget your culture and your religion. Be proud about who you are," says Rossul, an Iraqi immigrant teen in the US in advice to other teen immigrants.
A year after the US Refugee Consultations took place in Washington DC - bringing together 25 migrant youth from 14 different countries - Bridging Refugee and Youth and Children's Services (BRYCS) followed up with some of the young people, asking them to reflect on their experiences before and after coming to the US and how it has impacted their future goals.
Additionally, they offer advice for newcomer parents and teens, as well as teachers and the entire community. Check it out here. The BRYCS website has other great resources for the sector.
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Exploring education pathways for young people seeking asylum and young refugees on TPVs and SHEVs
National Teleconference
Thursday June 22, midday.
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MYAN and RCOA invite you to a national teleconference to discuss access to vocational education and training for temporary visa holders. Guest speakers:
- Ren Flannery, Multicultural Youth Worker - Employment Pathways, CMY (VIC)
- Kathleen Fenby, AMEP Case Manager, TAFE Queensland South West (QLD)
Ren and Kathleen will provide insight into some of the key issues temporary visa holders currently face in accessing vocational training and education pathways, including apprenticeships and traineeships.
More details here.
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