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Welcome to the July edition of the MYAN Australia e-Newsletter - a quarterly bulletin presenting multicultural youth issues through a national lens.
This edition includes a report on the 2015 UNHCR NGO Consultations, updates from MYAN networks around the country and congratulations to Yarrie Bangura and Lael Kassem.
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UNHCR NGO Consultations 2015
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The MYAN was recently part of the Australian delegation to Geneva attending the UNHCR’s Standing Committee and the annual UNHCR NGO Consultations.
Held over three days, the NGO Consultations brought together more than 500 NGO representatives from 90 countries and is an important opportunity to engage directly with the UNHCR and others working in the protection and settlement context around the world.
Coordinated by the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), the Australian delegation raised a range of issues with the UNHCR and other UN agencies including: access to UNHCR offices, provision of education in refugee camps, specific protection needs for children and unaccompanied minors, recent changes to Australia’s immigration policies, and specific protection issues in each of the UNHCR regions.
A summary report of these issues will be available from RCOA soon.
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The UNHCR reports that the world is facing unprecedented protection challenges with 42,500 persons forcibly displaced every day in 2014 due to conflict, violence and persecution. This reflects a global total of 59.5 million people in 2014, and an annual increase by 13.9 million. More than one-third were refugees and asylum-seekers and two-thirds were internally displaced. Less than 1% will have the opportunity for resettlement. Volker Turk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, describes these figures as reflecting the growing magnitude, scale, and complexity of displacement and statelessness.
This year’s NGO consultations included a youth-specific session and a powerful plenary presentation from Sydney-based Najeeba Wazedafost, who also launched the 2015-2016 Global Youth Consultations. These consultations will lead into the 2016 NGO Consultations, with the theme of Youth and Adolescents.
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Nadine Liddy, MYAN National Coordinator with youth delegates Aime Kalangwa from the U.S
and Najeeba Wazdefost, from Australia.
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Australian Research Council Linkage Project
The MYAN is pleased to be part of an exciting three year Australian Research Council Linkage Project that will result in Australia’s first national status report on CALD young people. Initiated by Melbourne University and the Centre for Multicultural Youth, the project is a collaboration between organizations across Australia, including MYAN partners and government. The project will generate new social, economic and cultural indicators and enable organisations to better meet the needs of young people from CALD backgrounds.
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NSW – MYAN NSW
MYAN NSW welcomes Alex Long
MYAN NSW is very excited to have Alex Long join the team as the new MYAN NSW Executive Officer. Before joining the MYAN NSW, Alex worked in child protection and youth engagement in Uganda, as well as coordinating the Western Sydney Project at Youth Action. You can contact Alex on alex@myannsw.org.au.
FUSE NSW Young People’s Summit
Following the success of MYAN Australia’s national FUSE summit last year, MYAN NSW ran a one day summit for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds on Saturday 18th July. More than 20 young people gathered at the GWS Giant’s Learning Life Centre in Olympic Park to hear from guest speakers, take part in workshops on public speaking and advocacy, provide input to help shape the NSW strategic plan for children and young people, and discuss ways that they would like MYAN NSW to involve young people.
Guest Speakers included Amna Karra-Hassan - founder of the Auburn Tigers women’s AFL team and young board member of Multicultural NSW; Andrew Johnson - NSW Advocate for Children and Young People; and cast and crew from a new film about young refugees called ‘Cast from the Storm’.
Recommendations from the day included developing regional networks of young people that provide input and ideas to MYAN NSW, and better use of social media.
TAS – MYAN TAS
Our Voice Matters
The MYAN TAS has been busy advocating for implementation of the recommendations of the Our Voice Matters report which was launched in March. Media interviews, meetings with key stakeholders and presentations at network meetings have resulted in considerable interest in the recommendations, particularly those related to employment of young multicultural Tasmanians. Through our work with employers, young people and employment support services, we hope to see greater opportunities for employment and to reduce the large gap which currently exists between rates of employment of multicultural youth and the broader youth population in Tasmania.
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The Kings and Queens of the World - CALD Youth Radio
MYAN TAS youth have been busy training for the debut of the new CALD youth radio program “The Kings and Queens of the World”. With the generous support of Edge Radio 99.3FM, young people have been developing content and technical skills needed to produce a CALD youth radio program with a youth settlement focus. Young people will host a weekly radio program that aims to share settlement experiences, stories and advice with other new arrivals.
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You can listen live online to “The Kings and Queens of the World” every Saturday afternoon from September.
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WA - MYAN WA
MYAN WA Network Meeting
MYAN WA’s last meeting in May was another well-attended event, with approximately 70 community members, sector workers and young people coming together to talk about youth participation. Attendees also listened to an informative presentation by Alison Xamon from The Humanitarian Group on the recent changes to the Migration Act and what it means for young people and their families. The next meeting is on Friday 7th August, with a national focus, and can be booked here.
Peer-led CALD Research Project
The Commissioner for Children and Young People has contracted MYAN WA to facilitate a peer led consultation process with children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Twelve young leaders, from Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Eritrea, Uganda, Myanmar, Rwanda and Malaysia, have been chosen from an extremely strong field of applicants to conduct the consultation. The young leaders have developed a survey and will soon begin consulting with young people in their community. They will follow up with in-depth interviews with a small number of children and young people and also assist in writing the report.
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MYAN WA peer researchers
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ACT - MYAN ACT
Forum: Transitions and Careers: What are the barriers for multicultural young people in the ACT?
The Youth Coalition of the ACT and the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN) ACT are holding a forum on transitions and careers for multicultural young people in the ACT on Thursday 20th August, 9.00 – 11.00am.
A panel of speakers, including young people, will discuss the transition supports currently available, the barriers for multicultural young people and how to best support the post-school transitions of multicultural young people in the Canberra community. RSVP or download the flyer here.
VIC - Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)
Supporting funding for homework clubs
CMY, together with the Australian Communities Foundation and the Stan Willis Trust, launched a new Homework Club Resource Kit this week at the historic Fitzroy Town Hall.
The resource was developed to assist funders to identify features that underpin safe, inclusive and effective out-of-school-hours learning support programs (OSHLSP).
Click here to download the resource.
No translation needed to speak football
Young people from CMY's 'I Speak Football' project, were interviewed by SBS this week on bringing young people together through football.
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She is a writer, public speaker, textile designer, and visual and performing artist, and a passionate advocate on refugee issues. We wish Yarrie all the best in this role.
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Congratulations Lael
In her fifth season playing AFL football, 24 year old Lael Kassem recently kicked the AFL women’s goal of the year - an amazing running goal representing NSW/ACT against QLD. A co-founder member of the Auburn GIANTS women's AFL team, Lael is a physiotherapist and currently plays for the Western Wolves. Lael’s parents came to Australia from Lebanon in the 1970s and she is the youngest of 10 children, with 9 brothers! Lael received the Greater Western Sydney Giants Women in Community Football Award in 2013. Hear Lael talking about her family and Muslim faith.
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Resources
National Settlement Standards
The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) has released the National Settlement Services Outcomes Standards and the Report on the development of the Standards. The Standards and the Report on their development represent the culmination of significant research and consultation on standards within the settlement sector as part of the National Settlement Standards Project.
Evaluation of the National Anti-Racism Strategy and Racism: It Stops with Me campaign
The Australian Human Rights Commission has recently released a number of evaluation reports on the National Anti-Racism Strategy and the Racism: It Stops with Me campaign. The Reports reflect key evaluation activities, including annual supporter surveys, supporter case studies and key informant interviews, as well as the analysis of the reach of the campaign and its resources through web analytics.
Research
Refugee Adjustment Study
The Refugee Trauma & Recovery Program at the University of New South Wales has recently launched the Refugee Adjustment Study, a longitudinal online study examining refugees and asylum-seekers’ settlement and mental health experiences in Australia. Participation in this project is open now to all refugees and asylum-seekers who have arrived in Australia since January 2011 and are over 18 years of age. Eligible participants will be reimbursed for taking part in this research study. More information can be found here.
YWCA Survey
The Young Women’s Advisory Group (aka YWAG) is currently running an online survey - Let’s Talk: Young Women’s Views on Sex Education for young women between the ages of 16-21. Go to the online survey or the Project’s Facebook page.
Opportunities
headspace National Youth Reference Group
Applications are now open for the new headspace National Youth Reference Group (hY NRG). The group consists of young people aged 16-25 who participate in a variety of activities including policy and advocacy, media, research, etc. headspace is keen to recruit a diverse group of young people, including those of CALD backgrounds. Applications close July 30th. Online applications can be submitted at headspace.org.au/apply
Human Rights Awards
The Australian Human Rights Commission is proud to announce the creation of the ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ Award. This Award is a new category in the annual Human Rights Awards, to be presented on December 10th 2015. Details and nomination forms are online. Nominations close 11th September 2015.
2015 ACT Multicultural Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2015 ACT Multicultural Awards. This year there is a new category for ACT Multicultural Young Person (12-25) of the Year, in recognition of the efforts of young people working or volunteering for the benefit of multiculturalism in Canberra. If you know a person or an organisation that has championed cultural diversity in Canberra, nominate them for a 2015 ACT Multicultural Award. Nominations close 5pm, 1 September 2015.
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