Annual Report 2014
Transcription
Annual Report 2014
Annual Report 2014 metropolitan MIGRANT resource centre inc Designed by Dessein Contents Funding and Support 2 Management Committee 3 Organisation Objectives 3 Chairperson’s Report 4 Director’s Report 5 Employees, Contractors, Casuals, Students and Volunteers 6 Programs 7 • Settlement Grant Program (SGP) 9 –– Generalist Program 9 –– Youth Program 9 • Multicultural Support – Community Services Sector 12 • Family and Community Support 13 –– Counselling 13 –– Parenting Service 13 –– Community Group Work 14 14 –– Community Education, Peer Education 15 –– Theatre for Social Change 15 • Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD Program) 15 • Multicultural Parents and Children English Program (MPAC) 17 • Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network WA (MYANWA) Project 17 • Childcare Bicultural Support Program 18 • Cultural Diversity Training 18 • Bilingual Workers 18 • Film Club 18 • Community Detention Program (CDP) 19 • Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) 20 Sundry Programs and Activities 20 Auditor’s Report 21 Financial Statements 24 1 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 • Sharing Stories Funding and Support provided by: Australian Health Promotion Association • Health Promotion Scholarship Australian Red Cross • Community Detention Program Centre for Multicultural Youth • Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Child Australia • Provision of Bicultural Support to Childrens Services in WA Department of Health WA • Sharing Stories Sexual Health Community Support Project Department of Immigration and Border Protection • Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme Department of Local Government and Communities • Multicultural Support – Community Services Sector • Family and Community Support (FaCS) Department of Social Services • Humanitarian Settlement Services • Generalist Settlement Grants Program • Youth Settlement Grants Program • Family Reunion Migration • Community Leadership Development Program Department of Sport and Recreation • Youth Sport Engagement and Development Program Lotterywest • Emergency Relief Grant Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 2 Swan Alliance • Conversational English Program WA Police • FILM Program Fee for Service • Cultural Diversity Training Membership • Individuals and community groups with a commitment to settling refugees Volunteers • Individuals, community groups, church groups and organisations assisting families in a practical way Management Committee Janet Pettigrew Chairperson, appointed 2011 Errol James Vice Chair, elected 2012 Albert Meyerkort Secretary, appointed 2011 Jann McFarlane Treasurer, elected 2011 Ahmed Yassin Appointed October 2013 Christine Ockenfels Elected October 2013 Foreman Foto Appointed 2012 Iqbal Samnakay Appointed February 2014 Umile Gwakuba Elected 2012 Our Vision An inclusive and harmonious community that accepts and values migrants and their contributions, and in which migrants are active participants in Australian community life. Our Purpose To facilitate the settlement and participation of migrants, especially humanitarian entrants and their communities in Western Australia. Our Objectives Our vision focuses on the wellbeing of each and every person; on individuals. Indeed, many of our services support individuals. However, we recognise that to achieve our vision and purpose we cannot just focus on family and individual support. We need, also to contribute to an environment in which communities have the capacity to support themselves, and where those organisations that provide support and opportunities in Western Australia are as effective for our target group as they are for anyone else. 3 i. on individuals; ii. their communities and iii. the large number of “mainstream” organisations (including government and non government) that can provide support and opportunities. Accountability by taking personal and professional responsibility for our actions, maintaining a consistently high level of performance. Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 Therefore, our first three Objectives focus Chairperson’s Report With our new Strategic Plan in hand MMRC proceeded enthusiastically into this new year. But as always, life gets in the way and a couple of factors made us slow down and move forward carefully. The first to dent our momentum was that several of our funding grants were due to expire either at the end of December or at the end of the financial year, and the second was the federal election. With the change of government and their many statements about cuts and belt tightening for many sectors meant that we had to be financially cautious. We were therefore unable to spend any money to develop our capacity or expand our services, as quickly as we had hoped, in the directions proposed by our Strategic Plan. So, as the year continued and still no funding rounds were opened, we proceeded very gently and with the cooperation of our wonderful staff we managed to rein in our expenses. I would like to thank every staff member for their contribution over this past year. To pursue the wider opportunities as stated in the Strategic Plan, MMRC has: • Commenced discussions with country towns in the South West and in the Wheatbelt, looking for ways to work together to build our joint capacities, skills and scope. • We have surveyed the broader settlement market to understand the gaps that exist, whether it be for students or for skilled migrants • We have been in talks with colleagues who provide specialist CALD Employment services looking at opportunities to work together to build our knowledge and capacity. Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 4 • We have increased our linking role using our SGP information sessions to increase the readiness of our clients for employment and we have the excellent services of Darryll Stephens, a very experienced employment services professional, to work on an individual basis on their job ready skills. And then in February 2014 MMRC became a flurry of activity when the Humanitarian Settlement Service Tender was announced. The North Metropolitan Perth was the only HSS contract region in Australia that the Department of Social Services opened for tender. And to our great delight and relief, in May we signed the contract. With the new program came the hiring of new staff and rebuilding infrastructure to support them in their work. The transitionin period also included the investment in new Information Technology and four new vehicles. The new program needed to be accommodated and so the decision was made to transform the Youth and Family Centre into the HSS office. So in all we finished the financial year on a very positive note. The three members whose turn it is to rotate off the Management Committee at this year’s Annual General Meeting having completed our 3 year term are Jann McFarlane, Albert Meyerkort and myself. I would like to thank them for their valuable input and support during the time they were involved. To my fellow committee members, the staff and volunteers, I greatly appreciated your dedication and support working towards this valuable endeavour of the MMRC. Janet Pettigrew Chairperson Director’s Report I am pleased that the year has finished and thankfully it came to an end on a very positive note. Across our 10 programs during the year, we provided service to 1,185 clients, 270 attended our information sessions, 863 young people participated in our activities and more than 888 participated in our Cultural Diversity training workshops. That is, we provided a service to over 3,200 people. The year was not easy. Not only did we have to be financially restrained to remain within our budget targets, but we were also very unsure about the future size of the organisation in 2014/15. This placed the majority of the daily supervision of our program staff to Eric Imani, our Executive Manager. His willingness and forbearance to significantly increase his level of hands-on responsibility has been greatly appreciated. As we began 2014, we only had 4 programs for which we had funding that would continue into the next year. They were: So it was a great relief for us all, when gradually notifications started to come through. The Sharing Stories grant was extended for another year, the Community Detention Program was extended twice so that it is funded until December 2014, LEAD our Youth Leadership program was extended for 6 months, the Immigration Application Assistance and Advice Service was rolled over for another 3 years. And then to cap it all off, in May we were informed that we were the successful tenderer to provide the Humanitarian Settlement Service for the North Perth and northern region WA. • Multicultural Support – Community Services Sector • Family and Community Support • Multicultural Parents and Children English Program The grants and contracts that were due to terminate at 30th June 2014 or before, were: • Community Detention Program • LEAD • Sharing Stories • Immigration Application Advice and Assistance program • Film Club • Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network WA We had submitted a number of tender responses during the year but the decisions from the departments were not forth-coming, added to that, the standard grant rounds which we expected each year had not opened. At about the same time, when our Manager of Programs Chris Konrad decided to move inter-state, it was decided not to replace him and to remove that level of management. So we have finished another successful year, in terms of services we provided for our clients, with a very positive expectation of a productive year to come. What I am truly grateful for is that I never feel that I am alone when having to tackle the vagaries that confront the settlement sector and community organisations in general. To my Chair, Janet Pettigrew and all the members of the Management Committee, I thank you for your generous support, clear direction and the fun throughout the year. And secondly, to the fantastic team at MMRC, none of the great work that has been done this year would have been possible without your dedication, connections, understanding and hard work. I would like to heartily thank you all for the great effort that each one of you has contributed. Michael O’Hara Director 5 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 • Settlement Grants Program – providing casework, referrals, information and youth programs Employees Staff Casuals Agnes Appudurai Senior Admin Officer Aayesha Gaffoor Ahmed Cheaib HSS Case Coordinator Amani Divanian Ahmed Fadlalla SGP Generalist Officer Amena Marial Ali Jan Khandad CDP Case Worker Amparito Caicedo Perez Ali Reza Hussaini CDP Case Worker Arzu Kocak Anne Sorenson Sharing Stories Coordinator Athy Tun Annie Neleman SGP and IAAAS Migration Agent Birikhti Winta Habtay Ashleigh Haw MYANWA Project Officer Brigitte Tha Heh Catherine Chakulunta SGP Youth Community Development Officer Chaojian Hong Celeste Dzvangah Youth and Parent Engagement Officer Deba Mher Celestin Ngoga SGP Generalist Officer Eh Yout May Htoo Chris Konrad Manager of Programs Farida Abubakar Christelle Collet Volunteer and Bilingual Coordinator Fatme Awada Daffodil Ahwha Reception and Information Officer Frishta Akbary Eh Soe Kyat Oo HSS Case Coordinator Geetika Yadav Elaine Joy Atkins HSS Housing Officer Golda Signal Elizabeth Scully HSS Admin Officer Hadia Masud Eric Imani Executive Manager Hasnaa Almansour Farah Zeitoon Finance Officer Ihsan Khalil Florence Muvandi SGP Coordinator Josephine Doe Gabi Wiedemann Family and Community Support Worker Joujou Dogbe-Tsogbe Hailemeskel Ghebremichael Cleaner Kler Mya Hanan Abu-Laban Multicultural Support Community Services Labiba Divanian Isabella Mandungu Sharing Stories Youth Educator Lenny Kamir Jasna Hodzic CDP Coordinator and HSS Housing Coordinator Leeda YosufiFamily Support Service Community Development Worker Linda Cook CDP Admin Officer Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 6 Marie Hayes HSS Orientation Coordinator Marlene Cunningham HSS Accommodation Support Officer Masiha Minhaj SGP Generalist Officer Meagan Roberts Sharing Stories Project Researcher Michael O'Hara Director Mzingisi Mqhum SGP Youth Project Officer Nadia Farooq SGP Generalist Officer Nasrin Naseri HSS Case Coordinator Olwyn Heredi CDP Senior Caseworker and HSS Coordinator Paul Rafferty HSS Manager Rasha Saweris SGP Generalist Officer Renjit Kumar IAAAS Migration Agent Runya Marimo HSS Admin Officer Housing Saba Rahi Training Coordinator Say Paw Hay SGP Generalist Officer Shahnaz Kazemi Reception and Informaiton officer Stephany Oromo SGP Community Projects Officer Suhair Mustafa SGP Generalist Officer Tsige Gebremeskel Cleaner Yvonne Kweeta Johnson Sharing Stories Community Educator Mahboubeh Seydalzadeh Margaret Sam-bindi Maria Sein Mariam Shalemie Mashair Fadlalla Mu Lay Nazle Samir Hourani Nemat Ibrahim Mossa Norma Cordero Cuadros Parham Peirovi Milani Parwin Omar Pauline Ariyaratnam Ping Biffin Pratima Kumari Gupta Qiong He Rosaline Ayyami Rose Ruby Lee Sadia Saleh Safiya Ahmed Essa Saleha Khateri Samara Assafiri Samia Mustafa Sara Fatemian Saw David Ohn Ba Sein Aung Moe Contractors Arwa Al-Hanbali Coordinator Child Care Bilingual Workers Somaya Khateri Judi Kellond Senior Finance Officer Spogmai Walizada Nancy Jones Blue Moon Film and Video Sumaira Nasim Susan Fahnbulleh Tax Help Simon Kandiah Casuals Suzanne Pickering Tarjani Mistry Migration Agents Pro Bono Roger Jewell Ibrahim Kakay Gabrielle Lim Marlene Marcus Terese Micallef Theresa Sharp Thi Truc Linh Phan Tim Thomas Tina Mirmotalebi Sohi Tyler Fisher Yaniet Tesfazghi Yaping Jiang Programs Yonas Tesfamariam Yuxia Liang Zaid Al-Hanbali Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) Students on Field Placement Aime Robininson Edith Cowan Joondalup Alicia Albrecht Fremantle TAFE Amena Marial West Coast Institute of Training Clive Lawrence UWA Daniel Moroney UWA Heather Whewell Tabor College Helen Skoog Challenger TAFE Isabel Lo Polytechnic West Midland Maxwell Mujawo The University of Nortre Dame Melissa PakirisamyCentral Institute of Technology Leederville Phun Tial Polytechnic West Midland Roopmatee BijadhurPolytechnic West Midland Sabrina ThomsonHamburg University of Applied Sciences Sumaya AliGirrawheen Senior High School Xueli Cheng UWA Volunteers Ai Luyn Choo Alex Towongo Alexx Mubanga Caloger Radici Carlo Jogee Curtis Taylor Don-Emmanueal Smith Donnavin Robertson Grace Barbe Graham Lamb Jenny Nguyen Jesse Hults Leah Cole Luke Tressler Mary Chetcuti Nina Henschel Rasha Hanbali Tiffany Devlin From 6 June 2014, the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre (MMRC), contracted through the Department of Social Services, commenced delivery of the Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) programme. MMRC aims to operate a holistic model of service delivery, with the core goal being to provide client specific, individualised and tailored pathways that assist newly arrived humanitarian entrants to settle into the Western Australian community, become self-sufficient and participate fully in all aspects of Australian life. A key focus is on equipping new arrivals with knowledge and life skills, to effectively link into local networks, access services and resources and to support them in gaining economic independence and social cohesion. Clients holding the following visas are eligible for HSS: –– Refugee (visa subclasses 200, 201, 203 and 204) –– Special Humanitarian Program (visa subclass 202) To be considered for an SHP visa the principal applicant must be proposed for entry by an Australian citizen or permanent resident over the age of 18 years. –– Unaccompanied Humanitarian Minors (UHM) A UHM is a child under 18 years of age who has entered Australia without a relative to care for them.Under the Immigration Guardianship of Children (IGOC) Act 1946, the Minister for Immigration is the guardian of the child and can authorise decisions on their behalf. 7 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 Zeina Alardah Three broad types of services are combined to deliver the HSS programme. These include: basic package of Household Goods to assist them to establish their new place of residence in Australia. • Case Management - under which entrants receive many of their early and critical services including on arrival reception, referrals to Centrelink, AMEP and Humanitarian Entrant Health Service. As a core service, case management coordinates the delivery of other services provided through the HSS program including orientation. • Local Area coordination – which plays a leading role in promoting collaborative working relationships with other settlement and community organisations and key government agencies to achieve sustainable settlement outcomes for clients in key areas such as housing, employment education and English language proficiency. • Accommodation Services - which assists entrants to secure stable and affordable accommodation that is appropriate to their needs and provides entrants with a In 2013/4 MMRC commenced services to over 100 clients. The main country of birth for these clients and languages spoken are provided in the table and chart. Country of Birth – HSS Clients June 2014 Country of Birth Special Humanitarian Program 202 Refugee Visas 200,201,204 HSS Clients: Language Spoken June 2014 Total MYANMAR 19 25 44 AFGHANISTAN 4 24 28 IRAN 8 1 9 CONGO 5 5 ERITREA 4 4 ETHIOPIA 4 4 IRAQ 3 SUDAN 4 4 SOMALIA 2 2 EGYPT 1 1 KENYA PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SOUTH SUDAN 1 1 Total 55 4 Other 17% Karen 22% Pashto 5% Tigrinya 6% Arabic 6% Dari 21% 1 1 1 1 53 108 Farsi 10% Chin 13% 1 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 8 HSS Team: Elaine Atkins, Jasna Hodzic, Paul Rafferty, Olwyn Heredi, Elizabeth Scully, Ahmad Cheaib, Runya Marimo, Nasrin Naseri, Marlene Cunningham, Eh Soe Kyat Oo, Marie Hayes Settlement Grant Program (SGP) Youth Program Generalist Program Sports The SGP Generalist program is funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS). The program provides settlement services, case work, referrals, advocacy and links clients with training and information sessions on a wide range of topics. The SGP Youth program provides services to young people aged 8-25 years from migrant and humanitarian entrant backgrounds. The service assists all eligible SGP clients to integrate, participate in mainstream activities, contribute positively into society and reduce isolation. This is achieved through a range of sports and arts activities - to engage, mentor and build leadership skills in the young people. MMRC provides this service from our office in Mirrabooka and as an outreach service in Clarkson, Ellenbrook, Banksia Grove, Ballajura and Lockridge. The program aims to facilitate the access to mainstream services and support smooth settlement in Australia for clients from refugee and humanitarian backgrounds who have lived in Australia for less than 5 years. The SGP generalist program has run information sessions on the following topics: • Learner drivers • Computer classes for adults • Dental hygiene • Insurance • Renting vs buying houses • Women’s health • Tenancy law and responsibility • Transport • Utility bills and finance • Racial profiling The service operates across the northern suburbs and is funded by the Department of Social Services. Arts • The School Art / Life skills program is a 5 weeks school-based project where primary and high school students engage in various art activities. The project is aimed at addressing issues of social isolation and marginalisation within school premises. The youth team liaises with different schools and tailor the art activities to school values and participant needs. The project is delivered by using leadership and mentoring principles as tools to engage participants. Each week explores a different leadership principle using different forms of artistic activities such as; paper collage, thumb print artwork, 3D snowflakes and rotational peer reflection drawing. This year the program attracted 60 participants from the following schools; Eddystone, Nollamara and Koondoola Primary Schools. • Employment and redundancy • Fraud and identity theft • Parenting and raising children in Australia • Becoming Job Ready The support groups that were offered: • Seniors’ Activities for the Karen community • Young men’s sports program • Sewing program for women Overall, in this financial year, 250 clients participated in the information sessions and workshops and we provided case-work services to 458 clients through 890 contacts. The SGP team would like to thank our partners and those who have worked closely with us to offer these services, such as Ishar, Northern Suburbs Legal Community Centre, City of Stirling, Headspace Midland, Cancer Council, Relationships Australia, Ngala, City of Wanneroo, City of Swan, Franklyn Scholar, Stanley College, PVS, LearnEd, WA Police, DSS, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Office of Multicultural Interest, Multicultural Housing Services, Centrelink, ASeTTS, Edmund Rice Centre, Employment Law Centre and the Australian Red Cross. Art Program at Koondoola Primary School • The Magazine project is an arts/media project focused on creating a magazine by young people from CaLD backgrounds. It aims at informing the public on many aspects and differences of culture among new and emerging communities in Western Australia. The project comprised a team of 8 participants who met regularly to discuss topics based on issues affecting old and newly arrived migrants. The participants learnt how to plan, document ideas and create their own magazine.They created two magazines with information on community updates, nutrition, fashion, business, food and recipes. 9 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 The Certificate training programs in which our clients participated: –– Aged care –– Hospitality –– Children’s Services –– Warehouse skills • Star Search is a new project which creates an opportunity for young people to show case their artistic talents as singer, musician, dancer and actor. The performers are mentored, coached and counselled by professional musicians, choreographers and dancers over a period of two months leading up to the Grand Finale. The program is structured such that there are mini competitions within this overall competition. Certain achievements during the rehearsal and coaching stages are awarded to give incentives to work harder. Star Search 2014 kicked off with 49 young people auditioning; with 12 professional artists /mentors engaged during the competition; and 9 sponsors as contributors towards the mini awards. The Professional artists coached the participants in groups and individually on the following topics: health and personal hygiene, stage presence, costumes, originality, dance and vocal techniques. During the semi-final, the participants performed in front of a panel of 5 judges who coached and mentored them during the competition. The ten finalists were chosen not only according to the quality of their performances, but also according to the development they had shown as artists and their commitments as participants on the program. locations; Greenwood Senior High School; Aranmore College (IEC); Aranmore College (EAL/D); Mirrabooka Senior High School; Clarkson Library; Mirrabooka Library. • 2014 Mentoring and Leadership Camp was held at Woodman Point Recreation Camp, Munster WA. MMRC’s annual camps are themed to encourage participants, audience and the presenters alike to exchange ideas and information on issues affecting youth. This year’s theme was cyber bullying which prompted dialogues on instances, impacts and laws of cyber bullying. Presentations also focused on fostering the culture of respect amongst youth. Sports • It was a summer to remember for all those who participated in the 2014 Multicultural Indoor Soccer Tournament, as the Sword Boys FC triumphed again for the second time in succession. The games were thoroughly entertaining, dramatic, at times funny, but above all succeeded in bring together under the one roof a wildly enthusiastic multicultural crowd. Another debutant team, Senegal United FC, was afforded the opportunity to take part in the tournament. Senegal United FC was placed second on their first attempt, a great result indeed. Now, having had time to allow their achievement to sink in, their spokesperson reflected on their success. He said, “It took a couple of days to realise what happened. Anyway, we are very encouraged that an organisation like MMRC is able to organise an event such as this to engage our young people. More of such opportunities are needed for youth with relocation experiences. Already we are looking ahead to next year, to what we hope will be a successful tournament for our team.” Congratulations to all participants and prize winners. Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 10 Star Search 2014 top 10 Finalists Winning the Trophy • Homework Hut is an after school support program which offers help with homework, assignments and assessments for young people. It runs in selected library and school locations. The tutors are all volunteers. The program is still growing and has had approximately 100 participants so far. Homework Hut runs at the following • The Multisport Program is aimed at engaging migrant youth in sport and active recreation. It does so through a number of ways including: (i) working with local teams from various sporting codes to create sustainable sport development pathways for Settlement Grant Program (SGP) eligible youth; (ii) identifying and eliminating cultural barriers that impact the retention levels of migrant youth who join local clubs; (iii) encouraging representatives from local teams to MMRC organised sporting sessions (e.g. training/clinic/tournament) to come and appeal to and scout for potential players. • Initially the Youth Development Program was run weekly at Des Penman Reserve, Nollamara for twenty weeks. It is inspired by the desire to provide a friendly outlet for migrant youth to engage in sport and active recreation on a regular basis. Also, this program aims to work in conjunction with schools and other stakeholders to provide sustainable pathways for migrant youth to partake in sports and active recreation. Collecting tennis balls • School Holiday Programs (SHP) is designed to engage eligible participants in sports during school breaks. Children with limited English have benefited from this program because it provides an opportunity to build friendship and support. MMRC continues to liaise with different sporting codes to run modified sessions and/or clinics during these periods. While there has been consistent involvement from AFL footy, soccer and basketball, in 2013-2014 we have seen interest from other sporting codes. Tennis West conducted a successful four weeks clinic at the beginning of the year. • As a Referral Agent for KIDSPORT Scheme, we continue to liaise with local sporting clubs to create opportunities for migrant youth to participate in sport. This year alone, with all things considered, we registered over twenty young people to different clubs. Date (Month) No. of sessions No. of participants September 2013-October 2013 5 24 On-going On-going On-going Koondoola Primary Art Program October 2013-Novemeber 2013 5 24 Nollamara Primary Art Program October 2013-November 2013 5 16 June 2013-July 2014 10 5 February 2014 – March 2014 16 80 May 2014 1 130+ October 2013- January 2014 8 13 On-going every school term On-going every school term 80+ Eddystone Primary School Art Program Networking meetings Magazine Project Star Search Auditions + Workshops Star Search Grand Finale Dance Program Homework Hut (various locations) Leadership & Mentoring Camp Australian Football Clinics Basketball 3-on-3 Mini Games April 2014 1 18 April - May 2014 2 16 September - October 2013 3 22 Badminton Clinics and Games May - June 2014 2 18 Multisport Indoor Sport March - July 2014 7 70 February 2014 1 180 May - June 2014 9 100 Multicultural Indoor Soccer Tournament School holiday Sport Program Soccer Clinic Tennis Clinic and Games Youth Development Program May 2014 1 24 October 2013-January 2014 8 13 November 2013 - February 2014 21 30+ 11 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 Group Activity Tennis Clinic SGP Team: Rasha Saweris, Ahmed Fadlalla, Catherine Chakulunta, Say Paw Hay, Stephany Oromo, Celestin Nogoa, Mzingisi Mqhum, Florence Muvandi (Absent: Masiha Minhaj and Nadia Farooq) Multicultural Support – Community Services Sector The Multicultural Support – Community Services Sector service is funded by the Department of Local Government and Communities to enhance the capacity of organisations to engage and work with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse background in a competent and appropriate manner. Multicultural Support is offered through a range of activities that are flexible so that it is able to respond to the unique needs of the diverse range of community services. The service provides: Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 12 • Formal half day or one day Cultural Awareness training, generic or specialised that can be tailored to the organisation’s needs. We have an experienced team of presenters from a variety of cultures who can share their experience and knowledge of cultural/religious issues and sensitivities • One on one consultations, coaching or agency information sessions • Workplace training to provide service providers hands on experience with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) communities through outings, and fun activities. Service providers can interact with individuals in an informal and friendly environment whilst gaining first hand knowledge and skills to be able to work in a culturally sensitive manner • Workplace based workshops This year the service provided over one hundred different activities, ranging from whole day formal Cultural Awareness trainings to individual coaching. This training was provided to more than twenty different community sector organisations. In February, the Multicultural Support service partnered with MYAN WA, the City of Swan and the Ballajura Community Centre to organise the Youth Settlement Forum. The forum was attended by 124 service providers from a wide range of state government, local government and non-government organisations. Ms Jenni Perkins, Actg. Commissioner for Children and Young People opened the forum which focused on the settlement needs of newly arrived humanitarian youth in the WA community. The speakers included; • Dr Lisa Hartley and Dr Caroline Fleay from Curtin University who presented on a research into the complex needs of young asylum seekers living in the Australian community; • Nadine Liddy, the National Coordinator of MYAN Australia, who presented about MYAN Australia’s national consultation for a Youth Settlement Framework which is currently under development. During the afternoon there were break-out sessions on the themes of educational attainment, racism/community acceptance, and justice issues. Access to the service is through referral from MMRC staff, external agencies and self-referrals. Telephone counselling and home-visit services are available. A series of community consultations was organised to discuss parenting challenges seen through the eyes of CaLD parents and the gaps they perceive in the parenting systems. This needs analysis was documented and presented to the department and other relevant services. This year the counsellor provided service to 166 clients, 96 female and 70 male (5 % increase for male participation, compared to last year). Harmony Day at Herb Graham Recreation Centre Mirrabooka Family and Community Support Funded by the Department of Local Government and Communities, the Family and Community Support program provides services for individuals and for groups. Counselling The counselling service offers support to families and individuals where they are able to discuss their individual and/or their family circumstances. The discussions enable our clients to identify and build on their strengths, receive relevant information to enhance their knowledge and a place to build their skills. The issues that were most commonly dealt with were: The clients came from the following cultural backgrounds: • Afghanistan • Kenya • Burundi • Lebanon • Bosnia • Myanmar • Brazil • Palestine • China • Pakistan • Columbia • Sierra Leone • Congo • Somalia • Croatia • South Africa • Egypt • Sri Lanka • Eritrea • Sudan • Ethiopia • Taiwan • Ghana • Togo • India • Uganda • Iran • United Emirates • Iraq • Vietnam • Israel • Zimbabwe • Jordan Parenting Service MMRC is very aware that being an effective parent does not come automatically and that parenting young children and teenagers is very demanding. We believe parenting is like any other skill, it comes with plenty of practice and experience. There is no simple guidebook on how to become a good parent. The MMRC service empowers parents with effective child management so that both parent and child feel respected and the children develop a sense of right and wrong, helping them to act with consideration. Teaching parents how to communicate positively with their children is one of the first steps to grow happy families. • Relationship and parenting • Postnatal Depression The parenting service includes: • Career • How to communicate positively • Parent child conflict • Accommodation and housing • Tips to find appropriate ways of managing and enjoying our young • Immigration • Teaching the skills to guide children’s behaviour • Teenager issues • Conflict resolution and communication • Anxiety • Decision making process • Social isolation • Anger management • Financial and legal • Domestic violence • Grief and loss • Family separation and divorce • Physical health • Information on child development and children’s needs at different ages • Referral for more specific parenting needs This service has been delivered in two different ways, either clients attended single counselling sessions to discuss individual parenting needs or they have been attending a psycho-educational group to build confidence and learn new skills to effectively manage their own parenting needs. 13 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 MS-CSS coordinator actively participates in a range of networks, such as Social Inclusion, Celebrating Diversity, CaLD youth engagement in education, East Metro CaLD network, African Learning Circle, Department of Human Services Consultative Forum and the Mirrabooka Harmony Day Celebrations Committee. All together there were 360 sessions. Community Group Work The community program provides a range of different psycho-educational group settings to enhance knowledge, confidence and life skills. These groups are developed in response to the client’s needs, to enable the participants to build their capacity and manage current and future issues. The Groups offered were: • Playground safety (Burmese and African communities) • What is a healthy relationship and how to maintain it (Burmese and African communities) • Parents and children holiday activities (African community) The Cooking program provided participants with information on nutrition and at the same time parenting issues. Each group met over 8 weeks with 15 - 20 women participating. The program was run in partnership with the MMRC SGP team and the City of Wanneroo. At the end of each group the participants received a copy of their own Cook Book. The participants were a mix of ethnic backgrounds, such as: Afghans, Burmese, Egyptian, Iranian and Iraqis. Playground excursion after the playground safety discussion Cooking Class Cook Book launch Workshop 14 Sharing Stories Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 • Parenting in a new country (Afghan, African, Burmese, Iraqi, Iranian communities) The Sharing Stories project has been running from late 2008 and since then has received continual funding as a result of its invigorating and inspiring approach towards community education in regards to relationships and sexual health. Sharing Stories aims to equip young people, parents and community members with skills and knowledge to become peer educators within their own communities. The Sharing Stories project continues to: • Provide sensitive sexual health education and information using a variety of strategies through the Women’s Drama, Youth Drama and other engaging activities targeting youth and the community. • Raise awareness and enhance knowledge of sexual health issues amongst different populations within migrant, new and emerging communities in Perth through information sessions, camps, training and information stalls at community events. • Increase the skills of our Community and Youth Peer Educators to deliver sexual health awareness raising programs to CaLD groups through training and support in the techniques of using theatre and in sexual health information. • Work towards the goal of developing a sustainable project in sexual health education run by local CaLD communities by ‘growing’ knowledgeable Community Educators through the HIV Awareness training program which has now formed into a HIV Network group. The above are achieved through a holistic and community development approach, utilising community members and established community groups, in collaboration with other service providers and the MMRC SGP/ Community Development team. Strategies include: Community Education, Youth Theatre, Peer Education programs, Professional Development and Education Resources. Community Education, Peer Education The Sharing Stories has continued the HIV train-the-trainer program (in partnership with WA AIDS Council) which has attracted many leaders and members in the community. With the on-going support of the Community Educator, a HIV Network group was created in which graduated participants can continue to meet at MMRC to receive peer support from one another in delivering HIV awareness programs for their own communities. The Sharing Stories facilitated peer education through stalls at community events. In providing quick, approachable, life-skills information at these stalls, the community and young people who engage with their stall walk away with strong ‘safe-relationships’ messages. This approach has been continuously offered at the Beatball event held once a month in Mirrabooka through a partnership with the Herb Graham Recreation Centre and has been provided at various stalls around the Perth metropolitan area. Theatre for Social Change Young Women’s Leadership Camp The Sharing Stories Youth Theatre Ensemble uses drama to educate and explore the complex world of relationships for multicultural young people, families and communities living in Western Australia. Sharing Stories actors create plays and films that address challenging subjects such as parent-teen conflict, safe ‘partying’, alcohol and drug awareness and protective behaviors. Sharing Stories aims to empower young people, young adults and parents to learn how to abstain from sexual activity as well as how to maintain their safety and show respect for others. 15 Family Drama Group Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 The Sharing Stories Youth Theatre Ensemble aims to create peer leaders who can share their knowledge through film, theatre and arts based activities. Young leaders from Sharing Stories are given opportunities to showcase their skills at state and national conferences as well as youth events throughout the year. This strong team has now developed three distinct youth drama groups who meet on different days once a week. An all-girls group in Ellenbrook facilitated by peer educators, a mixed group held in MMRC run by the sharing stories project coordinator and also an intensive drama group in which peer leaders are mentored in strengthening skills around theatre and sexual health issues. Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD Program) The program provided 47 leadership sessions during the year: The Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD) program provides leadership training and development to young people from culturally diverse backgrounds between the ages of 13-25 and is funded by the Department of Social Services. Groups assisted to attain successful grants and/or facilitate community programs: The LEAD project officer works closely with current and potential youth leaders from aboriginal and the new and emerging communities through interactive workshops and individual training sessions. Training is provided on a range of topics, including: • Liberian Youth Community • Community Musician to initiate youth music program • Mirrabooka Senior High School to run holiday programs in partnership with the Settlement Grants Program • Sharing Stories Peer Educators to deliver a camp for 15 young people Youth Leadership Mentoring Groups: • Decision making • Music Program • Communication Skills • Inter-generational conflict • Aboriginal Girls Group • Working with groups • Career pathways • Ellenbrook Girls Program • Managing conflict • Violence and Offending behaviours • Liberian Youth Program • Leadership • Confidence and self esteem The program utilises a proactive approach and is continually strengthening existing partnerships within the community, youth leaders, local schools and mainstream service providers. These partnerships allow the LEAD program to work effectively to empower young people to become more active participants in their communities, families and in society, to identify their needs and concerns, whilst working to plan and implement projects that directly address the issues within the community. • Boys Mentoring Leadership Sessions • 7 Day Leadership Development Camp • Community Peer Mentor Leadership Development • CaLD Mentoring for Youth Justice Office Training Sessions: • The Department of Corrective Services • Central TAFE • DAFWA Information Sessions: • North Metro Youth Justice Team • Mirrabooka Senior High School • GlobalHeart Leadership College • Ellenbrook High School • African Learning Circle • Let’s Talk Culture • Cannington Coalition Total number of young people directly referred through the program: 363. Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 16 Aboriginal Girls Program Ellenbrook Girls Program Sharing Time Multicultural Parents and Children English Program (MPAC) Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network WA (MYANWA) Project The MPAC English Program, funded by the SWAN Alliance, is designed to encourage parent child interaction and improve functional every day English language. The program is administered alongside West Beechboro Primary School on Friday afternoons after school. This program is specifically designed to target parents from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) background. West Beechboro Primary School provides a venue that parents can easily access after picking their child up from school. This eliminates any travel and child care issues. The Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN Australia) is the nationally recognised policy and advocacy body representing migrant and newly arrived young people. The MYAN works in partnership with government and non-government agencies at the state and national levels to ensure that the particular needs of multicultural young people are recognised and appropriate responses developed. Through its state and territory representatives and partners, the MYAN also supports the development of a specialist approach to youth settlement across Australia. Activities within the program aim to reflect English that is used during everyday activities; reading, cooking, shopping, craft, gardening, literacy, homework and sport. Within the sessions, parents are provided with information regarding common and important topics. These include: In 2012 MYAN received funding from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to provide project officers in each state to identify and collate issues to do with new arrival youth. • The benefits of reading to children in the home environment • Health • Education/homework/ the role of the teacher • Legal issues • Parenting • Importance of physical activity in children • Australian values The activities not only provide important and beneficial information, but also encourage the parents to interact with their child using English. Parents have the opportunity to expand and develop their social network during ‘snack time.’ Parents who have attended this program have reported improved motivation to use English. They have also reported positive developments in their interactions with children. Of the parents who have participated in the program, many stated that they replicate the activities at home. The MPAC program has successfully attained a partnership with the Brockman House which will offer the program on Tuesdays. A part of the Project Officer role is to support the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Western Australia (MYANWA) which was established in 2005 as the Refugee Youth Services Network (RYSN). The MYANWA aims to provide a forum for those who work with multicultural young people including those from new and emerging communities, to network, share information and identify sector issues. The MYANWA now has over 70 members from the nongovernment and government sectors and meets six weekly. The MYANWA is represented at the national level. The MYANWA Advisory Group was established in late 2011 with the support of MYAN Australia. The aim of the committee is to oversee the MYANWA network and maintain a consistent, uninterrupted connection with MYAN Australia. The Advisory Group works in partnership with MYAN Australia and is chaired by the Programs Manager of MMRC. In the 2013-2014 financial year, the activities included: • Attendance at the first National Forum on Children and Young People from Refugee Backgrounds (University of Sydney Law School/MYAN AU) – 15th and 16th of July 2013; • Hosting The Multicultural Youth Settlement Forum for over 100 delegates from a range of youth service providers. • Ongoing stakeholder engagement activities and continuous updating of MYANWA’s Network members; 17 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 Cooking for Parents at Beechboro Primary School • Ongoing promotion of MYANWA network’s activities, programs and services; • Contributions to national policy papers on issues affecting migrant and refugee youth in WA There are currently 264 members of the MYAN WA Network. Approximately 103 new stakeholders have engaged with MYAN WA during the reporting period. Cultural Diversity Training There has been a significant amount of Cultural Diversity Training offered over the year. MMRC provided 27 training sessions, with a total of 484 attendees. The participants were employees from15 different service providers, four of which were government departments. Our generic training covers topics such as the difference between migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, the rationale behind these specific groups’ behaviours, plus presentations on Islam versus Culture and African Culture. MMRC also provided 6 specialised training sessions, tailored specifically to cover the requested areas of interest. Bilingual Workers With the commencement of the new contract to provide the Humanitarian Settlement Service, we are in the process of renewing and rebuilding our list of bilingual workers. MYANWA Youth Forum Childcare Bicultural Support Program MMRC was subcontracted by CHILD Australia to provide Bi-cultural Support to early childhood services in the Perth metropolitan area. Many migrant and new arrival families are not familiar with mainstream early childhood services in Australia. Therefore, under this program, specially trained Bi-cultural Support Workers provided cultural information and knowledge and support to early childhood years center staff, typically long day cares, so that those staff may feel more confident and competent in working with children of families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and to help settle the children into those services. Through our Bi-cultural Workers the program: • Provided cultural knowledge and understanding to facilitate building effective links between a service and the family/ care giver and the child, especially during times of enrolment and parent meetings; Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 18 • Assisted in the settling-in of children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) or refugee backgrounds; • Encouraged maintaining the child’s home language by developing and presenting culturally appropriate experiences; and • Provided resources and cultural programing activities with staff and children. The service was free and time limited (a maximum of 4 sessions are available per centre) for the eligible services, which included Long Day Care, OSHC, Family Day Care and Occasional Care/Vacation Care. The Bilingual Coordinator has commenced the process of reviewing each bilingual workers’ languages spoken and availability, as well as providing them with an overview of the HSS program, along with casual workers’ rights and responsibilities. MMRC continues to provide crèche workers to Perth Family Relationship Centre (FRC). 18 bookings of crèche workers from the Perth FRC were recorded for the last financial year.. Film Club The FILM Club Mentor project was funded under the WA Police - Community Crime Prevention Fund. Its purpose was to provide positive activities for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and to see the development of four brief DVD clips promoting anti-violence messages. In this project young people are mentored by professional film makers in developing and creating films with positive messages. Young people are mentored in a range of skills including: story boarding, script writing, acting, filming and directing. In the process, young people will also develop good work skills and leadership. The outcomes for the project include • Action film “Hard-life”- directed by club members • Art film - “The Tell-tale Heart” – directed by a young Sudanese student • Spare Parts video clip - the lyrics and music written by one of the members was developed into a film by the club members • Hope – a short film clip Community Development Team: Yvonne Johnson, Hanan Abu Laban, Isabella Mandungu, Terese Micallef, Suzanne Pickering, Celeste Dzvangah, Chris Konrad, Arwa Al-Hanbali, Gabi Wiedemann (Absent: Anne Sorenson, Ashleigh Haw and Meagan Roberts) Community Detention Program: Flora Longinous, Federica Zammuto, Ali Reza Hussaini, Linda Cook, Eric Imani Community Detention Program (CDP) Outcomes for clients MMRC was sub-contracted by the Australian Red Cross to provide the Community Detention Program for families and those deemed vulnerable. The community detention program has the following key objectives: • Provide suitable and stable accommodation and support to clients living in the community. • Enable greater individual independence and empowerment and social community participation. Guiding principles for the Community Detention Program: • Enhance settlement outcomes for those clients granted protection. • The best interests of child and client are paramount in decision making, including in determining a community detention placement and what support and services are provided. • Support the status resolution process of clients on a return pathway. • Support provided to clients is aimed at building independence and self sufficiency • Support and services provided to clients are generally commensurate with, but not above, support available for permanent visa holders in Australia. • The Department of Immigration and Border Protection retains duty of care for people in community detention, as well as status resolution and compliance responsibilities. • Clients living in community detention arrangements must remain connected with DIBP and compliant with the conditions of their residence determination. • Service delivery is flexible to meet client needs. • Services are delivered in a consistent and integrated way throughout the program. The types of meaningful engagement in which clients have participated include: • Sporting activities (Persian wrestling, soccer and cricket) • Drama classes • Guitar lessons 19 • English language lessons • Cooking classes • Customer service for a canteen MMRC commenced the year managing 17 properties in the northern suburbs which were reduced to 14 properties in 2014. We provided care for an average of 54 clients per month, with 7 new families entering the program and 12 families exiting during the 12 months. Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 The majority of clients living in community detention have arrived as irregular maritime arrivals seeking Australia’s protection. Under current government policy all IMAs will remain subject to initial mandatory detention until health, identity and security checks can be completed. • Enhance wellbeing, resilience and self-agency of clients awaiting resolution of their immigration status. Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) programs including Refugee Family Reunion, Spouse Visa, Child Visa, Orphan Relative and Carer Visa. MMRC provides free immigration advice and assistance under the following two programs: Settlement Grant Programme (SGP) Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) This program is funded by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), to provide immigration advice and visa application assistance to those visa applicants or sponsors who are living in the Australian community and considered as “Disadvantaged Person” (Category A service only). This year, we provided 180 appointments of advice for individual clients and offered 7 Community Information Sessions to various communities, such as Chin (Burmese), Karen (Burmese), Afghan, Arabic and Sudanese etc. The topics covered a range of visa This program was initiated by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), and then transferred to the Department of Social Services after the last federal election in 2013. This program is aimed to assist eligible humanitarian entrants to propose and sponsor family members to Australia where this is necessary for the client’s successful settlement. This year, we provided immigration assistance to 120 clients through 228 appointments (both consultation and form filling), conducted 4 Information Sessions to inform clients of general policies and procedures related to the migration options for family members.” Sundry Programs and Activities Pro Bono Immigration Assistance Service Migration advice provided to 294 clients by four Migration Agents held once weekly throughout the year. Tax Help A qualified volunteer coordinated by the Australian Taxation Office assisted 69 clients to prepare and submit their tax returns during the reported period. Justice of the Peace A document and statutory declaration certification service was provided by Eric Imani, J.P. to individual clients and local agencies. Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 20 Management, Finance and Admin: Michael O’Hara, Eric Imani Shahnaz Kazemi, Farah Zeitoon, Judi Kellond, Agnes Appudurai, Daffodil Ahwa Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 Auditor’s Report 21 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 22 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 23 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 Financial Statements 24 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 25 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 26 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 27 Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre Annual Report 2014 28 MIRRABOOKA 1/14 CHESTERFIELD ROAD MIRRABOOKA WA 6061 Phone (08)9345 5755 Fax (08) 9345 5036 2/17 CHESTERFIELD ROAD MIRRABOOKA WA 6061 Phone (08) 9344 6788 Fax (08) 9344 3008 Email admin@mmrcwa.org.au Web www.mmrcwa.org.au metropolitan MIGRANT resource centre inc