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An overview of presentations and presenters in breakout session 1.
Location |
Theme – five concurrent sessions (choose one) |
Plenary room (Room 1) |
Breakout Session 1a: Empowering people with disability
|
Room 2 |
Breakout Session 1b: Youth and the criminal justice system
|
Room 3 |
Breakout Session 1c: Empowering communities
|
Room 4 |
Breakout Session 1d: Domestic and family violence
|
Room 5 |
Breakout Session 1e: Government collaboration
|
Location: Plenary room (room 1)
The Miacess project is designed to address the critical gap in access to information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Through the development of a comprehensive online resource hub, Miaccess provides translated information and resources tailored to meet the needs of CALD individuals and their communities. Central to our initiative is the integration of immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences that highlight personal stories of individuals with disabilities from CALD backgrounds.
The VR activation allow attendees to witness firsthand how NDIS supports have empowered CALD individuals, enhancing their quality of life and fostering greater community engagement. Attendees will engage with interactive VR, promoting a deeper understanding of the NDIS and its significance within CALD individuals with a disability. Our goal is to showcase how storytelling through VR can bridge engagement gaps and create a more equitable information landscape for CALD communities.
Rea Singh - Cultural Perspectives
Location: Room 2
SydWest Multicultural Services implemented the New Way Forward program (June 2022 – August 2024), a juvenile justice pilot initiative based in Blacktown local government area. It provided case management support to CALD young people engaged with, or at risk of engaging with, the criminal justice system. While focussing on all CALD youth, most young people who engaged with the program (85%) were from African backgrounds, with majority identifying as Sudanese and South Sudanese.
The program provided valuable insights into the experiences of CALD young people and their families who are in contact with the justice system, and the role of protective and risk factors. This, coupled with the program’s evaluation, exposed several gaps in both the research into this cohort, and the support available to them. Specifically, we found that:
1. Ethno- specific youth justice data was not easily accessible. - Despite often being the topic of media reporting, research into the experiences of African young people with the justice system was very minimal.
2. There is a significant gap in services for ages 8-12 years generally, and for at risk youth, this often means patterns of violence and engagement with the justice system are already established by the time they are eligible for support.
Clement Meru - Sydwest Multicultural Services
Bronwyn O'Brien - Sydwest Multicultural Services
The reintegration of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) sentenced offenders presents unique challenges within traditional reintegration models. The Transitions Program, a specialised service delivery model within the Multicultural Programs at Odyssey House NSW, provides intensive case management by leveraging cultural, community, and faith-based frameworks to support the reintegration of CALD offenders. This program delivers culturally appropriate alcohol and other drugs (AOD) support, family and carers support, and establishes collaborative partnerships with various community and faith groups. These efforts effectively address the distinct needs of CALD offenders, facilitating their successful reintegration into the community. Trained case managers, fluent in multiple languages including Vietnamese, Arabic, Tongan and various African and Pacific Island languages, ensure that the program's delivery respects cultural values and bridges gaps in the health system. This comprehensive approach aims to reduce recidivism and aid the successful community reintegration of offenders, thereby promoting long-term stability and community safety.
Benjamin Ondu - Odyssey House
Tommy Trinh - Odyssey House
Location: Room 3
Whilst we focus on migrant and refugee women getting a foot into employment, we overlook their progress through to leadership positions and the outstanding skills and experience they bring from overseas.
We will highlight the work of RISE in strengthening CARM Women's resilience for empowerment in the Australian workplace. We outline our insights gained from talking to 190 women about their journeys into leadership. Their barriers they have experienced, the change companies are undertaking and the strategies that bring about change. Local support here refers to the workplace which can contribute much towards resilience.
For new arrivals it is hard to find any employment commensurate with their qualifications and we know from research that there is much under-employment. But for CARM women there are additional obstacles of being racially marginalised which is undeniably a disadvantage in the workplace. Resilience and tenacity have led to success for women in this project, but further empowerment is now desired to reach higher.
This presentation will illuminate the strategies used to support CARM women, developing together the resilience they need to thrive while at the same time working with employers to address the barriers.
Juliana Nkrumah - SSI
Dr Astrid Perry - SSI
Across the Advocate for Children and Young People’s (ACYP) consultations with young people in NSW, ACYP recognised that young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds experience vulnerabilities and poorer outcomes across a variety of measures. They may face barriers such as low English proficiency, disrupted education, cultural differences, exclusion and discrimination and limited access to economic and social resources. All of which can hinder their ability to express their needs and concerns and participate fully. This has significant impacts on their settlement journey and can lead to social isolation and disconnection from the broader Australian community. In 2024, ACYP conducted consultations with over 276 young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds through eight schools and six service providers across Metropolitan Sydney and Regional NSW. The consultation project was developed to hear directly from young refugees and migrants, so that ACYP can gain a better understanding of their experiences of culture, identity, community, belonging and their hope for the future. Drawing from these consultations, this presentation explores young people’s experiences of inclusion and exclusion and recommendations on how to foster social cohesion within school, the workplace and communities. These include opportunities for intercultural understanding and awareness, embracing diversity and inclusion, and investing in spaces, activities and places for young people to build respect on their terms.
Betty Nguyen - Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People
Freija Brandie - Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People
Location: Room 4
Addressing domestic and family violence within newly arrived and emerging communities presents distinct challenges. Cultural norms and beliefs may deter victims from seeking help due to fears of stigma, shame, or dishonour. Language barriers, limited awareness of services, and economic dependency trap victims in abusive situations. Additionally, isolation, inadequate social networks, and visa entitlements hinder access to support. Hence, innovative and culturally sensitive approaches are essential. Metro Assist implements a comprehensive strategy, providing culturally safe services, challenging societal attitudes that perpetuate abuse, and offering post- domestic and family violence programs to help victims rebuild their lives.
Through this presentation, we intend to share Metro Assist's learnings and successful response to domestic and family violence within newly arrived migrant and refugee communities, focusing on a three-tiered approach aimed at resilience and empowerment. First, our primary prevention program focuses on educating multicultural communities about domestic and family violence, emphasising our collaboration with community and faith leaders and the development of culturally relevant initiatives for youth. Second, our targeted response includes culturally appropriate support tailored to each community's diverse needs, leveraging partnerships with key stakeholders and featuring a case study on the Love and Hope Domestic and Family Violence Hub. Finally, our post- domestic and family violence programs support victims' healing journeys, promoting personal wellbeing and economic independence through women's circles, skills-building workshops, and wellbeing initiatives
Jasmine Mguizra - Metro Assist
The Unlocking Doors Program bridges gaps between mainstream services and people from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background experiencing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) in rural and regional areas.
The program provides innovative culturally responsive applications to work practices through targeted training to build capacity of front-line staff.
Unlocking Doors aligns with all five of the DCJ NSW practice framework principles.
CALD communities are also identified as one of the most vulnerable cohorts in the National Plan to End Violence Against Women & Children 2022-2032. The National Plan shines a light on migrant and refugee women, with a focus on temporary visa holders, and their experiences of violence as a distinct contributor relating to intersecting forms of inequality and discrimination (ANROWS, 2015).
The workshop consists of a one-day training which explores the engagement steps of screening and assessment, knowledge of CALD communities in the service's area and highlights and addresses potential challenges of CALD communities accessing services.
It includes hints and tips on creating a CALD welcoming service that is accessible and equitable and explores the intersectionality complexities of CALD clients.
A resource tool kit is provided to workshop participants to support their continued growth.
Program evaluation has demonstrated an overwhelmingly positive impact on the mainstream services participating in the workshops. Services acknowledged increased engagement and confidence to work alongside CALD communities, accessing and using interpreter services, and enhancing their intake and assessment processes alongside stronger connections built with CALD specific services.
For further information contact Danielle.habib@catholiccaredbb.org.au
Danielle Habib - CatholicCare
Nellie Srisurapon - CatholicCare
Location: Room 5
In 2021, NSW Fair Trading initiated the Community Voice Networks to bridge gaps in engagement with four priority groups: Aboriginal, multicultural, disability, and youth communities. These networks, now with over 1,000 members, serve as vital connectors, ensuring two-way communication between these communities and Fair Trading through quarterly meetings and a bi-monthly newsletter. By responding to emerging issues and linking members to essential services and information, the networks exemplify how Fair Trading prioritises community needs, fostering greater inclusion and accessibility. Fair Trading collaborates across the Department of Customer Service and more broadly other government departments, including the Department of Communities and Justice, to address the diverse range of community concerns and share important information directly with these groups. This approach helps bridge the gap between organisational goals and community needs, fostering a more inclusive and responsive service. Issues raised by network members are compiled into quarterly reports that guide Fair Trading’s community engagement projects. For instance, the Disability Community Voice Network identified a lack of awareness about consumer rights among people with disabilities, prompting the creation of webinars and information sessions to empower this community with essential knowledge.
Debbie Nguyen - Fair Trading NSW
This presentation explores strategies to bridge the gap and build trust between the New South Wales (NSW) government and multicultural communities in NSW. As part of the community engagement team at Multicultural NSW, we employed a strength-based approach to actively engage with diverse communities. Through various engagement practices, including a Listening Tour, we gathered community sentiments. Our analysis identified barriers to effective engagement and highlighted practices that promote inclusivity, diversity, social cohesion, and community harmony. Findings demonstrate that culturally tailored initiatives and capacity-building efforts enhance communication and foster positive participation among diverse groups. Building on the success of a pilot project, we offer recommendations for policymakers and government departments to adopt community-specific engagement frameworks. These frameworks emphasise trauma-informed practices and cultural competencies, aiming to empower communities and ensure their representation. Additionally, we stress the importance of raising awareness among service providers about the significant impacts of constructive community engagement, ultimately contributing to social cohesion and community harmony in NSW.
Bala Nirmanusan - Multicultural NSW
Tabitha Chepkwony - Multicultural NSW
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