Project Title:  Connect
Location:  Migrant Information Centre (East Melbourne), VIC
Community Based Project

Project Details
The objective of the CONNECT project is to provide support and develop a sense of belonging within the school and local community to newly arrived migrant and refugee young people attending secondary school in the Eastern region and to their parents. This is being achieved through the implementation of two parallel projects:

1. A peer support program in two selected mainstream secondary schools; and
2. A parental support program at the Blackburn English Language School (BELS).

CONNECT is a collaborative project of agencies and schools from the Cities of Manningham and Whitehorse, auspiced by the Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne). The project received funding from VicHealth through their Mental Health Promotion Plan, which is providing funds for the initiation and evaluation of mental health promotion projects in Victoria, targeting the prevention of mental ill-health.

Peer Support
At two participating secondary schools, selected students have attended a two-day training course to become CONNECT Leaders. The training program covered subjects such as culture, settlement issues of young people, communication, the importance of social networks, leadership and coping skills. The Leaders will progress to facilitate activities with small groups of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds attending their school, providing them with the skills and information to make informed choices, to access local resources for recreation, information and assistance.

Parental Program
Information collected through focus groups from parents of students studying at BELS indicates that there is a lack of understanding of the Victorian education system. There is also an uncertainty among parents about how they can support their children in their studies and the kind of involvement that is expected by schools from parents. To address these issues the parental program at BELS is being extended to include an Information Evening about the education system at which interpreters and translated information will be available, and a Family Day giving parents the opportunity to socialise with each other and share information and experiences.

Contact: www.miceastmelb.com.au
Ph:  (03) 9285 4888

Project Title:  SPACE Project – Supporting Peers Accessing Community Education
Location:  Moonee Valley City Council, VIC 
Local Government Project

Project Details
The SPACE Project targets specific groups of culturally and linguistically diverse young people, to provide them with drug and alcohol peer education training.
 
SPACE is an eight-week training program based at the Flemington Community Centre.  The program includes accurate information in relation to drug and alcohol issues, greater awareness of community services, training on communication, leadership skills and how to help others.

The program also involves visits from relevant agencies and members of the Victorian Police.  The Youth Outreach Team, Western Health also makes a significant contribution by facilitating the drug and alcohol information sessions.

How young people get involved:

• Employment of cultural workers – this was an important aspect when targeting cultural groups other than your own.  They played an important role in community liaison – targeting community and religious groups, schools, learning centres and parents to clarify aims of the program.  They were also involved in training sessions to provide support to participants.
• Formal selection process – participants were required to fill in application forms, get their parent’s consent and undertake an interview – this process promoted self selection.
• Valuing young people’s participation - young people were paid for their participation so that their time was acknowledged.  They were not made aware of this until the first training session. Payment was using point system corresponding to session time and gift vouchers were organised.  Transport assistance was provided to and from training where required and this was integral in their access.

Training program:

The program runs for 8 –10 weeks, consisting of weekly 1 ½ -2 hour sessions – this included
4 sessions on peer support and leadership skills, and 4 on drug and alcohol information

Peer education:

• Informal model – aimed to benefit existing networks of friends and family
• Highlighting leadership rather than ‘helping’ skills, activity based to develop social and communication skills

Drug education:

• Flexible format, responsive to group needs and range of existing knowledge within group
• Opportunity for participants to discuss drug questions and issues in a safe and informed environment

Resource collection:

• Ongoing homework for participants to collect resources on drug info and support services
• Incentives were provided which resulted in huge collection of information from range of sources
• Valuable practical experience in the access of information and services

Training program culminates in graduation ceremony – presentation of certificates, family, friends, teachers attended.

Outcomes:

• Great commitment of participants demonstrated in the high attendance and participation throughout program and with each of the four groups held so far.
• Enhanced knowledge of drugs and alcohol and greater confidence with communication and access of range of services
• Improved networks with local southeast-Asian and African communities
• Participants have embraced public and leadership roles for example. Speeches and performance at graduation, speaking alongside Minister for Health at launch of funding, talking about the program to classes of students at their schools.

Contact:  Youth Outreach and Support Worker
Moonee Valley City Council – Youth Services
Ph: (03) 9243 8888

Project Title: Refugee and Migrant Homework Support Program
Location:  Youth Connexions, Whitehorse City Council, VIC
Local Government Project

Project Details
The Refugee and Migrant Homework Support Program aims to provide a homework support group for young migrants and refugees, who live, study work and play in the City Of Whitehorse.

The model for the Refugee and Migrant Homework Support Program is based on the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) South East Homework Support Program.  The program was established in 1997 for newly arrived migrants and refugees, and is continuing to support young people in areas of study with which they are having difficulties.

The Refugee and Migrant Homework Support Program targets young migrant and refugees between the ages of 12-25.  The program focuses on students who are attending the local language schools such as Blackburn English Language School, and AMES, as well as ESL students from mainstream secondary schools.

The following information has been gathered from CMYI South-East Homework Support Program: A Model of Best Practice.

The development of the Homework Support Program acknowledges the difficulties experienced by newly arrived refugees and migrant young people in the transition from English Language Centres (where they receive six months of English Language Tuition on arrival in Australia) to mainstream schools or TAFE institutions.  This transitional time is a crucial period where students may require additional support with their schoolwork.

The difficulties experienced by refugees and newly arrived young people arise from two primary factors: the pre-migration refugee experience and the issues associated with resettlement in Australia.  The educational impediments faced by newly arrived young people in the context of the refugee and migration experience may include:

• A lack of any formal schooling
•  Interrupted schooling
• Poor writing skills (refugees may arrive from cultures which value oral learning/skills over written skills)
• Country of origin school environments, which emphasise discipline and received learning in opposition to the Australian system, which accentuates the individual’s own role and engagement in their studies

Difficulties arising from the resettlement experience of young refugees/migrants may include:

• Classroom sizes which preclude teachers from assisting students individually or catering to the needs of refugee young people in particular
• The difficulties associated with learning a new language
• Lack of adequate and appropriate space for homework and studies at home
• Post-traumatic stress and other illnesses presenting once settlement has occurred and personal safety in Australia guaranteed
• Relationship problems within families which manifest themselves when family members, some of whom have been separated for many years, are reunited in Australia
• The burden of unrealistic expectations placed on young people as parents/guardians push them to pursue VCE and university studies

Tasks involved in the project have included: 

• Identifying a need for homework support program for newly arrived migrants and refugees in the Eastern Region
• Recruiting, supporting and training volunteers for the role of tutoring migrant and refugee young people
• Promoting the homework support program to local schools with ESL departments, the local language schools and TAFE’s with ESL students and multicultural agencies
• Monitoring and Evaluation

Contact: Eastern Region Migrant Youth Support Project
Youth Connexions - Suite 2, Level 4, Box Hill Central
Main Street Box Hill, VIC 3128
Tel: (03) 9898 9340
www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au 

Project Title:  Supporting Refugee and Migrant Young People to Lead Themselves
Location:  Western Young People’s Independent Network, Footscray, VIC 
Community Based Project

Project Details
With the support of the Reichstein Foundation, WYPIN has developed a project which aims to build the capacity of refugee and migrant young people to be advocates for themselves and participate in community organisations at a decision making level.  Training will be developed in response to consultations with young people.  It is envisaged that modules will cover areas such as working in groups, advocacy, how government works, communication and participating in organisations.

The project aims are:

• Skill up refugee and migrant young people to be advocates and able to express their own needs and issues
• Develop culturally appropriate training modules that support refugee and migrant young people to participate on the WYPINM youth committee
• Explore ways of engaging refugee and migrant young people in youth participation
• Ensure refugee and migrant young people in the Western region have a voice

Contact: WYPIN
214 Nicholson St, Footscray, VIC 3011
Ph: (03) 9680 8265
www.vicnet.net.au/~wypin

Project Title:  Internet Café
Location:  Fairfield Migrant Resource Centre, NSW 
Community Based Project

Project Details
Fairfield Migrant Resource Centre will be running a joint pilot project in partnership with AiMES Employment for unemployed NESB young people living in the Fairfield LGA. The project will run for approximately 6 months and will operate on a drop in basis over 3 days. Objectives of the program will be to deliver information on employment, education and vocational training to NESB youth who are uncertain of their employment or training pathways.

The program will aim specifically at young people that are not eligible for intensive assistance and will use online resources to develop and build NESB young peoples understanding of the labour market.

Contact:  Nigel Hoffmann
Ph: (02) 9727 0477
Email: cpo@fmrc.net