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SSI’s Ignite Program supports a diverse range of entrepreneurs from vulnerable communities, including in regional areas of NSW. Economic participation and social inclusion are at the heart of the Ignite program, recognising that meaningful employment is critical to a stable, secure and independent future for all Australians. Ignite facilitators use a human-centred approach to make sure that entrepreneurs can turn their ‘passion into possibility’.
Centacare FNQ’s Multicultural Community Leaders Network seeks to support multicultural communities to identify their priorities and meet their needs, by facilitating a platform for community associations to meet and discuss their strengths, challenges and goals; enhance social connectedness and participation; and provide opportunities for ongoing training and partnerships.
“All One Under the Sun” (AOUTS) evolved from a series of consultations with youth from refugee backgrounds about their experiences of racism in Coffs Harbour. The program aimed to develop an antiracism campaign using multi art form messaging designed by young people to spread the message that we are a stronger, more connected and inclusive community where we all feel safe and belong, when we come together to address this significant social justice issue.
PartnMelbourne Polytechnic’s Health Navigator Project was a collaborative project which embedded a 6-week health education elective unit into the English as an Additional Language curriculum. The course supported students to navigate the health system, increase their health literacy and feedback their own experiences. Pathways to employment were facilitated through collaboration with local health and settlement services, including volunteering positions and work as Bicultural Health Navigators. The Health Navigator Project was developed by MP in partnership with the Department of Health, Northern Health and Whittlesea Community Connections, and drawing from internal partnerships.
After intensive community information mapping, Centacare FNQ hosted a Vaccine Information Day at Centacare Multicultural Services. The day was an opportunity for community members to attend and learn about the COVID-19 vaccines, speak directly with a health professional from QLD Health who could answer questions on the spot, and register for COVID-19 vaccines with the support of Centacare caseworkers. The day also included a BBQ, music, and wellbeing activities.
The WOMHEn project, run by the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) employs 50 migrant and refugeewomen to form a rapid response health workforce. Funded by the Working for Victoria initiative, the project trains health educators to disseminate COVID-19 information and deliver multilingual health education in over 20 languages to migrant and refugee women.
In this case study, the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) worked with
NSW Health to establish their COVID-19 clinic that
provided culturally appropriate resources and directly
addressed the specific needs of the community to support
vaccine uptake and community protection from COVID-19.
The Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) opposes the proposed extension of the Newly
Arrived Residents Waiting Period (NARWP). These changes will have negative impacts on the
Australian economy, social cohesion in communities, and the wellbeing of Australian migrants.
The pre-COVID success of Australia’s economy is by no means an accident, instead, it is built
on one of the key pillars of sustained economic growth: a well-executed and supported
migration program. This program has financially supported Australians since the last major
global crisis, the Second World War, and is crucial to our recovery from the COVID-19
pandemic. In addition, the notion that permanent residents are to be taxed the same rate as
citizens whilst receiving no social support from the government taxing them contravenes the
notions of fairness Australia is built on, with substantial impacts on Australia’s social cohesion
as a result.
The Department of Home Affairs is consulting on proposed reforms to the AMEP business model, expected to commence in 2023. Our submission details our response to questions in the Discussion Paper.
Our feedback has been developed through consultations with our members, including AMEP providers and settlement service providers, with the view that the AMEP is an essential component of achieving good settlement outcomes. In our response we consider the need to empower AMEP providers to deliver quality services, as well as to ensure all settlement programs work together to achieve the same end goal of good settlement.