Minutes

Friday, November6th2015

Whitehorse Community Centre, Level 1 Conference Room,

79 Mahoneys Road, Forest Hill.

  1. Present

Dilnaz BillimoriaWhitehorse Interfaith network

Leonie BurnhamECLC, Manager Inner East Office

Linda ChenCCOEI

Gitta ClaytonAMES, Volunteer Tutor Program

Chris CosgriffAnchor Chair, CCOEI

Heather CosgriffCCOEI

Glenis CrockerCCOEI

Miriam Decker Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN), Project Officer, Vulnerable Groups, Access and Diverse Communities

Dianne GodfreyDHS Centrelink - MSO

Marilyn GurryCCOEI, Swinburne University

Asher HirschRefugee Council of Australia, Policy Officer

Helen Jurcevic Women’s Friendship Group Inc.

Jenelle KellyVicPol Community Engagement, Acting Inspector

Sam NavarriaCCOEI

Andree O’DonnellAMES Settlement, Case Manager/Team Leader

Jane OrmondeDSS

Madeleine ParkerDepartment of Education and Training – School Development Officer, ESL

Tahseen Qadeer, Multicultural Communities Officer, Knox City

Cynthia ShawCCOEI

Sophie TodorovVicPol, Youth Resource Officer

Jessica ThompsonMigrant Information Centre, Settlement Community Development Officer

Sui Ting TseCCOEI

Apologies

Kelly AlfrisDepartment of Social Services, Settlement Grants Manager

Sandy Ashton, Eastern Health, Diversity Coordinator, Consumer Participation Patient Experience

Jack IntziadisDHS Centrelink, MSO

Jasmina MulugetaFoundation House

Saturnino OnyalaMSC, Settlement Support Worker

Railey OrgerCity of Whitehorse, Community Development Officer, Diversity

Saarah OzeerBounce - Director

Mehul PatelMIC Project Worker

Kirsten ReedyManningham

Elizabeth SidiropoulosVicPol MLO

Bwe ThaySwinburne University, AMEP Pathway Counsellor; CCOEI

Heidi TuckerAnchor, CEO

Clary VerbuntDutch Community, CCOEI

Fred WarrenHolmesglen TAFE

Guests

Julie McCleanHope Project

Karen communityKaren Women’s Choir

  1. Minutes October 2015 meeting: Minutes circulated electronically. Moved Chris Cosgriff, Seconded Sui Ting Tse – confirmed.
  1. Business Arising – incorporated in the agenda.
  2. Issues and concerns:MSC members can highlight issues for the attention of the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) and the appropriate Regional Advisory Council (RAC).
  3. Correspondence – relevant correspondence (initiatives, services, programs, etc.)circulated to MSC.
  1. Meeting Focus

(a)Update on the Thai/Burma Refugee Camps and theHope Project – Gitta Clayton and Julie McLean, Hope Team Members, and Karen Women Group.

Hope Project – background (Julie McClean)

After years of oppressive rule under a military junta people from various ethnic areas in Burma fled from their villages into refugee camps along the Thai/Burma Border. During this time, those who could not escape watched as their villages, schools and crops were burnt, civilians indiscriminately killed and some forced into slave labour. Most had little or no access to medical care or education for their children.

With the changing political environment in Burma and ceasefires in some of the ethnic areas, people can now start to see the seeds of hope for their future. The Hope Project, which started six years ago in response to dire situations reported by relatives of refugees living in refugee camps for many years,advocates for refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) on the Thai/Burma border and provides practical support through projects. It comprises of teams both in Australia and on the Thai/Burma border who work closely together.

“We support locals supporting locals: Our projects are planned and built by local people for local communities using local knowledge to target the communities with the greatest need.”

There are 4Hope Project areas: 'Border Basics' which helps with the basics of life such as medicine, food and education;'Border (RE)Build' which works with local people on small infrastructure projects such as schools and medical clinics; 'Leaders of Hope' which encourages future leaders through access to higher education; and ‘Churches of Hope’ which is partnering with local churches to bring hope to the border area. To date, the Hope Project has raised $300,000 to support projects.

The Hope Project recruits volunteers who all pay for their own trips to the border. Julie gave the example of a Melbourne lawyer who went to teach there for 3 months, and who has become fully immersed in the camp teaching basic law.

The Hope Project is formalising its processes and become a charitable organisation.

For more information on the Hope Project visit the website

The Hope team visit to Refugee camps on the Thai/Burma Border (Gitta Clayton)

The group consisted of 17+ participants including 6 Hope Project Core Team members.

The goal was to see projects funded by Hope and to meet with locals to hear what other projects needed support.The group also provided an information day about the Hope Project at TMK Migrant School, Thailand.

We all met in Mae Sariang a small town on the Thai/Burma border where we began our journey.

We met with several local organisations such as The Karen Women’s Organisation, Karen Office of Relief & Development, and the KED - Karen Education Department. The International Rescue Committee were able to give us an update on the recent flooding and loss of rice crops in the Delta Region, and the Refugee Committees in the various camps spoke with us about the situation on the border and in Burma and in particular the peace talks with the recent Nationwide Ceasefire signing. A staff member from a NZ funded organisation Spinning Top met with us and we visited their school and sewing project in Mae Sot.

We travelled in and out of Burma and Thailand several times by 4-wheel-drive and boat to visit small remote villages and refugee camps in Thailand and Burma including Mae La, Mae Ra Moo and Ee Tu Hta.Our travels included visits to TCI University in Burma, which was set in the jungle, The Peace Council area in Karen State and Mae Ka Nel, a village in Burma, and many other locations.We arranged for the cost of medical supplies and we saw these being delivered and collected by local medics who would take several days to deliver them to remote villages in Burma.

Some of our team interviewed and photographed Karen people for the purpose of documentary type material which we will be able to show in Australia to promote our project and provide more understanding about the Karen and their difficult situation.

The experience of visiting the Thai/Burma area is challenging both physically and emotionally, for example the journey to Mae Ra Moo was a 5 hour hazardous drive on bad roads, 38⁰ heat and 85% humidity, and difficult to climb muddy uphill tracks and stairs to reach the camp. People in Australia need to know that for the people in these camps it is not possible to go home as it is too dangerous. Firstly the military are in their home regions and secondly there are too many unexploded devices. It is heart wrenching to hear stories about how hard it is to come to Australia, and difficult to walk away not being able to help.

Learning Together – Karen Women Group

The Karen women attend a Friday morning group called 'Learning Together' at the TLC Church in Bayswater. This group was started by TLC Support Inc. in response to the needs of refugee women living locally who were lonely and isolated and did very little activity outside of the home during the week. This program has been running for the past 3 years and the women sew, cook, go on outings and practice conversational English as they go. The women love to sing and enjoy spending time together.

The women sang two beautiful songs, and also spoke about how long they lived in refugee camps (Mae La, Umphiem and Mae Ra Moo), with the longest 30 years and the shortest 13. Some were born at the camp or their children were born there. Members of the MSC were deeply moved to realise the long time these women had endured refugee camp life. Nearly all of the women have had an AMES Volunteer Tutor/attended English classes.

(b)AMES Volunteer Tutor Program (VTP)– Gitta Clayton

Gitta gave an overview of the VTP whose volunteers support AMEP and Settlement clients. The VTP is for students who cannot attend AMEP classes, with volunteers going to clients, e.g. usually to the client’s home but also at agreed locations like the local library, coffee shop, place of worship, local school; some engage clients in activities such as gardening, sewing, and music. Volunteers are matched with students on the basis of gender, interest etc. The tutor helps with English and, although not required, there is social contact and many tutors become closer to the family. Volunteers are available for a period of between 6 and 12 months. To be a VTP volunteerpeople must undertake a five week training program, which consists of a 2 ½ hour training session per week.

(c)Review of MSC 2015 activity and planning 2016 calendar of meetings, events and forums

Cynthia provided a short overview of the MSC Review Survey results (the survey link is still open for MSC members to provide input

Survey responses are anonymous. In total 23 people have responded.

Question 1:26% of respondents have been members for less than 12 months compared to 12% who have been members for over 15 years.

Question 2: Would your organisation be prepared to convene or host a forum? 64% said yes.

Question 3:Would your organisation be prepared to sign letters of support for funding? 44% said yes and 44 % said maybe.

Question 4:Topics for 2016 (top 5 in order of highest selection out of 15 choices)

  1. Youth - emerging concerns
  2. Current and future service initiatives and innovations
  3. Family Violence
  4. Refugees and Asylum seekers
  5. Older people from migrant and refugee backgrounds - age related concerns.

Question 5:Which of the following groups should be made a priority for 2016? In order of highest selection out of 7 choices

  1. Young people 16-24
  2. Families
  3. People looking for work
  4. People with a disability equal with Older Australians.

Question 6:Prioritize speakers, presentation and events for 2016 to gain a better understanding of specific communities and their needs. In order of highest selection out of 6 choices:

  1. People from Syrian background
  2. People from Iranian background
  3. People from Afghani, Iraqi and Sudanese backgrounds all equal.

Question 7:What do you or your organisation value the most?

  1. Working collaboratively to enhance services 33.33%
  2. Expanding my own knowledge through specialist speakers and presentations 33.33%
  3. Being part of a team that plans and delivers positive outcomes to marginalised people 33.33%
  4. Sharing my knowledge and expertise to assist others (Nil).

Question 8Are you satisfied with meeting procedures:

  • Minutes and Agenda 77.7% very satisfied 22.22% Satisfied
  • Start and end times: 83.33% very satisfied 11.11% satisfied 5.56% minor changes
  • Overall meeting procedures and reporting: 72.22% very satisfied; 27.78% satisfied
  • There were Nil unsatisfied
  • Comments: one person said that meetings go on too long perhaps 1.5 hours of quality discussion.

The results and other feedback will be used to develop the 2016 calendar. A draft will be circulated for the next MSC meeting.

  1. MSC 2015 Calendar: Sam noted achievements in 2015 particularly in relation to forums, and the delivery of various topics. The calendar is essentially a guide of meeting focus, activities and events which may change to take into account developments during the year.

MSC 2015 CALENDAR

MSC meeting dates / Meeting focus / Forums/functions/events dates and working groups / International Multicultural events Calendar
02 Jan / No meeting
06 Feb / Part A: Settlement Services in Victoria: Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) and theSettlement Services Grants (SSG)– panel of speakers from HSS and SSG providers (Teresa Lee and ToriDensley AMES; Judy McDougall MIC), the Department of Social Services (Josh Presser, DSS), and the Department of Human Services (Jack Intziadis and Maria deMonte DHS). / Forum: Community Safety and Crime prevention:Financial risks, elderly guarantors from Chinese background 10/02, Manningham.
Forum: Domestic Violence19/02. (Leonie, Jeska, Glenis, EACH, Foundation House). / February 1-7 United Nations Interfaith Harmony Week
06 March / Part B: Refugee and asylum seekers: the policy landscape and its challenges for advocacy organizations – Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre (RILC). Speaker: David Manne, Executive Director, Principal Solicitor and Migration Agent, RILC, and a RILC lawyer. / Harmony Day events.
Forum: Community Safety and crime prevention project: Elderly guarantors from Indian background and financial risks, late March. / March 21: Harmony Day
03 April / Good Friday – no meeting. / Forum: Community Safety and crime prevention: Elderly guarantors from Greek background and financial risks, late April (Effie, Athena/Adonis) / April 7 – World Health Organisation World Health Day
01 May / Part A: Refugee Women’s Health: how are services responding to the needs of refugee women, particularly young women?
Part B:Refugee Men’s Health:what are the main areas of concern and are men accessing available health services?
Speakers: Merilyn Spratling (Refugee Health Nurse Program, Refugee Health Nurse Coordinator, Clinical Services) and Dr Marion Bailes, Specialist GP. / May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development,
05 June / Initiatives and innovations that make a difference: brief presentations across sectors: Settled and Safe: Alaine Prime, Community Liaison Educator, Victoria Legal Aid
Women’s Friendship Group: Helen Jurcevic, President, Women’s Friendship Group Inc.
AMES Youth Program: Margot Hennessy, Manager Youth Programs, AMES
MIC Access and Support Program: Wanling Zhang, Access and Support Program, MIC
Safe Futures Foundation, Jin Jin Minehane, Gen Man Innovation & Foundation Development
TAFE Taster and Transition to Higher Education, Bwe Thay, Project Officer/AMEP Pathways Counselor, Swinburne Uni. of Tech.
The VTP Program: Gitta Clayton, Volunteer Tutor Coordinator, AMES – deferred to Nov meeting / Refugee Week:celebration of settlement in EMR. MSC/CCOEI, City of Manningham (Convenor: Kirsten; Cynthia, Sam, Bwe, Saturnino, Gitta Clayton, Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, Jasmina Mulugeta). / June 20 – UN World Refugee Day, June 26 – UN Day - Support of Victims of Torture
July 3 / No meeting
07 Aug / Australian Refugee and Humanitarian Program 2015-2016: Community views, current challenges, and future directions. Asher Hirsch, Policy Officer, Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) / CALD and mental health (postponed to 2016 and working group to be formed to include, Leonie and Railey).
04 Sept / Assisting refugeesthrough the everyday life maze (i.e. open a bank account; enrol kids in school, public transport, etc.). Hamidullah Nida, AMES Settlement (HSS), Manager Orientation. / Education and Training expomoved to 2016: invitations to working group: LLEN, AMEP and VET providers, Centrelink.
09 Oct / CALD elderly signing as guarantors for family members and the risks:
A Matter of Trust project (Glenis Crocker, CCOEI) – a snapshot of the project and outcomes);
CCOEI AGM 12.00.- 12.30 / Refugee health forumproposedThursday 25 February 2016, Willis Room, COW,Nunawading. Services for refugee/humanitarian entrants (EACH; Eastern Health; Cynthia, Glenis, Belinda, Refugee Nurse. MIC – Participating organizations to be confirmed). / October 17- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, UN calendar
06 Nov /
  1. Update on the Thai Burma Refugee Camps– Gitta Clayton;
  2. AMES Volunteer Tutor Program – overview of the program and “Meet a Volunteer” – Gitta Clayton;
  3. Review of the Migrant Settlement Committee 2015 program and the Strategic Plan for 2016 (calendar of speakers, forums and events) – Sam and Cynthia.
/ Refugee & CALD Youth EventMy choice – My Life
Venue: Swinburne University of Technology Croydon campus, 12/11/2015, 9:30am – 2:00 pm
Conveners: Bwe Thay and Saarah Ozeer. Organisations participating include:CCOEI, DHS Centrelink, BELS, Swinburne, Bounce, MIC, ECLC, VicPol, AMES, Maroondah Council Youth Team,Foundation Houseand YMCA, OELLEN, DOJ, Purpose: Pathways to further study and employment, innovative services and activities including sport (AFL and soccer). / November 16 - International Day for Tolerance
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,
04 Dec / Finalize MSC Calendar (meeting and events) for 2016. / Disability forum: how are CALD with a disability faring under the NDIS? – postponed to first half of 2016. / Dec 3rd: International Day for People with a disability.

Other areas of interest: 1) Human Rights Law Centre – a focus on CALD; 2) Amnesty International – its work locally and globally3) How culturally responsive are LGAs in the Eastern Metropolitan Region.

  1. Forum Reports

Refugee and CALD Youth forum for young people between 16-30 years will be delivered as scheduled on12 November 2015at the Swinburne University Croydoncampus. The forum program has been circulated. It is expected that in excess of 200 young people will attend. Information stalls of key services, education, employment, and local government will feature as well as interactive presentations addressing transition to higher education and pathway options, employment and legal rights, choosing vocational providers and courses wisely, and health. Various activities will be provided by the AFL, Melbourne City soccer, and Manningham YMCA Youth Services. The forum working party consisting of many different agencies has been meeting regularly.

Refugee Health Forum:MSC members interested in the working group include Glenis, Miriam, Dianne, ECLC. The Refugee Health Nurse Program will be approached (Marilyn Spratling). It is expected that the forum will be held in the first half of 2016 in the City of Whitehorse. Contact Sam or Cynthia to join the working group.

Disability forum with a focus on CALD and the NDIS:it is time to revisit this subject as it appears to have taken a back seat of late. People interested in the forum working group include Tahseen (Knox City), Miriam. At the next meeting of the MSC further interest will be canvassed.

Agency and individual reports