annual report 2010 –2011 - Multicultural Development Association

Fleeing at Night | from i am here performance
We have to travel at night because of the war. Day travel is no good. I am eight. I don’t know where
I’m going. I know I’m going somewhere. How long is it going to take—this journey? I’m going to
see my mum. What about my brother, what about my town; will I ever see it again? I have to stay
awake… anything could happen. I’m tired, I want to sleep.
Bicultural Support Services
Don’t go to sleep, anything could happen, keep your eyes open.
Small Mercies
In 2010, MDA became a partner in the Small Mercies project, which aims to develop a framework
for best practice in protecting, nurturing and respecting refugee children and youth, and
eventually all migrant children, in Australia.
It is an Australian Refugee Council (ARC) research project led by Professor Mary Crock of the
University of Sydney. This project is an interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral research partnership
between:
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leading academics
key human rights bodies
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Amnesty International
key community organisations around Australia including:
• the Multicultural Development Association in Queensland
• the Centre for Multicultural Youth in Victoria
• the Refugee Advice and Casework Service in NSW
Bicultural Support Services coordinates the many talented Cultural Support Workers (CSWs)
who assist with settlement support, provision of support to children’s services and cultural
consultancy. The 200 CSWs speak 97 different languages and come from 52 ethnic backgrounds.
In settlement, CSWs assist with providing support to newly arrived refugees and migrants.
They help a Case Manager in the process of assessment, support with practical settlementrelated
tasks with a client and/or provide cultural advice when required.
In support to children services, CSWs provide the assistance to eligible child care services to
build the capacity of the child care service staff in working with families and children from
diverse cultural backgrounds. They provide language support to the child and the families
to break down the barriers and help to build their confidence and trust.
In cultural consultancy, CSWs assist other organisations that work with diverse client groups
in overcoming a variety of different language and cultural barriers. They provide support to
understand the cultural needs of the clients by providing insight into specific cultural practices
as well as providing language support for effective communication.
Get Set for Work
MDA’s Get Set for Work Program “Get on Track” is a work readiness program targeting refugee
and migrant young people between the ages of 15 and 19. The program works with youth
who are unemployed, have left school early or are otherwise disengaged from mainstream
training and education.
For more details, refer to the employment section.
Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network
MDA has served as interim Queensland representative to this network since April 2011.
The national network plays a major role in voicing the needs of young people from diverse
backgrounds.
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