Settling In Palmerston North and Feilding - Human Rights Commission

Retaining Own Culture• ‘Cultural immersion for children is good’• ‘Maintaining mother’s Chinese tongue and at the same time learning English’• ‘Overall, there’s a good representation of the Filipino community in our locality. Although there are some minor problems, that is but normalfor a growing community.’• ‘Lack of strong support for children to learn the second language (English)’• ‘Worry that children loose culture, language’• ‘It is a challenge to be parent in a new cultural environment’• ‘New culture’• ‘New language – When my son try to explain what is the meaning of EAD ADHA (when we celebrate Hajj and scarified a lamb to give it topoor people) teacher and children laugh. My son embarrassed and came home crying and asking what is wrong in my talk.’• ‘No place to learn Indonesian culture – “I want to learn Indonesian language in school. I started to forget the language.” Wilda, 6’Feedback about What is Working Well• ‘I have a house, know how to drive, children with me – so no problem. All good – happy with the support and facilities available = such asincome support, counseling services, parenting, emotional support.’• ‘the group felt they had little/nothing to report – all felt they had more time now they were settled (possibly because they were “freed” fromwider family visits and obligations)’• ‘Work – flexitime, glide time is good and gives me that flexibility to mind my children, family and personal matters.’Feedback about What is not Working WellSETTLING IN PALMERSTON NORTH AND FEILDING• Difficulty connecting more isolated family members to the wider community (eg women and older people)• Accessing services to help with arising family issues, including appropriate parenting support• Coping with New Zealand norms and differences, and the intergenerational tension that this can createExisting Services and ActivitiesThere is a wide a range of service providers and government agencies operating in Palmerston North and Feilding to assist families andchildren. This includes government agencies, family support service providers, health providers and some more specific assistance such asthe support provided by Refugee Services volunteer teams (who are trained and appointed to work with each new refugee family).Opportunities and Suggestions for Further ActionActions that have been identified through the focus groups and consultation process are noted in the following table, with lead agencieshighlighted in bold. It is important to note that these actions are a starting point only – once sector groups have been established to progressthese issues, the actions are likely to evolve and partners may change over time.ACTIONEnsure that needs of wider family members are identified and planned for in early connection/orientation exercises with newcomer individuals and link into Newcomers NetworkIdentify those newcomer voices that may not have been captured and reflected in this report.Develop strategies to engage with those identified to ensure that they are includedFind ways to further utilise existing organisations to establish relationships with wider newcomerfamily, i.e. sports clubs, schools, churches (eg mobilising older members to establish grandparenttyperelationships with newcomer families experiencing particular isolation through separation fromextended family)PARTNERSManawatu Multicultural Centre (MMC),Newcomers Network, Refugee Services(RS), Feilding Ethnic GroupSettlement Support (SS), MMC, RS, –ongoingMMC, RS, Newcomers Network, FeildingEthnic GroupEnsure new resources include information about parenting support and information in the district (eglegal responsibilities around parenting, such as the age at which children can be left at home aloneand suggestions for managing work and parenting commitments/contacts for support advice, etc)Develop strategies to adapt / set up parenting support for newcomer families that is moreaccommodating of needs and differencesSS, RS, Family and Community Services(SKIP)Family and Community Services, Child,Youth & Family, Public Health46