Settling In Palmerston North and Feilding - Human Rights Commission

and older people)• Compiling contact details for interpreters / translation services and making them available to newcomers, service providers and others• Building on the success of the interpreting workshops• Providing key newcomer information to schools, ECE providers (cultural norms and taboos, links to contacts and interpreters, strategies forworking with newcomer clients).8. Positive AgeingKey issues were raised in relation to:• A lack of support networks for older newcomers, including living alone support• More services and activities for older newcomers including those to promote healthy living (eg exercise classes)• Isolation and communications barriers• Transport difficulties• Cost of living concerns• Cultural maintenance for older newcomers and their families – concerns about grandchildren losing their cultural heritage.Suggestions for further action included:• Further exploring issues and opportunities for older newcomers with key agencies, churches and others• Linking newcomers into existing strategies for older people• Developing targeted activities for newcomers (eg language, exercise, cultural, social)9. Safety and SecurityKey issues were raised in relation to:• Racism and bullying• Crime• Neighbourhood support and safety• Family violence.Suggestions for further action included:• Developing a tool for reporting incidents to the Police and other agencies• Ongoing participation of the Police at community events and relationship building with newcomer communities• Providing key newcomer information to Victim Support, family violence services and other agencies• Ensuring racism is included in any work with schools / students on bullying• Ensuring information / contacts for family violence support services is available at key places – linking into broader FV taskforce work.10. Vibrant and Optimistic Young PeopleKey issues were raised in relation to:• School – fitting in, language problems, lack of capacity to accommodate differences• Sufficient and appropriate social activities for newcomer young people• Engaging newcomer young people in mainstream youth activities• retaining culture in New Zealand• Language barriers and feelings of difference.Suggestions for further action included:• Linking Settling In work to Palmerston North City Council ‘Youth Think Tank’• Providing key newcomer information to schools, ECE providers (cultural norms and taboos, links to contacts and interpreters, strategies forworking with newcomer clients)• Developing strategies to improve parenting support for newcomers (focus on parents of teenagers)• Developing a Youth Leadership Day involving newcomer young people• Developing strategies to link newcomer young people into existing youth-focused activities and opportunities.11. International StudentsSETTLING IN PALMERSTON NORTH AND FEILDINGKey issues were raised in relation to:• Connecting with the wider community (including suitable entertainment and experiences of racism)• Spouses and families (including employment, training and voluntary work for spouses, and schooling concerns)• Access to health services (including cultural considerations and insurance concerns)• Lack of cohesion and coordination between services• Employment difficulties• Immigration/visa requirements• Housing – size, cost, quality• Transport difficulties – cost and availability.7