VICTORIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT MULTICULTURAL SSUES … · This Background Paper, titled ‘The Role of...

VLGMIN:TheRoleofLocalGovernmentinSettlementandMulticulturalism 2014

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VICTORIANLOCALGOVERNMENTMULTICULTURALISSUESNETWORK

ANDMUNICIPALASSOCIATIONOFVICTORIA

BACKGROUNDPAPER

Prepared by

THEROLEOFLOCALGOVERNMENTINSETTLEMENTAND

MULTICULTURALISM

March2014


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This Background Paper has been prepared by Maria Dimopoulos and Georgia Prattis from MyriaDConsultants on behalf of the Victorian Local Government Multicultural Issues Network (VLGMIN) andsupportedbytheMunicipalAssociationofVictoria.

MyriaDConsultantsisaprofessionalconsultingfirmwithknowledgeandexperienceinthespecialisedareaof assisting organisations to improve their practice of project, program and/or portfolio management,particularly in relation tomulticulturalandsettlementservices.Wearealsocommitted tosupportingandbuilding the necessary leadership and organisational capabilities that enable projects and programs toacceleratetheimplementationoftheirorganisationalstrategyandtheachievementofbusinessresults.

�Acknowledgements

MyriaD Consultants wish to acknowledge the support and advice of Con Pagonis from the MunicipalAssociationVictoriawhosecontributionswereinvaluableinthedevelopmentofthepaper.

�Disclaimer

ThisreporthasbeenproducedbyMyriaDConsultantsontherequestoftheVictorianLocalGovernmentMulticulturalIssuesNetworkandtheMunicipalAssociationofVictoria.TheviewsexpressedinthisReportarenotnecessarilytheviewsoftheVLGMINortheMAV.MyriaDConsultantsPtyLtddonotexpressanopinionastotheaccuracyorcompletenessoftheinformationprovidedinthisbackgroundpaper.

MyriaD Consultants Pty Ltd expressly disclaim any liability to any person or entity in respect of any actiontakenornottakeninrelianceonthecontentsofthisdocument.ThecontentsofthisreportwerecurrentasatMarch2014.

Pleasenotethatsomecontentmaybeoutofdategivensignificantchangeswithinthesectoroverthelastthreeyears. MyriaDConsultantsPtyLtdPOBox439Altona3018VICPh:+6139315c0902Fax:+61393150136myriad@myriadconsultants.com.auwww.myriadconsultants.com.au


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Contents AcknowledgementofCountry 3 AcronymsandAbbreviations 4 Foreword 6 ABriefGuidetothisBackgroundPaper

7

1. Australia’sLegislativeFrameworkandContextformulticulturalismandsettlement–anoverview

9

1.1 KeyAustralianLegislationandContext 9 1.2 KeyStateLegislationandContext 11 1.3 KeyLocalGovernmentLegislationandContext

13

2. MigrationandSettlement–theGlobalContext 14 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 AnOverviewofcontributionsmadebyMigrants 14 2.3 ReportoftheSpecialRapporteurontheHumanRightsofMigrants2013,

UNGeneralAssembly15

2.4 High-LevelDialogueonInternationalMigrationandDevelopment

16

3. MulticulturalismandSettlement–theAustralianContext 20 3.1 ApproachestoStrengtheningMulticulturalism 21 3.2 Australia’sPlanningFrameworkforSettlementServices

22

4. TheRoleofLocalGovernmentinSettlementandMulticulturalism 24 4.1 Introduction 24 4.2 TheAustralianLocalGovernmentAssociation(ALGA)Position 25 4.3 TheMunicipalAssociationofVictoria(MAV)Position 28 4.4 TheRoleofLocalGovernmentinSettlementandMulticulturalism–

WhereToFromHere?

34

5. ShowcasingGoodPracticeinVictorianLocalGovernment 37

Appendices

47A1. Australia’sLegislativeFrameworkandContextformulticulturalismandsettlement 48A2. Victoria’sLegislativeFrameworkandContextformulticulturalismandsettlement 60A3. InternationalConventionsandProtocolsrelevanttoMulticulturalismandSettlement 74A4. Australia’sDemographics 78A5. DefiningSettlementandIntegration 84A6. EvolutionofSettlementPolicyandPlanninginAustralia 90A7. VLGMINForum2011–KeyOutcomes 97A8. InternationalExamples–LocalGovernmentRolesinSettlement 98 References

108


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Acknowledgement of Country

The authors of this report acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians andrecognisethedistinctiverightsthatIndigenousAustraliansholdastheoriginalpeoplesofthisland.

The Municipal Association of Victoria supports local government’s capacity and knowledge tostrengthenrelationshipswithVictoria’sIndigenouscommunities.

Localgovernment,throughitsstrongcommunity linksandlocalrepresentation, is ideallyplacedtoprovideleadershipinstrengtheningrelationshipswithIndigenousAustralians.

ReconciliationwithAustralia’straditionalownersisanoutcomethatMAVstrivefor.

TheMAVadvocateawhole-of-governmentframeworkforIndigenousissuesandencouragepositiverelationships tobedevelopedbetween localgovernmentand Indigenouscommunities throughoutVictoria.

Councilscanencouragegreaterunity,knowledgeandrespectforthefirstoccupantsofourlandbydevelopingpartnershipopportunitieswithAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandercommunities


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Acronyms and Abbreviations

ABS AustralianBureauofStatistics

ACBPS AustralianCustomsandBorderProtectionService

AHRC AustralianHumanRightsCommission

ALGA AustralianLocalGovernmentAssociations

AMEP AdultMigrantEnglishProgramme

AMES AdultMigrantEnglishServices

AMF AustralianMulticulturalFoundation

APRO AustralianPartnershipOfReligiousOrganisations

AUSCO AustralianCulturalOrientation

BVES BridgingVisaEs

CALD Culturallyandlinguisticallydiverse

CBO CommunityBasedOrganizations

CRC ConventionontheRightsoftheChild

CEDAW ConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen

CMY CentreforMulticulturalYouth

COAG CouncilofAustralianGovernments

DIBP DepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtection

DSS DepartmentofSocialServices

EAL EnglishasAnotherLanguage

ECCV EthnicCommunities’CouncilofVictoria

ESL EnglishasaSecondLanguage

FBO Faith–BasedOrganization

FASSTT ForumofAustralianServicesforSurvivorsofTortureandTrauma

FECCA FederationofEthnicCommunities’CouncilsofAustralia

HSS HumanitarianSettlementSupport

IARC ImmigrationAdvice&RightsCentreInc

ICCPR InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights

ICERD InternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination

IOM InternationalOrganizationforMigration

LEAD LocalitiesEmbracingandAcceptingDiversityProject

MARA OfficeoftheMigrationAgentsRegistrationAuthority

MAV MunicipalAssociationVictoria


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MCA MigrationCouncilofAustralia

MHIMA MentalHealthinMulticulturalAustralia

MRC MigrantResourceCentre

MRT-RRT MigrationReviewTribunalandRefugeeReviewTribunal

MYAN MulticulturalYouthAffairsNetwork

NAATI NationalAccreditationAuthorityforTranslatorsandInterpreters

NEMBC NationalEthnicandMulticulturalBroadcasters’Council

NESB Non-English-speakingbackground

NGO Non-governmentorganisation

OMAC OfficeofMulticulturalAffairs&Citizenship

OSB OperationSovereignBorders

RDA RacialDiscriminationAct

RRSP RightsandResponsibilitiesSeminarProgram

RCOA RefugeeCouncilofAustralia

SBS SpecialBroadcastingServices

SCOA SettlementCouncilofAustralia

SCU SettlementCoordinationUnitOffice

SGP SettlementGrantsProgram

TIS NationalTranslatingandInterpretingService

UN UnitedNations

UNAOC UnitedNationsAllianceofCivilizations

UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme

UNESCO UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization

UNICEF UnitedNationsChildren’sFund

UNHCR UnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees

VEOHRC VictorianEqualOpportunity&HumanRightsCommission

VICHEALTH VictorianHealthPromotionFoundation

VLGMIN VictorianLocalGovernmentMulticulturalIssuesNetwork

VMC VictorianMulticulturalCommission

WELL WorkplaceEnglishLanguageandLiteracyProgram


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Foreword

byEugeniaGrammatikakis

Chairperson,VictorianLocalGovernmentMulticulturalIssuesNetwork

IampleasedtopresenttheVictorianLocalGovernmentMulticulturalIssuesNetwork(VLGMIN)BackgroundPaperon‘TheRoleofLocalGovernmentinSettlementandMulticulturalism’.ThisBackgroundPaperwaspreparedbyMyriadConsultantsfollowingtheVLGMINannualforumheldinSeptember2011inpartnershipwiththeMunicipalAssociationofVictoria.TheVLGMINhadidentifiedtheneedtoconsidertheroleofcouncilsintheprovisionofsettlementservicestonewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugeesandtheirrelationshipwiththeothertiersofgovernmentinthecontextofchangesbytheCommonwealthtothewayinwhichitmanagesthecoordinationofsettlementservicesacrossAustralia.LocalGovernmentisthelevelofgovernmentclosesttoCommunitiesandplaysasignificantroleininfluencingeconomiesandcommunitieslocally.LocalGovernmentisoftenthefirstportofcallformanyresidentsincludingrecentarrivalsfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.VLGMINhasobservedthatcouncilshaveincreasinglybeenprovidingservices,supportandprogramstonewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugeeseventhoughtheyarenotfundedtodoso.TheprovisionofsettlementservicesisviewedascriticaltothesupportofnewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugeestosuccessfullysettleintheAustraliancommunity.ThisBackgroundPaperbuildsonthe2011Forumwhichexaminedtherolesofthethreetiersofgovernmentinrelationtosettlementprovision;systemicinteragencycoordinationofsettlementservices;andtheroleoflocalgovernmentinmanagingcommunityrelationsatthemunicipallevelasissuesarisefromlocaldiversity.Itspecificallydrawstheattentiontointernational,national,stateandlocalpolicyenvironmentsregardingtheprovisionofsettlementservicesandwouldbeagreatresourceforlocalcouncilsandinparticularCouncilOfficerswhomanagemulticulturalpolicydevelopmentandserviceprovision.Icommendthisresourcetoyou.

Eugenia Grammatikakis Chairperson


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A Brief Guide to this Background Paper

�Overview

ThisBackgroundPaper,titled‘TheRoleofLocalGovernmentInSettlementandMulticulturalism’istheculminationofaseriesofactivitiesundertakenbytheVLGMINandsupportedbytheMunicipalAssociation of Victoria, including a major stakeholder forum in 2011 involving all three tiers ofgovernment in dialogue around local government’s role in settlement1. Since the forum, theinternational, national, state and local policy environments relating to the settlement andintegrationofnewlyarrivedresidentsinAustraliahaschangedsignificantly.

As a result, MyriaD Consultants was commissioned to prepare a background paper aimed atproviding information in relation to what is happening at both policy and practical levels onsettlement,integrationandmulticulturalismanditsapplicationtothelocalgovernmentcontext.

■PurposeandStructureofthisPaper

ThisPaperprovidesausefulresourceforCouncilsandotherstakeholders,andpositionstheVLGMINand the MAV to contribute in productive and meaningful dialogue relating to State and FederalapproachestoSettlementPlanning.

ThePaperissetoutinthefollowingsections:

Australia’s Legislative Framework and Context for multiculturalism and settlement – anoverview

MigrationandSettlement–theGlobalContext MulticulturalismandSettlement–theAustralianContext TheRoleofLocalGovernmentinSettlementandMulticulturalism ShowcasingGoodPracticeinVictorianLocalGovernment

AseriesofAppendiceshavealsobeendevelopedasausefulresourceforCouncilstosupporttheirworkaroundmulticulturalismandsettlement.

�AbouttheVLGMIN

TheVictorianLocalGovernmentMulticulturalIssuesNetwork(VLGMIN)hasbeenoperatingforover20yearsandhasbeenanimportantavenueofsupportandinformationsharingforlocalgovernmentpractitionersandotherprofessionalswithaninterestinmulticulturalissues.

The VLGMIN has observed that there has been a significant change in how settlement is beingcoordinated in thestates includingthecoordinationof theLocalSettlementPlanningCommittees,anditarguesthatthereneedstobeare-examinationoftherolesofthethreetiersofgovernmentinrelation to settlement provision, the need for better systemic interagency coordination ofsettlementservices,andaclearerunderstandingofcommunity relations rolesat the local levelasissuesarisefromlocaldiversity.

1SeeAppendix1forasummaryoftheVLGMIN2011ForumOutcomes


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�AbouttheMAV

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is the peak representative body for Victoria's 79councils.TheMAVwas formed in1879and is theofficialvoiceof localgovernment inVictoria,asstipulated in theMunicipalAssociationAct1907.Today, theMAV isadrivingand influential forcebehindastrongandstrategically-positionedlocalgovernmentsector.TheMAV’sroleistorepresentand advocate the interests of local government, raise the sector's profile, ensure its long-termsecurity, facilitateeffectivenetworks,supportcouncilors,providepolicyandstrategicadvice,offercapacity-buildingprogramsandprovideinsuranceservicestolocalgovernment.


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1. Legislative Framework and Context – an overview

Multiculturalism is supported by key legislation and policies at Australian, State and localgovernmentlevels.Thissectionprovidesanoverviewofrelevantlegislationandpolicies.TheyaredocumentedingreaterdetailinAppendix1.

1.1 KEYAUSTRALIANLEGISLATIONANDCONTEXT

HumanRightandEqualOpportunityAct1986

TheHumanRightsandEqualOpportunityCommissionAct1986cameafterAustraliasignedtheUnitedNations':

• InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights• DeclarationontheRightsoftheChild• DeclarationontheRightsofMentallyRetardedPersons• DeclarationontheRightsofDisabledPersons.

andtheInternationalLabourOrganization's:

• Convention111,concerningdiscriminationinemploymentandoccupation• Convention156,concerningworkerswithfamilyresponsibilities.

ThisActmakesitunlawfultodiscriminateagainstpeoplebecauseoftheirrace,colour,sex,religion,politicalopinion(inemploymentonly),nationalextractionorsocialorigin,age,medicalrecord,irrelevantcriminalrecord(inemploymentonly),impairment,maritalstatus,mental,intellectualorpsychiatricdisability,nationality,physicaldisability,sexualpreference(inemploymentonly)andtradeunionactivity(inemploymentonly).

RacialDiscriminationAct19752

Australia’sRacialDiscriminationAct1975(RDA)isthekeypieceofnationallegislationwhichdefendstheprincipleofequitybeforelawforpeopleofallraces,nationalandethnicbackgrounds.TheRDArespondstobasichumanrightscommitmentssubscribedtobyAustraliaunderinternationalcovenants,whichsupporttherighttoculturalself-determinationandprohibitdiscriminationonthebasisofraceorreligioninareasofemployment,education,sport,andinbuyinggoodsandusingservices.

2 AsatMarch2014,theAustralianFederalGovernmenthasreleasedanexposuredraftonchangestotheRacialDiscriminationAct1975(Cth).UnderchangesproposedbyAttorney-GeneralGeorgeBrandis,section18CoftheRacialDiscriminationAct,whichmakesitunlawfulforsomeonetoactinamannerlikelyto''offend,insult,humiliateorintimidate''someonebecauseoftheirraceorethnicity,wouldberepealed. Section18D,whichprovidesprotectionsforfreedomofspeech,willalsoberemovedandreplacedbyasectionthatremovesthewords''offend,insultandhumiliate'',leaves''intimidate''andaddstheword''vilify''forthefirsttime.Sections18Band18Ewouldalsoberepealed.Theyincludeprovisionsthatcanmakeemployersliableforrace-hatespeech.


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PeopleofAustralia–theAustralianGovernment’sMulticulturalPolicyStatement2011

Australia'smulticulturalpolicy,ThePeopleofAustralia,isalandmarkpolicylaunchedundertheLaborGovernmentin2011.

Thepolicyacknowledgesthatgovernmentservicesandprogramsmustberesponsivetotheneedsofculturallyandlinguisticallydiversecommunities.ItcommitstoanaccessandequityframeworktoensurethattheonusisongovernmenttoprovideequitableservicestoAustraliansfromallbackgrounds.

Therearefourprinciplesthatunderpinthismulticulturalpolicy:

• TheAustralianGovernmentcelebratesandvaluesthebenefitsofculturaldiversityforallAustralians,withinthebroaderaimsofnationalunity,communityharmonyandmaintenanceofourdemocraticvalues.

• TheAustralianGovernmentiscommittedtoajust,inclusiveandsociallycohesivesocietywhereeveryonecanparticipateintheopportunitiesthatAustraliaoffersandwheregovernmentservicesareresponsivetotheneedsofAustraliansfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.

• TheAustralianGovernmentwelcomestheeconomic,tradeandinvestmentbenefits,whicharisefromoursuccessfulmulticulturalnation.

• TheAustralianGovernmentwillacttopromoteunderstandingandacceptancewhilerespondingtoexpressionsofintoleranceanddiscriminationwithstrength,andwherenecessary,withtheforceofthelaw.

Thereareanumberofimportantinitiativesthatcontinuetosupportthepolicyunderthenewcoalitiongovernment:

• NationalAnti-RacismPartnershipandStrategy• MulticulturalAccessandEquity

ServicesforAll–AustralianLocalGovernmentAssociation

TheALGAServicesForAll-PromotingAccessAndEquityInLocalGovernmentpublicationisdesignedtoassistCouncilsintakingaproactiveapproachtoprovidingaccesstoqualityservicesand‘afairgo’forallresidents.ItsupportsCouncilsthroughoutAustraliatoassessanddeveloptheirresponsetodemandsforaccessandequity,andincorporatetheprinciplesofaccessandequityintotheircorporateplanningprocesses.TheapproachtakenisconsistentwiththeIntegratedLocalAreaPlanning(ILAP)principles.ServicesForAllsetsout:

• the context for Local Government involvement in access and equity, and the role ofIntegratedLocalAreaPlanninginaddressingculturaldiversity.

• policyinitiativesintheareaofaccessandequityforallthreespheresofgovernment-Local,State/TerritoryandCommonwealth.

• an overview of the Charter of Public Service for a Culturally Diverse Society is presented,includingparticularconsiderationsforLocalGovernment.


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• practical suggestions for Local Government to promote access and equity through all itsactivities, including setting strategic directions for the organisation as a whole, anddevelopingitscustomerfocus.

1.2 KEYSTATELEGISLATIONANDCONTEXT

VictorianMulticulturalAct2011

TheVictorianMulticulturalAct2011establisheskeyprinciplestofosteracommonunderstandingofculturaldiversity.Italsoacknowledgesthepositiveeffectofculturaldiversityonsocial,culturalandeconomiclifeinVictoria.

TheActcameintoeffecton1September2011andrecognisesinitspreamblethatoneofthecentraltenetsofmulticulturalismiscitizenshipandthattheexpressioncitizenshipisnotlimitedtoformalAustraliancitizenship,butreferstotherightsandresponsibilitiesofallpeopleinamulticulturalsociety

ItrequiresallVictorianGovernmentdepartmentstoreportannuallyontheirachievementsandinitiativesinmulticulturalaffairs,includingtheiruseoflanguageservices,multiculturalcommunicationsandmulticulturalrepresentationongovernmentboardsandcommittees.

ItisarequirementundertheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011thatallVictorianGovernmentdepartmentsreportannuallyonmulticulturalachievementsandinitiatives.

TheActalsorequirestheVictorianMulticulturalCommissiontoconsultwiththecommunityonthecontentofeachreport.Feedbackfromtheseconsultationsinformsdepartments'futureplanningformulticulturalservicedelivery.

RacialandReligiousToleranceAct2001

TheRacialandReligiousToleranceAct2001waspassedbytheVictorianParliamenton14June2001andcameintoeffecton1January2002.InJune2006,theActwasamendedfollowingconsultationwiththemulti-faithcommunity.

TheActprohibitsracialandreligiousvilification.Vilificationispublicbehaviourthatinciteshatredagainst,seriouscontemptfor,orrevulsionorsevereridiculeofanotherpersonorgroupofpeoplebecauseoftheirraceorreligion.Itsetsahighstandardfordeterminingvilification,anditisonlyinextremeandseriouscasesthatvilificationwillbefoundtohaveoccurred.

TheActprovidesacommunitystandardaboutourresponsibilitytowardseachotherinamulticulturalsociety.Itseekstoensurethatpeoplearetreatedwithdignityandrespect,regardlessoftheirparticularraceorreligion,anddonotbecometargetsofvilifyingbehaviour.

VictorianEqualOpportunityAct2010

TheobjectivesoftheVictorianEqualOpportunityAct2010include:

• Promotingeveryone’srighttoequalopportunity;• Eliminatingasfaraspossiblediscriminationandsexualharassment;• Providingredressforpeoplewhoserightshavebeenbreached;and


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• Empowering theVictorianHumanRights andEqualOpportunityCommission toenter intoenforceableundertakingswheresystemicdiscriminationexistswithinorganisations.

Victoria’sAdvantage-UnityDiversityOpportunity

InMarch2014theVictorianGovernmentlauncheditsnewMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenshipPolicywhich:

• ReaffirmstheGovernment’ssupportforVictoria’scultural,linguisticandreligiousdiversityasastrengththatprovidesbenefitsforallVictorians.

• BuildsupontheprinciplesandvaluesofmulticulturalismandcitizenshipenshrinedintheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011

• RecognisestheimportanceofVictoria’swholeofgovernmentapproachtomulticulturalaffairsandsettlementascriticaltoachieveeffectiveservicedeliveryandoutcomes

• Identifiesthedemographicchanges,opportunitiesandchallengesthatVictorianeedstorespondtocontinuetoshapeapositivefutureforourmulticulturalsociety

• OutlinestheGovernment’sobjectivesandcommitmentstomaximisethebenefitsofourdiversity,promotecitizenship,participationandsocialcohesion,anddeliveraccessibleandresponsiveservicestoVictoriansfromdiversebackgrounds.

ThePolicyisorganisedunderthreethemesidentifiedascriticaltofosteringafair,inclusiveandharmoniousmulticulturalVictoria:

• Maximisingthebenefitofourdiversity• Citizenship,participationandsocialcohesion• Accessibleandresponsiveservices

LevelsofGovernmentworkingtogether

ThePolicyrecognisesthateachlevelofgovernment–state,commonwealthandlocal–playsacomplementaryandcollaborativeroleinpromotingsocialinclusion,enhancingparticipationincivicsocietyandmakingthemostoftheopportunitiesthatculturaldiversitybrings.

ThePolicystatesthatlocalgovernmentcontributestothemulticulturalsuccessofVictoria.Byworkingwithpeopleintheneighbourhoodsandplacesinwhichtheyliveandwork,localcouncilsacrossVictoriahelpnewarrivalsaccesslocalfacilitiesandservices,andstrengthensocialcohesionandunderstandingbybringingcommunitiestogether.

VictorianMulticulturalCommissionRegionalAdvisoryCouncils(RAC’s)

In2012theVMCestablishedeightRACsacrosstheState.TheaimsoftheRACsaretoprovideadvicetotheVMConmigrantandrefugeesettlement,multiculturalaffairs,servicedeliveryandcitizenshipissues;advocateonbehalfofCALDcommunities;andpromotethebenefitsofculturalandreligiousdiversityatthelocallevel.ThreeRACsarebasedinMelbourneandfivearebasedinregionalVictoria.

EachoftheeightRACshasuptothirteenappointedmembers(includinguptothreefromlocalcouncils)andmeetsthreetimesayear.

VictorianRegionalAdvisoryCouncil(RAC)membersarepeoplewiththecapabilitiesandexpertisetocontributelocalinformationaboutmulticulturalaffairs,settlementandcitizenshipissues.


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Appointeesareexpectedtorepresentthebroadinterestsoftheregionandmustbeavailableforparticipationincommitteemeetingsandactivities.CurrentRACmembershavebeenappointedforatwoyeartermfromFebruary2012toFebruary2014.

1.3 KEYLOCALGOVERNMENTLEGISLATIONANDCONTEXT

LocalGovernmentAct1989

All79CouncilsacrossVictoriaarerequiredtooperateinaccordancewiththeLocalGovernmentAct1989.TheActrequiresthatCouncils:

• Improveoverallqualityoflifeofpeopleinthecommunity• Ensureservicesdeliveredareequitableandaccessible• Actingasarepresentativegovernmentbytakingintoaccountthediverseneedsofthelocal

community in decision-making, and fostering community cohesion andencouraging activeparticipationinciviclife.

MunicipalAssociationofVictoria(MAV)StatementofCommitmenttoCulturalDiversity

TheMAVcommitmenttoculturaldiversityaimstopromoteandfacilitategoodmulticulturalpracticeandleadershipinthelocalgovernmentsectorandacrosslocalgovernmentinVictoria.ThecommitmentoutlinestheMAVroleinsupportingthebuildingofstrongandhealthycommunitiesfreefrominequalitybyharnessingandnurturingtherichnessofculturaldiversity.


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2. Migration – The Global Context

“Migrationisanexpressionofthehumanaspirationfordignity,safetyandabetterfuture.Itispartofthesocialfabric,partofourverymake-upasahumanfamily.Itwouldbenaivetooverlookthecosts,includingthehumancosts.Yetevenscepticshavetorecognizethatmigrationhasbecomeafundamentalpartofourglobalisedworld.”

UNSecretary-GeneralBanKi-moon,UNHigh-levelDialogueonInternationalMigrationandDevelopmentinOctober2013

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Internationalmigration is a global phenomenon that is growing in scope, complexity and impact.Today, virtually all countries in the world are simultaneously countries of destination, origin andtransit for international migrants. Traditional migration patterns are complemented by newmigratory flows, fuelled by changing economic, demographic, political and social conditions.Changing migration patterns affect the size and composition of migrant populations as well aseconomiesandsocietiesincountriesoforiginanddestination.

In 2013 the number of internationalmigrants worldwide reached 232million3. The rise in globalmobility, the growing complexity of migratory patterns and the impact of such movements ondevelopment have all contributed to international migration becoming a priority for theinternationalcommunity.

In Europe, prolonged recession and stagnant employment growth have led to anti-immigrantsentiment and to proposed legislation to restrict the rights of migrants in countries such asSwitzerlandandtheUnitedKingdom.

In this context, internationalUN ledmemberorganisationsare increasingly focusing theirwork toadvanceunderstandingandcooperationonthemutuallyreinforcingrelationshipbetweenmigrationanddevelopmentandtofosterpracticalandaction-orientedoutcomes.

2.2 ANOVERVIEWOFCONTRIBUTIONSMADEBYMIGRANTS

Whenpeoplemovetoanewcountry,they:• Spreadideasandculture• Increaseentrepreneurialismandnewthinking(thefoundersofGoogle,YahooandIntelare

allmigrants,asareadisproportionatenumberofNobelPrizewinners)• Helpcountriesdealwithskillsshortages• Supporttheeconomythroughtaxcontributionsandlocalspending• Increaseglobalconnections,promotingfriendshipandtradebetweennations

3GeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNationshttp://www.un.org/en/ga/68/meetings/migration/


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As economies and populations expand, pressure on the local workforcemounts.Many countriesnowlooktohigh-skilledmigrantstoworkingrowingsectorsoftheeconomyoroneswherethereisashortageinlocaltalent,suchashealthcare,educationandinformationtechnology.

Today,healthcaresystemsacrosstheEUwouldbeincapableofprovidingthelevelsofcarepeopleexpect, were it not for skilled staff coming from overseas. Over the last 30 years the number ofmigranthealthworkersinmanyEuropeancountrieshasincreasedbymorethan5%ayear.

IncountriesoftheOECD(OrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment),around20%ofdoctorshavecomefromabroad.InParis,halfofalldoctorscurrentlyworkingaremigrantsorfromamigrantbackground.SomeeconomiesofGulfCooperationCouncilcountriesarethemostreliantonmigration,withmigrantsmakingupnearlynineoutoftenemployees.

Migration not only createsmore opportunities for people to specialise in their field ofwork, butgeneratesdirecteconomicbenefitsfortheplaceswheretheymove.

In Austria, the purchasing power ofmigrants has been estimated at €20 billion. This exceeds theestimated spend of foreign tourists. In the UK, migrants contributed about £25 billion to thenationaleconomyin2013.

Many migrants leave families and dependents back in their home countries as they seekopportunities abroad. A significant part of their income goes back to their home, in the formofremittances, to support those left behind. According to some economists , remittances are thesingle largest source of external finance for developing countries. These remittances have asignificant positive effect on the places receiving them,with analysis showing a direct impact onreducingpoverty,whichinturntypicallyleadstoimprovedhealthandeducationlevels.

Manyskilledmigrantsreturnhometo fosternew industries,aswellasbringingsocialandculturalresourcesthatcaninfluenceentrepreneurshipandfamily,socialandpoliticallife.

2.3 REPORTOFTHESPECIALRAPPORTEURONTHEHUMANRIGHTSOFMIGRANTS2013,UNGENERALASSEMBLY

The2013reportbytheSpecialRapporteuronthehumanrightsofmigrants(thematicsection)isdedicatedtoglobalmigrationgovernance.Thereportprovidesanoverviewofglobalmigrationgovernance,includingrecentdevelopmentsandthecurrentinstitutionalandnormativeframework.ItexplorestheneedforastrengthenedinstitutionalframeworkbasedonhumanrightsanddemonstrateshowthiswouldbebeneficialforStates.ApossiblenewinstitutionalframeworkformigrationwithintheUnitedNationssystemisalsoproposed.ThereportmadespecificconclusionsandrecommendationsinrelationtotheHigh-levelDialogueonInternationalMigrationandDevelopment,whichwasheldbytheGeneralAssemblyinOctober2013.Somekeyconclusionsreachedinthereportincluded:

• Migrationgovernanceisbecomingincreasinglyinformal,adhoc,non-bindingandState-led,falling largelyoutsidetheUnitedNations framework.This leadstoa lackofaccountability,


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monitoring and oversight and the absence of a relationship with the formal normativemonitoringmechanismsestablishedwithintheUnitedNations.

• There is a need to enhance the human rights dimension of globalmigration governance,includingintermsofaccountability,andtobringitbacktotheUnitedNations,includingbyestablishing aUnitedNations-based institutional frameworkonmigration. TherehasbeenconsiderablemovementandinterestshownoverthepastdecadeintermsofthetwoHigh-level Dialogues on International Migration and Development, the creation of the GlobalForumonMigrationandDevelopmentandtheGlobalMigrationGroupandrecentgrowthinIOMmembership,aswellasthedevelopmentofregional initiatives,boththroughregionalorganizationsandregionalconsultativeprocesses.Thus,thereseemstobesomerecognitionoftheneedformoremigrationgovernance.

• Statescancommittomoremigrationgovernancewhileatthesametimemaintainingtheirsovereigntyinrelationtodecidingwhoentersandstaysintheirterritory.

• Better global migration governance would be advantageous for all States because theycannot deal with a global phenomenon unilaterally, bilaterally or even regionally only.Enhanced governance would allow for better responsibility-sharing on the part of Statesassociated with migration. More frequent high-level dialogues could also lead to closerlinkagesandsynergiesbetweendiscussionswithinandthoseoutsidetheUnitedNations.

• Thegrowingnumberof regional consultativeprocessescanbe trustbuildingexercisesbutcan also lead to duplication and contradictions. These initiatives must fully take intoconsideration respect for the human rights of migrants and, in this regard, should betransparent,witheffectivemonitoringandaccountabilitymechanisms.

• Migrants shouldalwaysbe seen first and foremostashumanbeingswith inherenthumanrights, rather than agents for development. In this regard, a human rights framework forglobalmigration governance is needed.Onlywhen conceivedof in termsof human rightswill migration be able to fulfil its potential as an enabler of human development. Theuniversal human rights frameworkmust therefore guide all development cooperation andprogramminginallpartsoftheUnitedNationssystemrelevanttomigration.

2.4 HIGH-LEVELDIALOGUEONINTERNATIONALMIGRATIONANDDEVELOPMENT

Onaninternationallevel,thereismountingevidencethat,leveragedbytherightpolicies,migrantanddiasporacommunitiescansignificantlycontributetodevelopmentinbothoriginanddestinationcountries,throughremittances,trade,investment,creationofenterprises,andtransferoftechnology,skillsandknowledge.Atthesametime,thereisconcernthattheemigrationofskilledprofessionalsmayhindertheattainmentofdevelopmentgoals,suchastheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,especiallyinsmalldevelopingcountries.

Manymigrantsareabletomove,liveandworkinsafetyanddignity.Yetothersarecompelledtomoveasaresultofpoverty,alackofdecentwork,humanrightsviolations,armedconflict,persecutionandenvironmentaldegradation.Intheabsenceofregularmigrationopportunities,migrantsresorttoirregularmigrationchannels.Intheirnewhomes,manymigrantsfaceexploitation,discriminationandxenophobia,whiletheircontributionstothehostsocietygolargelyunrecognized.


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Migrationinthecontextofglobalisationbringsopportunitiesandchallenges,whichneedtobeaddressedinacomprehensivefashion.Inrecognitionofthis,theUNconvenedtheHigh-levelDialogueonInternationalMigrationandDevelopmentinOctober2013.

AttheDialogue,MemberStatesunanimouslyadoptedaDeclarationthatcallsfortherespectofhumanrightsandinternationallabourstandards,reiteratesthecommitmenttofighthumantraffickingandstronglycondemnsmanifestationsofracismandintolerance.

MemberStatestookactionstomoveforwardoncooperatingtoreducethedangersandcostsofinternationalmigration,whilestressingmigration’sbenefits,whentheyagreedtotheDeclarationcitingthemanycomplexissuesrelatedtointernationalmigration.TheDeclarationcommittedMemberStatestocontinuetoaddresstheopportunitiesandchallengespresentedbyinternationalmigrationinallcountries.

“Itisourcollectiveresponsibilitytomakemigrationworkforthebenefitofmigrantsandcountriesalike.Weowethistothemillionsofmigrantswho,throughtheircourage,vitalityanddreams,helpmakeoursocietiesmoreprosperous,resilientanddiverse.Letusintensifyourworkandbesuretofollowup.”UNSecretary-GeneralBanKi-moon

MemberStatesagreedthattheworld’s232millioninternationalmigrantsmakeimportantcontributionstothedevelopmentofthecountriesoforigin,transitanddestinationthattheymovebetween.Itwasalsoagreedthatthepublicperceptionofmigrantsandmigrationmustbeimproved.Governmentswereencouragedtointegratemigrationintodevelopmentplanning,includingconsideringwaystoincludediasporagroups.

TheHigh-levelDialogueadoptedaneightpointagendaformakingmigrationwork:

1. Protectthehumanrightsofallmigrants

Memberstatesareencouragedto:• Ratify and implement all relevant international instruments related to international

migration, including core international human rights instruments, relevant InternationalLabourOrganisation(ILO)conventions,theprotocolsagainsthumantraffickingandmigrantsmugglingandtheConventionrelatingtotheStatusofRefugees.

• Explorealternativestotheadministrativedetentionofmigrantsandavoidthedetentionofmigrantchildren

• Eliminate all discrimination againstmigrantswith regard toworking conditions andwagesandwithregardtofundamentaleconomic,socialandculturalrights.

• Ensuremigrant children have equal access to education, and all migrants have access toessentialhealthservices.

• Commit to protecting and promoting the human rights of migrants at all stages of themigrationprocess,includingmigrantshavinganirregularlegalstatus.

• Enhance access to legalmigration channels, reflecting actual andprojected labourmarketneeds while taking into account human capital requirements in countries of origin andfacilitatingfamilyunity.


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2. Reducethecostsoflabourmigration

Memberstatesareencouragedto:• Lowercostsrelatedtomigration,suchasthetransfercostsofremittancesandfeespaidto

recruiters,especiallybylow-skilledmigrantworkers.• Strengthenthebenefitsofmigrationbyenhancingtheportabilityofsocialsecurityandother

acquired rights, and by promoting themutual recognition of diplomas, qualifications andskills.

3. Eliminatemigrantexploitation,includinghumantrafficking

Memberstatesareencouragedto:• Commit to the elimination of all forms of exploitation affecting migrants, especially

traffickinginpersonsandotherformsofmodern-dayslavery.• Discouragingthedemandthatfostershumantrafficking,ensuringtheprotectionofvictims,

prosecuting offenders and ensuring that companies eliminate forced labour from theirglobalsupplychains.

4. Addresstheplightofstrandedmigrants

TheHigh-levelDialoguenotedthattheplightofmigrantsunabletoreturntotheircountryoforiginasaresultofhumanitariancrisesintheircountryofdestinationortransithasoftenbeenoverlooked.

Memberstatesareencouragedto:• Strengthen their capacities toassistmigrantsand their families in crisis situations through

better preparedness, expanded consular assistance and assisted voluntary evacuation,returnandreintegration.

• SupportingInitiativestocreateaframeworkforactiontoassiststrandedmigrants,bringingtogetherMemberStates,internationalorganisations,civilsocietyandtheprivatesector.

5. Improvepublicperceptionsofmigrants

Memberstatesareencouragedto:• Combatdiscrimination, xenophobia and intolerance againstmigrants and their families by

creating greater public awareness about the situations migrants experience and thecontributionstheymaketocountriesoforiginanddestination.

• Promote these efforts through partnerships with the private sector, labour unions, themedia, educational institutions and migrants themselves, based on the latest availableevidence

• Highlighttherightsandresponsibilitiesofbothmigrantsandnon-migrants.

6. Integratemigrationintothedevelopmentagenda

TheHigh-levelDialoguenotedthatmigrationisatestoffairandeffectivegovernance,demandingcoordinatedactionnotonlyamongStatesbutatalllevelsofgovernment.Memberstatesareencouragedtomainstreammigrationintonationaldevelopmentplans,povertyreductionstrategiesandrelevantsectoralpoliciesandprograms.


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Itwasalsonotedthattheinternationalcommunityshoulddefineacommonsetoftargetsandindicatorstomonitortheimplementationofmeasuresaimedatenhancingthebenefitsandaddressingthechallengesofinternationalmigration,forconsiderationpost-2015developmentagenda.Theprecedingsixactionpointscanonlybeachievedbystrengtheningtheevidencebase,buildingnationalcapacitiesandenhancingcooperationandpartnerships.

7. Strengthenthemigrationevidencebase

Memberstatesareencouragedto:• Promoteevidence-basedpolicymakingand invest indata collection, researchandcapacity

development with respect to migration and its impacts on individuals, communities andsocieties.

• Usepopulation censuses and administrativedata sources aswell as dedicated surveys forassessingtheimpactsofmigrationonsocialandeconomicdevelopment.

• Use measurable targets and indicators for monitoring the protection of migrants andviolationsoftheirrights.

8. Enhancemigrationpartnershipsandcooperation

TheHigh-levelDialoguenotedthatnocountrycanmanageinternationalmigrationalone.CooperationanddialogueonmigrationinvolvingtheUnitedNations,IOMandregionaleconomiccommunitiesneedstobestrengthened.TheGlobalForumonMigrationandDevelopmentandregionalconsultativeprocessescanbeausefulcomplementtothoseformalintergovernmentalmechanisms.


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3. Settlement and Multiculturalism - The Australian Context

ConceptsofmulticulturalismwithintheAustraliancontexthaveevolvedconsiderablyoverthelastfortyyears,reflectingtheprioritiesofchanginggovernments,anincreasinglydiversedemographicandtheinfluenceofsocialchangeandattitudes.Today,legislative,policyorprogrammaticresponsestomulticulturalismareevidentatthefederallevelandineverystateandterritorythroughoutAustralia.

Throughoutthishistory,thepoliticaldebatearoundmulticulturalismhasoscillatedfrompositivetonegativewithapproachesrangingfromassimilationthroughtointegration.Inmorerecentyears,thedebatehasalsobeenverymuchinfluencedbyissuesofglobalsignificanceaswellastherealisationthatcontinuedimmigrationisvitaltoAustralia’sfuturesustainability.Indeed,Australia’seconomicsuccessrestslargelyontheextenttowhichitsmigrationprogramsaremanagedtorespondtoAustralia’ssocio-economicneeds,bothintheimmediateandthelongerterm.

Australiaisnowoneofthemostdiverseandsociallycohesivenationsonearth.Australiansidentifywitharound300ancestriesandspeakasmanylanguages,includingIndigenouslanguages.MorethanaquarteroftheAustralianpopulationwasbornoverseas.OfthoseofusborninAustralia,oneinfivehasatleastoneparentbornoverseasandnearly4millionpeoplespeakalanguageotherthanEnglishathome.

ForthepastsixdecadesmigrationhasbeenconstantdriverofAustralia’spopulationgrowth.Ourmigrationprogramsourcespeoplefrommorethan200countriesandincludespeoplefromculturesquitedifferenttoourown.Thishasrequiredgreaterattentionandinnovationinhowweapproachandrespondeffectivelytoanincreasinglycomplexmulticulturalsociety.

Australia’sexperienceinmulticulturalismisuniqueandinterculturaldialoguehasemergedascriticalineffortstorespondeffectivelytothisdiversity.Interculturaldialoguehasinfluencetherecognitionthat integration is the most valuable approach to creating a cohesive multicultural society.Integration involves a gradual process gradual process by which new residents become activeparticipants in the economic, social, civic, cultural and spiritual life of the community. It alsorecognisesthatnewcommunitieshavetheopportunitytomaketheirowndistinctivecontributionstothecountryandtheirbroaderlocalcommunity.

LocalgovernmentauthoritiesacrossVictoriahavedemonstratedstrongleadershipinunderstandingthat intercultural dialogue and multi-stakeholder engagement are central aspects in integrationefforts. Thy have acknowledged integration as a two-way street of mutual responsibility foradaptation. This is evident in themultiple levels of interventionsmany Councils are adopting insupporting the integration of migrants and new and emerging communities within theirmunicipalities. Those leading thewayareadoptingwholeof community responses that reinforcemutualresponsibilityinpositiveandproductiveways.

Despitetheverypositivehistoryatlocallevelsofcommunitieswelcomingnewcomersasequalsandbuilding our multicultural society as it is today, there exists nevertheless a recent trend ofquestioningimmigrationpolicies,andofpoliticisingthemulticulturalandsettlementdebate.Thereremain a proportion of Australianswho consider somemigrant groups to be a threat to nationalidentity,andthemanipulationbysomeofthefearsandpublicperceptionsthenhasconsequencesonpolicymaking.


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Poorly integratedmigrantcommunitiescangivewayto feelingsofalienationandresentment,butwell-integrated migrant communities bring a unique insight into cultural diversity and are wellplacedtohelpimproveinter-culturalunderstandingandcooperationacrossdiversepopulations.

Perceptionsandtreatmentofmigrantsdeterminesinlargemeasurethesuccessoftheirintegrationand thecontributions theywillmake to theirnewcommunity.All levelsofgovernmentmust takethis into account so as to respond effectively to negative public perceptions of multiculturalism,addressingfearsandhostilityagainstmigrantsandnewandemergingcommunitieswithoutfallingintopopuliststereotypesandallowingintolerancetogrow.Asthetierofgovernmentclosesttothecommunity,localgovernmentauthoritiesareacriticalplayerinthisrespect.

3.1 APPROACHESTOSTRENGTHENINGMULTICULTURALISM

Across Australia, a number of approaches have been adopted in recent years to strengthenmulticulturalism. This section sets out definitions of key approaches reflected in legislative andpolicycontextsrelevanttomulticulturalism.

Interculturalrelations

Intercultural Relations is viewed as the promotion of cross-cultural interaction, awareness,communication, dialogue, andmutual learning through the integration of engaging activities andprograms that allow individuals fromvarious cultures,whomayholddifferent social identities, toengageinmeaningfulinteractionsandexperiences.

InterculturalDialogue

Interculturaldialogueisaprocessthatcomprisesanopenandrespectfulexchangeorinteractionbetweenindividuals,groupsandorganisationswithdifferentculturalbackgroundsorworldviews4.Amongitsaimsare:

• todevelopadeeperunderstandingofdiverseperspectivesandpractices;• toincreaseparticipationandthefreedomandabilitytomakechoices;• tofosterequality;andtoenhancecreativeprocesses.

Socialcohesion

OneofthestrongestdefinitionsofsocialcohesioninAustraliacomesfromtheScanlonFoundation’sMappingSocialCohesion5seriesofsurveys.Thesesurveysmeasuresocialcohesionaccordingtofivekeydomains:

• Belonging:Sharedvalues,identificationtoAustralia,trust.• Socialjusticeandequity:Evaluationofnationalpolicies.• Participation:Voluntarywork,politicalandcooperativeinvolvement.• Acceptance and rejection, legitimacy: Experience of discrimination, attitudes towards

minoritiesandnewcomers.• Worth:Lifesatisfactionandhappiness,futureexpectations

4EuropeanInstituteforComparativeCulturalResearch

5Seehttp://www.scanlonfoundation.org.au/research.html


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Multiculturalcitizenship

Multiculturalcitizenshiprecognisesthatallmembersofthecommunity,regardlessofnationality,culturaloriginorreligiousbackground6:

• Areunitedintheircommitmenttoshareddemocraticvalues,lawsandinstitutionsandhavearesponsibilitytoabidebythese

• Haveacollectiveresponsibilitytoworktogetherforourcommonwelfareandfuture• Areentitledtomutualrespectandunderstanding• Havetherighttoaccessopportunitiestoparticipateinandcontributetothesocial,cultural,

economicandpoliticallifeofthecountry

3.2 AUSTRALIA’SPLANNINGFRAMEWORKFORSETTLEMENTSERVICES

A detailed section on settlement planning in Australia is included in Appendix 3. An overview isprovidedbelow.

Planningforsettlementservices is theprocessbywhichtheAustralianGovernment identifiesnewarrivalswhoaremostinneedofassistancetosettle, identifieswhattheirparticularneedsareandhowbesttotargetpolicyandprogramstomeetthoseneeds.

A sound planning framework for settlement services, including the Settlement Grants Program(SGP),iscriticaltoensurethatservicesmatchmigrants’needs,thereiseffectiveandefficientuseofresources, there is clarity of roles and responsibilities and services are coordinated to avoidduplication.

TheDepartment’splanningframeworkenables:

• aclientfocusedapproachinplanningforservicedelivery• early and systematic identification of new and ongoing settlement needs and service

deliveryissuesonastateandterritorybasis• appropriate targeting of services for the SGP Target Group through a sound process of

assessmentofclients’needs,and• a defined communication channel for settlement stakeholders to advise government on

changing needs and priorities, new caseloads and the unmet settlement needs of newarrivals.

SettlementServicesPlanningCycle

Planning forsettlementservicesbeginswithagoodunderstandingof thecompositionofboththeHumanitarianandMigrationPrograms.Itisessentialthatsettlementpoliciesandprogramstakeintoaccountthesizeandfocusoftheseprograms.

OncetheProgramshavebeenapprovedbyGovernment,planningforthesettlementservicesthatwillberequiredcanbeundertaken.

6Victoria’sMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenshipPolicy,Victoria’sAdvantage–Unity,Diversity,Opportunity(2013)


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Theplanningframeworkforsettlementservicesconstitutesanongoingcycleof:

1. Identificationandanalysisofongoing,emergingandpredictedsettlementissuesandneedsbeingencounteredbyTargetGrouparrivals;

2. Settlement issues and needs recorded in the Department of Social Services’ NationalSettlementIssuesRegister,and

3. Referralofissuestoensurethattheyareeffectivelyaddressed.

Recentfederalgovernmentdirectionsinsettlementplanning

Atthetimeofwritingthisreport,theParliamentarySecretarytotheMinisterforSocialServices,SenatorConcettaFierravanti-Wells,announcedtheAustralianGovernment’songoingcommitmentforHumanitarianSettlementServices(HSS)until2017,atacostofcloseto$275million.

TheAustralianGovernmenthasextendedthecontractsof15serviceproviderstocontinuetodeliverHSSaroundAustralia.

“ThisfundingsignifiestheGovernment’scontinuingsupportforthedeliveryofservicesequippingnewlyarrivedentrantswiththeskillsandknowledgetocontributetotheeconomicandsociallifeofAustralia,”

SenatorFierravanti-Wells

HSS is the Commonwealth’s key programme for the delivery of settlement support services tohumanitarianentrants.Underthesearrangements,serviceorganisationsworkwithnewarrivalstoassess settlement needs and provide themwith a tailored package of services. Thismay includeassistance with accommodation and employment, orientation to life in Australia and help withindependentlyaccessingservicessuchasEnglishclasses,educationandhealthcare.TheseservicesempowernewarrivalswiththeskillsandconfidencetocontributetoAustralia’seconomicandsociallife,assoonaspossible.


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4. The Role of Local Government in Settlement and Multiculturalism

4.1 INTRODUCTION

With people from more than 200 nations, speaking more than 200 languages and dialects andfollowing more than 120 faiths, Australia is one of the world’s great multicultural societies.Collectivelyand individually,culturaldiversity is integral toour identityandthiscontributestotheeconomic,social,politicalandculturallifewithinoursociety.Victoria,inparticular,isrecognisedasa leading state in responding to cultural diversity arising from Australia’s migration and refugeeprograms and local government has played a significant role in achieving this. The communitiesrepresented by local government across Victoria are among themost culturally, linguistically andreligiously diverse in Australia; a diversity embraced, nurtured and celebrated by the MAV andVictoria’s79councils.

Councils enjoy unrivalled reach and access across their local communities, with more than 130councilservicestouchingsomeaspectsofpeople’s lives.Councilsareonthefrontlineofwhole-of-lifeservicedelivery—frommaternalandchildhealthtoearlyyears,youthandfamilyservices,rightthroughtoagedcare.

Localgovernmentalsoemploysover40 thousandpeopleacrossVictoria,manyofwhomare localresidents. Councillors and council officers constantly cross paths with their communities. Thisprovidesenormousopportunities.Localgovernmentisoftenthefirstportofcallformanyresidentsincludingrecentarrivalsfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.

Localgovernment’sroleasarepresentativegovernmentisrequiredtotakeintoaccountthediverseneeds of local communities, as specified in the Local Government Act 1989. While LocalGovernmentisstronglycommittedtoaccessandequityinitsownservicedelivery,theroleoflocalgovernmenthasnot traditionallybeenassociatedwithsettlementservicesprovisionperse. LocalGovernment does not formally provide settlement services with the odd exception where thefederal government has funded them to do so (usually because there is no alternate communitysectorprovider).Historically thishasbeenthedomainof theFederalGovernmentand itsrelevantdepartments.Notwithstandingthis,councilshavebeenincreasinglyprovidingservices,supportandprogramstonewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugeeseventhoughtheyarenotexternallyfundedtodoso.

Theprovisionof settlement services is viewedas critical to the supportofnewlyarrivedmigrantsand refugees to successfully settle in the Australian community. Without effective settlement ofmigrantsandrefugees,withouthealthycommunityrelationsandwithoutoptimisingeconomicandsocialdevelopmentoutcomes,potentialdividendsfromourhugeinvestmentinpost-warmigrationgounrealised.The VLGMIN has observed that there has been a significant change in how settlement is beingcoordinated in thestates includingthecoordinationof theLocalSettlementPlanningCommittees,anditarguesthatthereneedstobeare-examinationoftherolesofthethreetiersofgovernmentinrelation to settlement provision, the need for better systemic interagency coordination ofsettlementservices,andaclearerunderstandingofcommunity relations rolesat the local levelasissuesarisefromlocaldiversity.


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4.2 THEAUSTRALIANLOCALGOVERNMENTASSOCIATION(ALGA)POSITION

Introduction

TheALGAisafederatedorganisation.Itsmembersarethestatelocalgovernmentassociations,theNorthernTerritoryLocalGovernmentAssociationandtheACTGovernment.TheALGAworkscloselywith the Australian Government to advance cultural diversity and represents local governmentconcernsrelatingtocitizenship,migrationandsettlementpolicyissues.

TheALGAacknowledgesthatalllevelsofgovernmentarerealisingthesocialandeconomicbenefitsof a stable and cohesive community and the need to fully respond to all groups making up ademocraticsociety.Fromsettlementthroughtocitizenship, localgovernmentwelcomes,supports,embracesandcelebratesthediverseexperiencesofallAustralians.

Asthelevelofgovernmentclosesttocommunities,theALGArecognisesthatlocalgovernmentplaysa fundamental role in facilitating the inclusion and participation of their residents. Working inpartnershipwithcommunitygroups,serviceprovidersandresidents,andstateandfederalagencies,local government plays an integral part in national and international efforts to understand andembraceculturaldiversity.

Many of Australia's local government areas have large numbers of constituents from differentcultural,ethnicandlinguisticbackgrounds.Thishasseenthedevelopmentofconsiderableexpertisein inclusive decision making and improved access to migrant settlement, multicultural andcitizenshipservices.Councilsoftenhavetheirownlocalprogramsandstaffdedicatedtomanagingcultural diversity issues, be they related to access and equity considerations, healthcare, familysupport,learningskills,artsandcommunityengagementactivities.

TheactualresponsibilitiesofcouncilsacrossAustraliawithrespecttoculturaldiversity,varyacrossjurisdictions,andreflectdifferencesunderstateandterritorylegislativeandregulatoryframeworks.Stateandterritorylocalgovernmentassociationsdealwithstateandterritorygovernmentsonstatespecificissues.

Accessandequity

ALGA is committed to improving access and equity in local government. All members of thecommunity wishing to participate in a local community have a right to fair equitable, and openaccesstoprogramsandservicesprovidedbylocalcouncils.

StrengthinDiversityAward

The Strength in Diversity Award is the National award for local government for the category ofcommunitycapacitybuildinginthefieldofculturaldiversity.ItisoneoftheAustralianGovernment'sNational awards for local government, the peak national awards that reward and highlight localcouncils' resourcefulness in finding better ways to deliver services and develop local solutions tocomplex and challengingproblems. It recognises local initiatives that respond to, promote and/orharnessbenefitsarisingfrommigration,settlement,Australiancitizenship,andourcultural,religiousandlinguisticdiversity.


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Anationallocalgovernmentperspective7Theresponseofcouncilstobuildingresilientandinclusivecommunitiesvariesgreatly,reflectingthedifferent needs and circumstances of their respective communities. But it can be broadlycategorisedintoarangeofkeyareas.

Thefirstisconsultation,wherecouncilsactivelyseekoutculturallyandlinguisticallydiversegroupsandothercommunitymemberstoensuretheirviewsandneeds,hopesandaspirations,canplayagenuinepartintheplanningandpolicyformulationprocess.Thisconsultationcantaketheformofthecreationofadvisorycommittees,surveys,traditionaltown/civichallmeetingsandevenregularforumstocreateaninteractionbetweenthecouncilandcommunitygroups.

Service andaccess is another areawhere councilswork to reflect the needs of diverse groups ofpeople within their communities. New servicesmay be created, or existing services adapted, toensuretheneedsof thesecommunitiesaremet.Forexample, thismay includetheuseandreadyavailabilityof interpreterservicesfornewlyarrivedmigrantsorrefugees. Somecouncilshavealsoidentifiedbilingualstaffandmakethemavailablewhenassistanceisrequired.Brochures,websites,information pamphlets and newsletters are often translated into a range of locally significantlanguages.

Many councils actively pursue skilledmigration to their region, using as a strong selling point theavailability of culturally appropriate local services and a range of local infrastructure be it parks,gardens,libraries,museums,artcentresetc.

Cultural awareness is also important. Councils do this in a number of ways including providingprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities forstaff, socialplanningworkshopsand liaisonwithothergovernment and non-government agencies and some employ specialist community developmentofficerstoenhancesocialcohesion.

Councilsalsopromoteengagementbyrunningeventswhichbringthecommunitytogethertosharetherichnessofculturalandlifeexperiences.Examplesofsucheventsincludemulticulturalfestivals,key annual cultural celebrations, Harmony Day/Week activities, multi-faith events, citizenshipceremoniesandAustraliaDayevents,men’ssheds,andLivingLibraries.

Some councils run community leadership development courses. Others actively engage oldercommunity members through senior citizens groups, or through providing community transportopportunities to ensure access is available for those that want or need to connect to everydayservicesandfacilitiesorsimplyenjoyanouting.

A great deal of advocacy work is done by councils which work in partnership with a range ofstakeholdergroupstoaddressproblemsandissuesconfrontingdiversecommunities. Thesemightincludeunemployment,provisionofhealthservices, recognition foroverseasqualifications,accessto affordable and quality childhood services, road safety, substance abuse or drug and alcoholeducation.

Councilshavea longhistory inwelcomingrefugees intothecommunitybyhelpingwitharangeofsettlementissuesandpromotingcommunityharmony.Agrowingnumberofcouncilsareexercising

7AdaptedfromspeechbyMayor,DrFelicity-AnnLewis,President,ALGAattheFECCAConference2013


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positive leadership on refugee issues by declaring themselves Refugee Welcome Zones anddevelopingtheirownresponsestotheneedsofnewarrivals.In2013therewereeighty-fivecouncilsacrossAustraliathathadsignedupasRefugeeWelcomeZones.

As the sphereof government closest to thepeople, local government ismore responsive to localneeds than stateor federal governments. This reinforces the importanceof the local democraticprocess. TheALGAbelieves thateveryoneshouldhavetheopportunity toengagewith their localcouncil. Ifwearetoensureservicesareresponsiveto localneedthoseservicesshould,whereverpossible,bedevolvedtothelevelofgovernmentthatisclosesttotheaffectedcitizens.

This principle is embraced strongly by the EuropeanUnion but there ismorework to be done inAustraliatoseeitembracedinasystematicway.

Whilstlocalgovernmentseeinvestmentinculturaldiversityandcommunityharmonyasbothwiseand valuable, there continue to exist a number of challenges that impact its role in relation tosettlementandmulticulturalismincluding:

• thatlocalgovernmentgrantsarenotgrowinginlinewithincreasingdemandforservices• local government continues to be hit with cost-shifting by the other two levels of

government.• localgovernmenthasaseverelyrestrictedabilitytoraiseitsownrevenue

TheALGArecognisesthatthoseregionswithdiverseandengagedcommunitiesarealsothemostlikelytobecreative,andthatregionswithhighlevelsofcreativityaremuchmorelikelytobeeconomicallysuccessful.Theevidenceforthisdatesbackasfarasthe2004ALGA’sStateoftheRegions8report.

Despitethechallenges,theALGAcontinuestoworkonanumberoflevelstoadvancethecauseofculturaldiversity.Achievementshaveincluded:

〉 publishing a landmark document Services for All: Promoting Access and Equity in LocalGovernment9.

〉 helpingtostronglypromoteHarmonyDayandassociatedgrantsschemessuchasLiving inHarmony. Councilsareparticipating inHarmonyDayactivities ingreatnumberseachyearwithabroadrangeofevents,fromcitizenshipceremoniestointerfaithforums.

〉 working with the Australian Government to promote the importance of citizenship andencouraging all eligible Australian residents to fully participate in our society throughcitizenship.

〉 through its COAGmembership, championed the need for ongoing local community inputinto planning, and demonstrated the importance of providing local and regionalinfrastructuretomeettheneedsofourculturallydiversecommunities.

8ALGA2002-03StateoftheRegionsReport

9ALGAServicesforAll:PromotingAccessandEquityinLocalGovernmenthttp://alga.asn.au/site/misc/alga/downloads/general_pdf/servicesForAll.pdf


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InadditiontotheworkbeingdonebyALGA,thestateandterritory localgovernmentassociationsplayanincreasinglyimportantroleinpromotingissuesofaccessandparticipation.

Anationallocalgovernmentperspective-settlement

In June 2012, the ALGA addressed the second national conference of the Settlement Council ofAustralia(SCOA).Thepresentationexploredlocalgovernment’sviewsonthethemeof‘creatingourfuture’andtheroleoflocalgovernmentinmigrantandrefugeesettlementandparticipationinthecommunityfromanationalperspective.Theaddressnotedlocalgovernment’sdesiretoensurethatourdiverselocalcommunitiesremainharmonious,engagedandsustainable.

ALGA argued strongly that local government is a key player in the area of settlement, servicedelivery and in the building of a strong sense of community. Unless local government is fullyengaged and integrated within the broader planning and settlement roles played by both thefederal,stateandterritorygovernments,itspotentialtocontributewillbeunderutilised.

Currently, councils across Australia aim to ensure their services and programs contribute to goodsettlementandcommunityrelationsoutcomes,andengagewithotherserviceproviderstooptimiseaco-ordinatedmunicipalapproach.

4.3 THEMUNICIPALASSOCIATIONOFVICTORIA(MAV)POSITION

Introduction

The MAV is the peak body for Victoria’s local government (under legislation) and therefore therepresentativeandlobbyingbodyforthesector.ItactsasafacilitatoroflocalcapacitydevelopmentandaninformationandresourceshubforVictorianlocalgovernmentinrelationtoawiderangeofmattersincludingsocialpolicy.

TheMAVhasdemonstratedleadershipacrossAustralia-itistheonlystatewherealocalgovernmentpeakhasamulticulturalpolicyatlocalgovernmentlevel.

TheMAV’s vision is of a strong local government sector inwhich cultural diversity is recognised,nurtured, respected and valued. It is of a local government sector where civics, social cohesion,access,equity,equality,participation,valuingdiversityandinclusivenessarecentralelementstoalllocalgovernmentbusiness.

TheMAVandcouncilsacrossVictoriahaveacommitmenttomulticulturalismandtorespondtoandaddress cultural diversity issues. The MAV and councils have a long history as advocates ofmulticulturalism,socialjusticeandcommunityharmonyandhavefacilitatedhundredsofCitizenshipCeremonieswherethousandsoflocalresidentshavereceivedtheirAustralianCitizenship

In addition,many councils have embraced themanywaves ofmigration over the years and haveplayedandcontinuetoplayanactiveandvitalrole insupportingbothnewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugeesinsettlinginlocalcommunities.

TheMAVbelievesthatsettlementandintegrationofnewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugees intotheAustraliancommunity isanon-goingprocessandtheacquisitionofAustraliancitizenship ispartofthatprocess.


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Settlement Services form a critical part of the integration process of newly arrivedmigrants andrefugees and theMAV encourages the Federal Government to strengthen its current settlementservicespoliciesandprogramsandtocreateopportunitiesthatenablenewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugeestointegrateinto,andfeelpartoftheAustraliancommunity.

The MAV believes that since the Second World War Australia has achieved one of the mostsuccessful immigration and settlement policies in the world through the way successivegovernmentsatthefederallevelhavemanagedandpromotedthesepolicies.Thishasbeenfurtherstrengthenedbythemulticulturalpoliciesofstateandlocalgovernmentwhichhavefacilitatedthebuildingofcohesiveandinclusivecommunitiesatthelocallevel,whereacceptanceandrespectfordifferenceisembraced,nurtured,supportedandcelebrated.

MAVInitiativesandActivities

TheMAVhasasoundhistoryofworkingcloselywiththeVictorianStateGovernment.Keycontributionsatthestatelevelhaveincluded:

• representation on the former Standing Committee on Local Government and CulturalDiversitychairedbytheVictorianMulticulturalCommission(VMC)

• representationontheformerVMCAdvisoryCouncil• representation on the recently reconvened Translating and Interpreting External

AdvisoryGroup;• representation onworking groups organising previous VMCbiennial local government

andmulticulturalismconferences;and• developing cultural competency professional development opportunities for local

councilofficerspreviouslydeliveredbytheVMC.

Intheareaofmulticulturalpolicydevelopmentandpractice,MAValsohasclosebilateralworkingpartnershipswith:

• TheDepartmentofHealth,particularlyaroundmigrantandrefugeesupportedaccesstotheHomeandCommunityCare(HACC)Programandagedcareservicesmoregenerally

• The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation on their anti-discrimination and pro-diversityprogram–inparticularthe“LEAD”pilotprojectsintheCitiesofWhittleseaandGreaterShepparton.

TheMAVprimarilyengageswithcommunitysectorserviceprovidersandadvocatesthroughtheEthnicCommunitiesCouncilofVictoriawhoitcollaboratescloselywith,particularlyinfosteringbetterinter-sectorialworkingrelationshipsinthedeliveryofagedcareservices,andinaddressingtheissueofCALDpeople’sparticipationintheworkforce.Andatthenationallevel,theMAVactivelyengageswith:

• theFederationofEthnicCommunities’CouncilsofAustralia;• theSettlementCouncilofAustralia;and• theRefugeeCouncilofAustralia.

Internationally, along with the State Government Office for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship(OMAC),theMAVhasworkedcloselywiththeUnitedNationsAllianceofCivilizationssinceJanuary2010.Themainoutcometodatehasbeenthe“Integration:BuildingInclusiveSocieties”forumheldinMelbourneinOctober2011.


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MAVStatementofCommitmenttoCulturalDiversity

In 2007 theMAV’s “Statement of Commitment to Cultural Diversity”was formally adopted by itsBoardand launched in late2012. Itaim is topromoteand facilitategoodmulticulturalpractice inlocal government across Victoria and build strong and healthy communities free of inequity byharnessingandnurturingtherichnessofculturaldiversity.

TheStatement is informedbyAustralian,Victorianand localgovernment legislationandstrategiesonrecognisingandembracingculturaldiversity.Itisbaseduponthefollowingprinciples:

• Socialjusticeandhumanrights• Accessandequity• Socialinclusionandequalopportunityforparticipation• Strongandhealthycommunities• Freedomfromstructuralandindividualdiscriminationandracism• Addressingdiversityascentraltoallaspectsofpolicydevelopmentandprogramdesign• Genderequity

The statement highlights that Local government plays an important role in the development andsupportofcommunities,andfosteringsocialcohesion.TheMAVprovidesleadershipandsupportinpromoting a whole-of-council response to cultural diversity, and commits itself to support andstrengthencouncils’:

〉 advocacywithinandonbehalfoflocalgovernmentonculturaldiversityandinterfaithissues〉 knowledgebasetofacilitateacquisitionofculturalcompetenceandinformappropriateand

responsivepolicies,strategies,servicesandprograms〉 partnerships and relationship development between local government, the Victorian and

Australiangovernmentsandthecommunitysector〉 organisationalcapacitytoaddress,engageandembedculturaldiversitypractices〉 identification,promotionand celebration of theeconomic, cultural and social benefits of

culturaldiversity

ThisstatementisanimportantcornerstonetotheMAV’sworkandformalisescouncilleadershipandengagement in this space. The MAV’s vision is for a strong local government sector providingleadershipinthewayculturaldiversityisrecognised,nurtured,respectedandvalued.

A copy of the MAV Statement of Commitment to Cultural Diversity can be accessed athttp://www.mav.asn.au/policy-services/social-community/multicultural/Pages/default.aspx

MAV’sMulticulturalPolicyAdviser

ThispositioniscurrentlyfundedbytheVictorianGovernment’sDepartmentofHealthtoworkwithcouncilsonhomeandcommunitycareservices.ItisalsofundedbytheVictorianHealthPromotionFoundation (VicHealth) toworkwith councils on the Localities Embracing andAcceptingDiversity(LEAD)Program.


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Thisrole:

addresses sectoral local government issues to enable increased responsiveness to culturaldiversity

supports strategic and social planning to inform local government diversity policy andservicedevelopment

developspartnerships and relationshipsbetween local government andethnic communitysectors

assistslocalgovernmentwithadvocacytoadvancethemulticulturalaffairsagenda networkswithrelevantpeakbodiesandcommittees supports and promotes the Victorian Local Government Multicultural Issues Network

(VLGMIN) workscloselywithotherlevelsofgovernmentonculturaldiversityissues

The Multicultural Policy Advisor also maintains the Multicultural Issues eNetwork - an emaildistribution list for local government staff responsible for multicultural services and policydevelopment. The eNetwork regularly disseminates information on new resources, upcomingforumsandevents,newsandadvice.

MAV’sMulticulturalCommittee

In2011theMAVBoardestablished,forthefirsttime,aMulticulturalCommitteetoadvisetheBoardonmulticulturalpolicydevelopment. ThisCommitteeischairedbyanMAVBoardmember.Seniormanagersfrombothstateandfederaldepartmentsrepresentingmulticulturalaffairshaveattendedcommitteemeetingstoengageindialoguearoundtherolethecommitteecancontributeinrelationtomulticulturalismandsettlement.

The Multicultural Committee was also responsible for renewing the MAV’s multicultural policycommitment through the development of a stronger policy statement embedding a positiveframeworkforaddressingissuesarisingfromculturaldiversityinalloftheworkthattheMAVdoes.TherenewedMAVStatementofCommitmenttoCulturalDiversitywaslaunchedinDecember2012.

With the demise in recent years of related federal and state government led planning and co-ordinationforums,thecommittee’smeetingshaveemergedasavaluableopportunityforon-goinginter-governmentaldialogueonsettlementandmulticulturalaffairs.Thefollowinglocalcouncilsarecurrently represented by councillors and/or council program managers on this committee: Knox(Chair),YarraCity(DeputyChair),GreaterDandenong,Moira,Boroondara,Whittlesea,Manningham,Darebin,Ballarat,EastGippsland,Wyndham,Monash,MooneeValley,Wodonga,Hume,WangarattaandGreaterShepparton. TheCommittee’sChairandDeputyChairareMAVBoardmembers. Thecommitteemeetsquarterly.

Upcominglocalgovernmentmulticulturalforum

The MAV Multicultural Committee has commenced planning for a one day local governmentmulticulturalpolicydevelopmentforumfor localcouncilofficerstobeheld inWyndhamonFriday12thSeptember2014.

Atthetimeofwritingthisreporttheforumplanningprocesswasstillinitsearlystageshoweverkeythemes to be explored had already been identified. These included access and equity in localgovernment program and service delivery, municipal leadership in community relations issues


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arisingfromculturaldiversityandtheroleoflocalcouncilsinplanningthesettlementofmigrantandrefugeenewarrivalstotheirmunicipality.

AVictorianlocalgovernmentperspective-multiculturalism

The communities representedby local government acrossVictoria are among themost culturally,linguisticallyandreligiouslydiverse inAustralia-adiversityembraced,nurturedandcelebratedbytheMAVandtheseventy-nineVictorianlocalcouncils.

The MAV has tirelessly advocated around the unique positioning of local government and theimportanceofpartneringmoresystemicallywiththeVictorianGovernmentonitscivicsagenda,onaddressing relatedcommunity relations issuesarising fromculturaldiversityandon improving therelatedsettlementexperiencesofnewlyarrivingmigrantsandrefugees.

A key local government role is its responsibility for conferring Citizenship at regular ceremoniesacrossthestate.ThereisanopportunityformorestrategicpromotionofacivicsagendafromtheVictorianGovernmentinthesesignificantmunicipaleventswhichareregularlycoveredinthelocalpress.

In addition to civics and community relations, local government has a key role to play in relatedareas such as the successful settlement of newly arrived migrants and refugees. It starts withwelcoming new arrivals through orientation to the range of services it offers and ensuring theseservicesarestraightforwardtoaccessanduseablefornewlyarrivedpeopleunaccustomedtolivinginourlocalcommunities.

TheMAVhashighlightedthatitisimportantthatwefollowthoughtoensureoutcomesandserviceretention rates are at least comparable with longer-term residents in our communities. Thisincludesengagementwithandparticipationfromallgroupsinthecommunity.

Toachieveallofthis,localcouncilsdeveloppartnershipswhichrangefromlocalsettlementplanningcommittees to engagement through the MAV and the Australian Local Government Association(ALGA) with State and Federal Governments working together to achieve good settlement andcommunityrelationsoutcomesfornewarrivalsandthewidercommunity.

Individual councils play a key role in settlement planning and multicultural affairs through thetwentyorsovariouslynamedlocalsettlementplanningcommittees(LSPCs)andrelatedinter-agencyforums. Somecouncils, particularly in regionalVictoria, are keen toattractmore recently arrivedmigrantsandrefugeestotheirmunicipalities.TheMAVcontinuestourgetheVictorianGovernmenttoworkmorecloselywiththelocalgovernmentsectortoidentifywaystosupportregionalcouncilswhowishtoattractandretainnewarrivals.

InNovember2012,theMAVpreparedasubmission10inresponsetotheStateGovernment’s“Visionfor Citizenship in a Multicultural Victoria”. The submission addressed how the MAV saw theVictorianGovernmentoptimisingmulticulturalaffairsandsettlementoutcomesforVictoriathrougha stronger civics public policy partnership with local government. In summary, the submissionhighlighted:

10 MAV, Towards a New Multicultural Policy Framework – Building Better Partnerships with Local Government,November2012


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• The good work that is already happening in local councils should be acknowledged andcommended;howevertherearestillmanygapsandchallengesthatneedtobemet,andcanbe met more effectively if there is a strong sectoral partnership with the VictorianGovernmentthroughOMACandtheMAV.

• Theneedforalevelofconsistencyinapproachtoculturaldiversityacrossallcouncils.• Thatthe localgovernmentsectorneedstobesupportedandresourcedtofullyrealisethe

developmentand implementationofsustainablepoliciesandstrategiesaddressingculturaldiversity.

• The Victorian Government needs to support local governmentmore, and strengthen andfurtherdeveloptherolethatcanbeplayedbypeakbodiessuchastheMAVinfacilitatingaconsistentstate-wideresponsetoculturaldiversity.

• Nomatter how largeor small the culturally diversepopulation is in anyonemunicipality,councils need to be supported to develop reasonably consistent mechanisms andapproachestothewaytheyrespondtotheneedsofallmembersoftheircommunitiesinaninclusiveandmeaningfulway.

• In the future, local government is going to be faced withmore, rather than less culturaldiversity challenges. Building on current good practice and developing a sustainableframeworkforlocalgovernmenttoeffectivelycoordinateandimplementresponsivepoliciesandinitiativesincollaborationwiththeVictorianGovernmentisparamount.

AbroadscanoflocalgovernmentcontributionstomulticulturalismundertakentoinformthisreportcertainlydemonstratesthatthereexistssignificantandincreasinglysophisticatedworkoccurringinVictoriancouncilsacrossawiderangeofactivitiesandinitiatives.Therecanbenodoubtastotheimportantworklocalgovernmentis leadingandthewholeofcommunitybenefitsthatarederivedthroughthisinvestment.

AVictorianlocalgovernmentperspective-settlementInrecentyears,theMAVhavetirelesslyurgedfederalgovernmenttoprovidemoreeffectivesupportfortherolelocalgovernmentplaysinaddressingsettlementandcommunityrelationsissuesarisingfromdiversity.Inparticular,theMAVhavesuggestedthatthiscouldbeaddressedbydirectfederalgovernment funding for local councils and community services. They have argued that a clearer,agreed and more systemic framework for addressing migrant and humanitarian settlement andbroader community relations issues would be helpful to all tiers of government and enhancepotentialformorecollegiateapproaches.

In their 2011 submission11 to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Multiculturalism, the MAVhighlightedtheneedforgreater recognitionandresourcingof thekeyroleof localgovernment infosteringgoodcommunityrelations.

In terms of settlement and participation the MAV have argued for a clearer articulation of thesettlement roles and responsibilities of the three tiers of government. The current competitiveregime for funding community based settlement services delivery mitigates against collaborativeandcollegiateapproaches. Indeed, feedbackprovidedtoMAVby localcouncils indicates that the

11MAV,SubmissiontotheFederalParliamentaryInquiryintoMulticulturalism,May2011


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fragmentationof federalgovernmentfundedsettlementservicesthat isthinlyspreadacrossmanyagencieslimitsthepotentialtoachieveconsolidatedoutcomes.

KeysettlementissuesthathavebeenraisedbytheMAVinclude:

• Localcouncilsinregionalandruralareasactivelyseekingnewarrivalsarehamstrungbythechallengesofattractingadequatefederalsettlementsupportfortheirmunicipalities.

• Itwouldhelp localsettlementplanningbyVictorianLocalSettlementPlanningCommitteesand local councils if the Settlement Grants Program documentation on DIAC’s12 websiteincludedmore precisemunicipal coverage for each settlement service grant. Some localcouncilshavereportedthattheystruggletoknowwhatDIACfundedsettlementservicesareavailabletotheirresidents.

• Local government forums that provide new communities with opportunities to developleadershipandcommunityorganisationgovernanceskillshaveprovenbeneficialinexposingethniccommunitiestocivicstructuresinAustralia.Thereneedstobeacontinuedfocusonimproving accessibility of government and government funded services. Federally fundedservicesinparticularneedtoincludecostsforlanguageservices,accountabilityforensuringaccessandequityindeliveryandtakeupandretentionofCALDclients.

• Culturallycompetentandresponsiveservicedeliveryneedstobepartofcorebusinessandrequires adequate resources for service development, communication strategies, diversitytrainingandongoingdevelopmentofculturalcompetence.

The MAV’s submission to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Multiculturalism set out thefollowingrecommendations:

• Amoreclearlyarticulated,strategicallyandmutuallyagreedpositionontherespectiverolesandresponsibilitiesoffederal,stateandlocalgovernmentsaroundsettlementandculturaldiversitypolicyandprograms;

• Greaterinter-governmentalengagementandco-ordinationfromthefederalgovernment;• Accesstofederalgovernmentfundedsettlementservicesforskilledmigrationentrants;• Moreeffectivedeliveryofsettlementsupportfornewarrivalstoregionalmunicipalities;• Amodest investment incollaborativelydevelopinganationalgoodpracticehandbookand

relatedresourcingtoguideAustralia’slocalcouncils’ino Developing multicultural, settlement and related community relations policy,

programsandserviceso Diversifying the local government workforce to better reflect local community

demographics• Consideration being given to conducting a national biennial ‘local government and

multiculturalism’ conference to progress policy development, program design and servicedelivery,withabalancebetweenmetropolitanandregionalfoci.

12Asoflate2013,theSettlementGrantsProgramisadministeredbytheDepartmentofSocialServices


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4.4 THEROLEOFLOCALGOVERNMENTINSETTLEMENTANDMULTICULTURALISM–WHERETOFROMHERE?

Thissectionhasbeenadaptedfrom:Chapter12“LocalGovernment:Access,EquityandSocialInclusion”ConPagonis,in‘Forthosewho’vecomeacrosstheseas..AustralianMulticulturalTheory,PolicyandPractice’Jakubowicz,A.andHo,C.(Editors)AustralianScholarly2013

TheAustralianlocalgovernmentsectorhasthepotentialtocontributeenormouslytomoreeffectivemigrantandrefugeesettlementandtofacilitatesocialinclusionandcohesioninlocalcommunities.Manylocalcouncilsalreadyexcelinthisareawhileothersaredevelopingtheircapacity.

A key challenge for municipal authorities across Australia is that of developing a reasonablyconsistent and planned response to this role; and how state and federal governmentsworkwiththemtosupportandfosterthis.Equallychallengingishowthecommunitysectorcanengagewithadisparatelocalgovernmentsector.

Whilst local government is represented by a national peak body (Australian Local GovernmentAssociation) as well as state based peaks (the MAV in Victoria), their focus is largely advocacy,sectoraldevelopmentandsupport.IndividualcouncilsacrossAustraliaremainlargelyindependent,autonomousentitiesinrelationtotheirownpublicpolicyandprogramdesign.

Local councils do have a leadership role at themunicipal level in addressing community relationsissues arising from cultural diversity and changes to their local community demographic profile.They also have an obligation to ensure that programs and services are accessible to all theirresidentsandthattheyresultinequitableoutcomesforall.Thisincludessupportingnewarrivalstolearnto live intheirnewcommunity. However,settlementservicesformigrantsandrefugeesareresourcedthroughtheAustralianGovernment. Currentlythis isprimarilythroughtheDepartmentofSocialServicesSettlementandMulticulturalAffairsbranch.

Although settlement planning and multicultural community relations strategies have historicallyadoptedatop-downapproachthroughleadershipatfederallevel,muchoftheworkonthegroundhas been undertaken atmunicipal level. What is currentlymissing in Australia is an agreed andeffective inter-governmental strategy that harnesses the potential of local government to amakeconsistentandplannedsectoralcontribution.

Australia’sculturaldiversityatthemunicipallevelposesarangeofchallengestolocalgovernment,including:

Thedesign anddeliveryof effective services to ensure access andequity formigrantsandrefugees

Theprovisionofleadershipincommunityrelationsissuesarisingfromculturaldiversity The successful settlement of newly arriving migrants and refugees into local

communities Thereflectionofdiversecommunitiesinthecompositionofthelocalworkforce The engagement of increasingly diverse communities in community consultations, the

democraticprocessandstandingforelectionsascouncillors

LocalCouncilsneedtoplanforaccesstotheirprogramsandservicesforCALDcommunitiesandtostriveforequitableoutcomes.Programsandservicesalsoneedtoberegularlyreviewedtoensureresponsivenesstochangingcommunityprofiles.


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Asthetierofgovernmentclosesttothecommunity,LocalCouncilsareuniquelyplacedtoprovideleadership in addressing community issues arising from cultural diversity. They can foster socialinclusion,socialsupportandsocialengagementandfacilitateinter-culturalandinter-faithdialogue.Councils have the opportunity to draw on all groups in the local community to contribute to thedevelopmentofasharedidentityandfuture,

LocalCouncilsarebeing increasingly calledon toprovide inter-agency leadership in localplanningand coordination for the settlement of newly arriving migrants and refugees. Whilst this hastraditionallybeenafederalgovernmentresponsibility,systemicinter-governmentalengagementhasweakenedputtingagreateronusoncouncilstoprovideleadershipatthelocallevel.

Thereiscurrentlynonationallegislativeoverlayunderpinninglocalgovernmentmulticulturalpolicylimitingthecapacityforaconsistentresponse.Sectoralpolicydevelopmentrestslargelywithstate/territorybasedpeaklocalgovernmentassociationsandwiththeALGAatthenationallevel.Supportformulticulturalpolicydevelopmentvariesacrosseachstateand territory. TheMAV is currentlytheonlystatelevelpeakassociationtoengageamulticulturalpolicyadviserwiththeassistanceofVictorian government funding. The limited capacity of state-based and national peak localgovernment associations in the multicultural area largely leaves individual councils to their ownresources. As a result there are large variances in the level of work being undertaken. Leadingcouncilsemployspecialiststaffinculturaldiversityandthesetendtobelocatedinareaswithalonghistoryofsettlinglargenumbersofmigrantsandrefugees.

For local government to respond consistently at the national level to issues arising from culturaldiversity requires amuch better resourced, systemic and coordinated partnershipwith state andfederal governments. It also requires a more clearly articulated, strategic and mutually agreedposition on the respective roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government aroundsettlementplanningandculturaldiversitypolicyandpractice.

A clearer, agreed and more systemic framework for addressing migrant and humanitariansettlementandbroadercommunityrelationsissueswouldbehelpfultoallthreetiersofgovernmentandwouldenhanceprospectsforamorecollectiveapproach.


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5. Showcasing Good Practice in local government

Nomatterhow largeorsmall theculturallydiversepopulation is inanyonemunicipality, councilsneedtohavemechanismsinplacethatrespondtotheneedsofallmembersoftheircommunitiesinan inclusive and meaningful way. Throughout Victoria, an increasing number of Councils areadoptingculturaldiversityandmulticulturalstrategiesandactionplanstohelpthemenhancetheirresponsivenesstoanincreasinglydiverseconstituency.

This section of the report showcases good practice examples of initiatives that have emergedthroughculturaldiversityplanningby localgovernment. (It is importanttonotethatdocumentingthebreadthofgoodpracticeacrossVictoriawasbeyondthescopeof thispaperandthe followingareonlyasmallexampleoftheleadingworkbeingundertaken).

LocalitiesEmbracingandAcceptingDiversity(LEAD)Project

TheLocalitiesEmbracingandAcceptingDiversity(LEAD)Projectwasa4-yearpilotwhichaimedtobuildpositiveattitudestowardsculturaldiversityinthewidercommunityandsupportlocalorganisationstocreatefairer,morewelcomingandinclusiveenvironments.

LEADwasdevelopedinresponsetoVicHealthresearchwhichshowsthatdespitewidespreadsupportfordiversityinVictoria,peoplefromAboriginal,migrantandrefugeebackgroundscontinuetoexperienceunacceptablyhighratesofrace-baseddiscrimination.

LEADaimstobringaboutlong-lastingculturalchangebycombining:

• evidence-basedstrategies(targetingindividuals,organisationsandthewidercommunity)• strongpartnershipswithlocalorganisationsandthecommunitiesaffectedbydiscrimination• ongoingmonitoringandevaluation

TheCityofWhittleseaandGreaterSheppartonCityCouncilwereselectedbasedontheirstrongtrackrecordinworkingtosupportdiversityandtheirabilitytotrialnewandinnovativeapproachestocomplexsocialproblems.

TheprojectwasbasedonVicHealth's‘Buildingonourstrengths:Aframeworktoreducerace-baseddiscriminationandsupportdiversityinVictoria’,whichoutlinesthethemes,actionsandstrategiesthataremostlikelytohaveapositiveimpact.

TheLEADProjectwasapartnershipbetween:

• VicHealth• AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship(nowDepartmentof

ImmigrationandBorderProtection)• beyondblue:thenationaldepressioninitiative• VictorianEqualOpportunityandHumanRightsCommission• CityofWhittlesea• GreaterSheppartonCityCouncil• MunicipalAssociationofVictoria


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Anexampleofprojectoutcomestodateincludes:

• VicHealthlocalgovernmentactionguides-Reducingrace-baseddiscrimination• AnewRacialDiversityWorkplaceAuditToolpilotedbytheCityofWhittlesea• TheMAV’sresource–StandingUptoRace-BasedDiscrimination• ACommunicationStrategyandSocialMarketingCampaign to supportpro-diversityby the

CityofGreaterShepparton

Welcomingdiversepopulationsinregionalareas

A number of regional municipalities are actively welcoming overseasmigrants and newly arrivedrefugeesintotheircommunities.LessonslearnedfromresettlementprogramsinVictoriaincludetheneedforlocalgovernmenttoplayasignificantroleintheresettlementprogram.Localgovernmentownership, endorsement, support and active participation in the planning and implementation ofregionalresettlementareimportant.

Goodpracticeexample:CityofBallarat

TheCityofBallarathasanumberofcomplementaryprogramsthatsupportthewelcomingofnewanddiversepopulations.

MulticulturalAmbassadorProgram

TheMulticulturalAmbassadorProgramwasinstigatedbytheCityofBallaratasapartoftheiroverallregional skilled migration strategy. The program involves Multicultural Ambassadors beingnominatedandselectedfromthecommunity.TheAmbassadorsareelectedforatwo-yearperiodinwhich they promote multiculturalism in the region through public speaking engagements andworkingcollectivelyoncommunitydevelopmentprojects.

TheCommunityWelcomeDesk

A Community Welcome Desk located at the Ballarat Library/Community Hub provides anopportunity forSettlementServices toco-locateandprovide settlement informationandservices.The Desk commenced operations in April 2013 in collaboration with the Centre forMulticulturalYouth, Ballarat RegionalMulticultural Council, Ballarat CommunityHealth and the City of BallaratMulticulturalAmbassadors.Utilizing the Library/Hubmaximizes library resources, is located in thecommunityandisvisitedbycommunitymembersincludingnewpopulationgroupsonadailybasis.

CommunityCapacityBuilding

Anincreasingnumberof localgovernmentauthoritieshaveestablishedcapacitybuildingprogramsthatassistmembersofnewandemergingcommunitiestodevelopleadershipskills.Manyoftheseprograms focus on competencies for advocacy and impart skill sets required to participate indecisions-makingprocessesatthelocalgovernmentlevel.

Goodpracticeexample:CityofWodonga

TheCityofWodongaappliedtotheDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship'sDiversityandSocialCohesionprogram to fund a leadershipprogram to assist communitymembers to gain a voice tospeakup in thewider community. Theprogram involvedelevenparticipantswhodeveloped theirleadershipskills.


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TheLeadingtheWayprogramaimedtotrainleadersfromdiverseculturalbackgrounds,addressingwaystobuildstrongercommunityrelations.

Bydevelopingleaderswithinmulticulturalcommunitiesandfocusingonskillssuchasbusinessplanning,legislation,occupationalhealthandsafetymanagement,Councilwasabletobuildtheircapacitytoleadandinspiretheirowncommunity-basedgroups.

Aspartoftheleadershipprogram,participantsattendedaforumwithcouncillorstodiscussthechallengesfacingethnicandindigenouscommunitiesandhowthesecaninformthecouncil’splanningprocess.

Goodpracticeexample:CityofWhittlesea

The Whittlesea Community Leadership Network (CLN) membership comprises of not-for-profitcommunitygroupsrepresentingtheirmembersinthecityofWhittlesea.TheCLNprovidesmembergroupswithaccesstoresourcesandleadershiptrainingtoprovideimprovedcommunityconnection.

The formation of the CLN was a City of Whittlesea initiative and was based on a Pilot ProjectsupportedbyCouncilandcoordinatedbyCouncil’sMulticulturalUnit.

TheCLNaimsto:

• Build and foster solidarity among diverse community groups, encouraging people to visiteachother,shareculturalpractice,compareandcontrastwaysofbeinganddoingthroughsharingidentitytoaffirmwhatitmeanstobeacitizenofAustralia.

• Learn governance strategies while developing their own governance structure. CLNmobiliseshardtoreachgroupsasaconduittoencouragingcivicparticipation.

• Become an independent advisory group that Council departments can approach forconsultationsandinformation.Beapointofcontactforthedisseminationofinformation.

• Be a forum for collaboration, problem solving, networking, information sharing, andreferringmemberstoappropriateservices.

• Establishpartnershipswithorganizations thathavementoringprograms for leadersand inparticularyoungemergingleadersworkingwithseniors.

• Facilitateinclusion,sharingofculturalvalues,tolearnthevalueofculturalleadership

Promotingthebenefitsofmulticulturalism

The social, economic and cultural benefits that multiculturalism brings are well documented inrelevantliteratureandsurveys. Anumberoflocalgovernmentauthoritiesareidentifyingeffectivewaysofensuringthatknowledgearoundthesebenefitsisreachinglocalgrassrootscommunitiesandbusinesses.

Goodpracticeexample:RuralCouncilsVictoria

FromBurmatoNhill-thestoryoftheKarenrefugeesfromBurmaandhowtheyhavesettledintoanewlifeinthenorth-westVictoriantownofNhillisbeingtoldaspartoftheRuralSummitbeingheldinMarch2014.The twodayRuralSummit isanannualeventofRuralCouncilsVictoria (RCV)andopenswiththegeneralmanagerofa large localemployerexplainingthebenefitsofattractingtheKaren refugees to the town. The Karen community has successfully integrated into the localcommunityasaresultofthepositiveeffortsoflocalstakeholders.


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Theconferencethemeis‘SmallCommunities,BigOpportunities;facingthefutureandembracingchange’andprovidesaplatformforacollaborativeapproachtotheissuesfacingruralcouncilsinVictoria.

Goodpracticeexample:GeelongRegionalAlliance

The Geelong Regional Alliance (G21), Health andWellbeing Pillar has established a Refugee andAsylum Seeker Policy and Advocacy Group to improve community connectedness and socialinclusion with a particular focus on community members from refugee and asylum seekerbackgrounds. The Group, comprising representatives from local governments, health andcommunity services, aims to strengthen key relationships and advocate to reduce the negativehealthandwellbeingoutcomesonindividualandlocalcommunities.TheGrouphasidentifiedthataregionalresponseshouldfocusontheeconomicbenefitthecommunitymembersfromrefugeeandasylum seeker backgrounds bring and the value of population diversity. The group is currentlymapping all activities in the region, across the health and wellbeing, community assistance,education and training, housing and settlement services, food relief, and financial support andemploymentsectorsthatcanoffersupporttorefugeesandasylumseekers.

Celebratingculturaldiversity

Multiculturalism is embraced by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and throughoutcouncilsandiswidelycelebratedduringCulturalDiversityWeekfrom15-23Marchannually.

Cultural Diversity Week is a chance for workplaces and communities to celebrate the manybackgroundsAustralianscomefromandlearnmoreaboutourdifferentculturalheritages.EachyearduringCulturalDiversityWeekcouncilsacrossVictoriaareabuzzparticipatingandhostingarangeofcultural events including harmony festivals, cultural music performances, food sharing andstorytelling.

Theseeventsofferanopportunityforcommunitiestowelcomeandembracedifferentculturesandto celebrate local diversity. The week long celebration creates a space for communities fromdifferentpartsof theworld to showcase theirheritageand celebratewith friends, family and thewiderlocalcommunity.

Goodpracticeexample:CityofGreaterDandenong

TheCityofGreaterDandenong, inpartnershipwiththemunicipality’s InterfaithNetworkhosteda‘ManyFaithsOnePeopleOpenHouseeventduringCulturalDiversityWeek.

Theweek-longeventencouragedlocalcommunitiestoparticipateonatourtothePlacesofWorshipwithintheCityofGreaterDandenong.PlacesofWorshipcollaboratedwithCouncilandtheInterfaithNetworktorunthiseventandparticipantswerewelcomedbyaleaderormemberofeachfaithcommunityandofferedtheopportunityforparticipantstolearnaboutdifferentbeliefs,practicesandcommunities.PlacesofWorshipthatparticipatedincludedaHindutemple,SikhTemple,IslamicMosque,OrthodoxChurch,BuddhistTempleandanAnglicanChurch.


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EliminatingRacism

Racism.ItStopswithMeisacampaignwhichinvitesallAustralianstoreflectonwhattheycandotocounterracismwhereverithappens.In2011,theAustralianGovernmentcommittedtodevelopandimplementtheNationalAnti-RacismStrategyforAustralia.TheStrategyisbeingimplementedbetweenJuly2012andJune2015.Itfocusesonpublicawareness,educationresourcesandyouthengagementandisunderpinnedbyresearch,consultationandevaluation.TheaimoftheNationalAnti-RacismStrategyistopromoteaclearunderstandingintheAustraliancommunityofwhatracismis,andhowitcanbepreventedandreduced.Researchfrom2011showsthat one in seven Australians said they experienced discrimination because of their colour orbackground.Thisfigurehasbeenincreasingsteadilyinrecentyears.Thisaimisbeingachievedthroughthreeobjectives:

• creatingawarenessofracismandhowitaffectsindividualsandthebroadercommunity• identifying, promoting and building on good practice initiatives to prevent and reduce

racism,and• empoweringcommunitiesandindividualstotakeactiontopreventandreduceracismand

toseekredresswhenitoccurs.TheprimaryawarenessraisingandengagementactivitywithintheStrategyistheRACISM.ITSTOPSWITHMEcampaign.TheMAV,togetherwiththirteenVictorianCouncilshavesignedupasproudsupportersoftheRacism.ItStopswithMe!Campaign.Goodpracticeexample:DarebinCityCouncil

DarebinCityCouncil’sSayNOtoRacismprojectisfundedbytheAustralianGovernmentDepartmentofSocialServices,DiversityandSocialCohesionProgram.Thisprojectaimsataddressingracismthroughtheroleofbystanders.Theprojectincludesatrainingpackage(includingawrittenmanualandDVD)thatcanbeusedbytheDarebincommunitytoencouragebystanderstotakeactionwhentheywitnessracismoccurinthecommunity.(Thispackagewasstillunderdevelopmentatthetimeofwritingthisreport.)

Thetrainingpackagewillinclude:

1. anoverviewofracismanditsimpactsofthecommunity2. reasonswhybystandersshouldtakeaction3. practicaltoolsandskillsthatenableandempowerpeopletotakeaction4. thelinkbetweencollectiveactionandcreatingaculturewhereracismisnottolerated

Itisbeingdevelopedthrough:

1. researchofcurrentstudiesandinitiativesintobystanderaction2. communityfocusgroupstoconsultpeopleontheirlivedexperienceandadviceontraining

moduleactivities3. communitysessionstotrainparticipantstoshareordeliverthetrainingpackagewithintheir

ownworkplaceorcommunity


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SayNOtoRacismisalsodevelopingashortDVDtodemonstratetheimpactsofracismonindividualsandthecommunity.TheDVDcomponentwillbeusedtoexploretheimpactsofracismandtheneedforbystanderaction.TheDVDwillusetheexperiencesofeverydaypeoplewhoaretargetsofdifferentformsofracismtoinformparticipantsofthevaryinganddetrimentalimpactsofracism.Theuseofrealstoriesfromeverydaypeoplewillcomplimentadditionalinformationprovidedwithinthetrainingpackageabouttheimpactsofracismonindividualsandthecommunity.Additionally,theDVDaimstoincreaseawarenessandempathyoftheimpactsofracismandthereforemotivateparticipantstotakeactionwhentheywitnessracismoccurinthecommunity.

Recognisingthecontributionsofrefugeebackgroundcommunities

RefugeeWeekisAustralia'speakannualactivitytoraiseawarenessabouttheissuesaffectingrefugeesandcelebratethepositivecontributionsmadebyrefugeestoAustraliansociety.RefugeeWeekisalwaysheldfromSundaytoSaturdayoftheweekwhichincludes20June(WorldRefugeeDay).In2014,RefugeeWeekwillbeheldfromSunday15JunetoSaturday21June.

ThethemeforRefugeeWeekfrom2012to2014isRestoringHope.AgrowingnumberofCouncilsthroughoutVictoriaareengagingininnovativeinitiativestorecognisethecontributionsofrefugeebackgroundcommunitiestotheirlocalarea.

Goodpracticeexample:MonashCityCouncil

In2013MonashCityCouncilencouragedlocalresidentstohelpcelebrateRefugeeWeekataspecialeventorganisedtorecognisethecontributionsofrefugeesinthecommunity.

TheSmall,NewandEmergingCommunitiesExpoprovidedthecommunitywithimportantinformationanddiscussedissuesandneedsthatareemergingintherefugeecommunity.

AspartofRefugeeWeek,Councilalsorancross-culturaltrainingforstaffandadvisorygroupsfocussingonsettlementneedsforrefugeesaswellasprovidingabetterunderstandingintotheissuesfacingrefugeesbeforeandaftertheyarriveinAustralia.

TheeventwasheldinpartnershipwithFederal,StateandLocalAgenciesandisinlinewiththeMonashMulticulturalFrameworkandActionPlan2009-2013,astrategicframeworkoutlininghowCouncilrespondstoculturaldiversityandaddressesissuesthatmattertoculturallyandlinguisticallydiversemembersofthecommunity.

Goodpracticeexample:YarraCityCouncil

TheEmergeFestival,conductedattheFitzroyTownHall,commemoratesUnitedNationsWorldRefugeeDayandcelebratesRefugeeWeekinVictoria.Theonlyfestivalofitskind,Emergeunearthstheincredibletalentswithintherefugeeandasylumseekercommunity.Thefestivalprovidesanopportunityforpeopleofallagesandbackgroundstoshareandcelebraterichandundiscoveredcultures.WorldRefugeeDayRally–usuallyheldontheSundayclosesttoWorldRefugeeDay,isarallypartlyfundedbyYarra,andinvolvesamarchthroughoutthecity,concludingattheEmergeFestival,FitzroyTownHall.


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RefugeeWelcomeZones

ARefugeeWelcomeZoneisaLocalGovernmentAreawhichhasmadeacommitmentinspirittowelcomingrefugeesintothecommunity,upholdingthehumanrightsofrefugees,demonstratingcompassionforrefugeesandenhancingculturalandreligiousdiversityinthecommunity.

ThispubliccommitmentisalsoanacknowledgmentofthetremendouscontributionsrefugeeshavemadetoAustraliansocietyinthefieldsofmedicine,science,engineering,sport,educationandthearts.BymakingthisDeclaration,localgovernmentareencouragedintheircontinuingeffortstosupportthemen,womenandchildrenwhomakethedifficultjourneytoAustraliatoseekourprotection.

TheRefugeeWelcomeZoneinitiativebeganinJune2002aspartofRefugeeWeekcelebrations.TherearecurrentlyninetyLocalGovernmentAreaswhichhavedeclaredthemselvesRefugeeWelcomeZones.Theinitiativehasproventobeagreatsuccessinconnectinglocalgovernmentswiththeissuesfacingrefugeesandasylumseekers.

ThecontributionofAustralia’slocalcouncilstowelcominghumanitarianarrivalshasbeendocumentedinaresearchpaper13intotheRefugeeWelcomeZoneinitiative.TheresearchsetsoutthebenefitsofbecomingaRefugeeWelcomeZoneandhowothercouncilscanbeinvolvedintheinitiative.Thepaperhighlightsexamplesofbest-practicefromsomeofthecouncilsthathavebuiltacultureofwelcomeforrefugeesbysigningupasRefugeeWelcomeZones.

CurrentRefugeeWelcomeZonesinVictoriainclude:CityofBallarat,BassCoastShireCouncil,BrimbankCityCouncil,ShireofCampaspe,CityofCasey,CityofDarebin,CityofGreaterBendigo,CityofGreaterDandenong,CityofGreaterGeelong,HepburnShireCouncil,HorshamRuralCityCouncil,HumeCityCouncil,MaribyrnongCityCouncil,MaroondahCityCouncil,CityofMelbourne,MilduraRuralCityCouncil,CityofMonash,CityofMooneeValley,MorelandCityCouncil,MorningtonPeninsulaShire,MountAlexanderShireCouncil,CityofPortPhillip,GreaterSheppartonCityCouncil,SurfCoastShire,SwanHillRuralCityCouncil,CityofWhittlesea,WyndhamCity,CityofYarra,YarraRangesCouncil.

Goodpracticeexample:CityofYarra

YarraCityCouncilhasbeenaRefugeeWelcomeZonesince2002,beingoneofthefirstlocalgovernmentauthoritiestojointhisinitiative.CounciladopteditsownRefugeeandAsylumSeekerStatementin2005,whichoutlinesYarra’scommitmenttoarespectfulandcompassionateapproachtoAsylumSeekers.Atthistimewelcomebannersstating“CityofYarraWelcomesRefugeesandAsylumSeekers”werehungoutsidetheCollingwoodTownHallonspecialoccasionssuchasRefugeeWeek.In2011,CouncilunanimouslyvotedtopermanentlydisplaytheWelcomeBannerstoRefugeesandAsylumSeekersfromthreetownhallsites–Collingwood,FitzroyandRichmond.AsstatedinYarra’scurrentMulticulturalPolicy2010-2014,YarraCityCouncilwelcomesrefugees,asylumseekersandotherhumanitarianmigrantstothemunicipalitywithrespectandcompassionandfacilitatesaresponsiveresettlementresponse.

13RefugeeCouncilofAustralia,RefugeeWelcomeZones–LocalCouncilsbuildinga cultureofwelcome for refugees,December2013


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NetworksandCollaborationsYarraco-convenesandfundstheYarraSettlementForum(YSF)withNorthYarraCommunityHealthwhichlooksbroadlyatsettlementissuesofallnewarrivalswithaspecialfocusonrefugeesandasylumseekers.MembersoftheYSFincludeserviceswithafocusonsupportingrefugeesandasylumseekers(e.g.AsylumSeekerResourceCentre,FitzroyLearningNetwork).ActivitiesoftheYSFhaveincludedadvocacyworkinggroupsforrefugeesandasylumseekers,Refugeeweekevents,amentalhealthissuesforrefugeesandasylumseekersforum,ahousingforum,employmentforum,earlychildhoodforumandaneducationforum(allwithafocusonrefugeecommunities).CommunityGrantsThroughitsCommunityGrantsprogram,Councilassistsrefugeeandasylumseekergroupstoaccessfundingforcommunitystrengtheningprojects,including:

• projectswhichsupportthesettlementofrefugeesandasylumseekers;• community events to celebrate diverse cultural traditions, and which include the wider

community• buildingthecapacityandleadershipskillsofrefugeeandasylumseekers;and• supportingpartnershipsbetweenlocalcommunitygroupsandserviceproviderstoenhance

supportforrefugeesandasylumseekers.CouncilassistsnewandemergingcommunitygroupstoaccesstheCommunityGrantsprogrambyprovidingtrainingsessionsandone-on-onesupportinbuildingthegroups’capacityingrantseeking.AdvocacyYarraCouncilcontinuestoplayanadvocacyroleinsettlementandbeyond,particularlyintheareasofhealth,employment,educationandhousing,bymaintainingapresenceongovernmentandregionalnetworks.YarraiscurrentlyinvolvedintheNorthernandWesternMetropolitanRefugeeandAsylumSeekerForum,whichmeetsregularlywithanadvocacyfocus.

CommunityEngagement–languageandcommunication

Understandingcommunityneedsandaddressingbarrierstoequitableaccessorengagementareallcriticaltotheperformanceoflocalgovernment.Achievingrespectfordiversityandimprovedresponsivenesstoallmembersofthecommunityreliesonafoundationofeffectiveengagementwiththediversityofthecommunity.ManyVictorianlocalgovernmentauthoritieshaveadoptedLanguageandCommunicationPlansaspartoftheirengagementstrategywithculturallyandlinguisticallydiversemembersofthecommunity.LanguageservicesinparticularhaveincreasedtheaccesstoCouncils’programsandservicesandresultedinimprovedoutcomesfortheirCALDconstituents.

Goodpracticeexample:TISFreeInterpretingServicesforLocalCouncils

TISNationalprovides free interpretingservices tocouncilsonmatterssuchasparking fines, rates,garbagecollection,urbanservices,communitysupport,planningandbuildingpermits.

TISfree interpretingservicesarenot intendedtobeusedby localgovernmentfor localtourismorothercommercialpurposes.Wherelocalcouncilshavealreadybeenallocatedfundsbyanotherlevelof government to perform a function on their behalf (e.g. HACC or management of child-carefacilities)thesearealsoineligibleforfreeinterpretingservicesforthatservice.


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AllVictorianlocalcouncilscanregisterforafee-freeaccountfortelephoneandon-siteinterpretingthroughTISNational.

Goodpracticeexample:CityofWhittleseaMultilingualServices

The City of Whittlesea has established a comprehensive range of multilingual services across allCouncilserviceareas.Theseinclude:

• A language servicespolicywhichobliges staff toaccess translatingor interpreting serviceswheneverlanguageissuesemerge

• Interpreting services -a free interpreter service forall customers. Customerscanelect tohave an interpreter present in-person rather than on the phone and Council will arrangethis.

• Language aides and bilingual staff - language aides help facilitate prompt communicationwithlocalresidentsfromCALDcommunities.

• Multilingual website - information about a range of topics that support individuals andfamiliessettlinginthemunicipalityisavailableinlanguagesotherthanEnglishonCouncil’swebsite

• Multilingualtelephoneinformation-residentscancallCouncil’smultilingualtelephonelinesto hear pre-recorded information about council services. These information lines canconnectindividualstoaninterpreterifmoreinformationisneeded.


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Appendices


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Appendix 1: Australia’s Legislative and Policy Context for multiculturalism and settlement

1.1 FEDERALLEGALFRAMEWORKS

Anti-Discrimination/Racism

Anextensiveanti-discriminationlegislativeframeworkexistsinAustraliaattheCommonwealthlevel.StateandTerritoryjurisdictionsalsoprohibitracial,andsomereligious,vilification.

Commonwealthanti-discriminationlegislationisprimarilylocatedinfourActs:

q TheRacialDiscriminationAct1975q TheSexDiscriminationAct1984q TheDisabilityDiscriminationAct1992q TheAgeDiscriminationAct2004

Additionally,theAustralianHumanRightsActenablestheAustralianHumanRightsCommission(AHRC)toinquireintoandconciliatecomplaintsofdiscriminationinemploymentonthebasisofsexualpreference,criminalrecord,tradeunionactivity,politicalopinion,religionorsocialorigin.

RacialDiscriminationAct1975

Australia’sRacialDiscriminationAct1975(RDA)isthekeypieceofnationallegislationwhichdefendstheprincipleofequitybeforelawforpeopleofallraces,nationalandethnicbackgrounds.TheRDArespondstobasichumanrightscommitmentssubscribedtobyAustraliaunderinternationalcovenants,whichsupporttherighttoculturalself-determinationandprohibitdiscriminationonthebasisofraceorreligioninareasofemployment,education,sport,andinbuyinggoodsandusingservices.

KeySectionsoftheRDA:Section18CoftheRacialDiscriminationAct-makesitunlawfulforsomeonetodoanactthatis"reasonablylikelyto…offend,insult,humiliateorintimidate''othersbecauseoftheirraceorethnicity.Section18Ballowsthatraceorcolourmaybeoneofthereasonsforthehatespeech-notnecessarilythedominantreason.Section18Dallowsexemptionstoprotectfreespeech,includingartisticworksandscientificdebate,''donereasonablyandingoodfaith''.Section18Eholdsorganisationsliableforraciallyoffensiveactsdonebytheiremployees.

Note:AsatMarch2014,theAustralianFederalGovernmenthasreleasedanexposuredraftonchangestotheRacialDiscriminationAct1975(Cth).UnderchangesproposedbyAttorney-GeneralGeorgeBrandis,section18CoftheRacialDiscriminationAct,whichmakesitunlawfulforsomeonetoactinamannerlikelyto''offend,insult,humiliateorintimidate''someonebecauseoftheirraceorethnicity,wouldberepealed. Section18D,whichprovidesprotectionsforfreedomofspeech,willalsoberemovedandreplacedbyasectionthatremovesthewords''offend,insultandhumiliate'',leaves''intimidate''andaddstheword''vilify''forthefirsttime.Sections18Band18Ewouldalsoberepealed.Theyincludeprovisionsthatcanmakeemployersliableforrace-hatespeech.


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RacialHatredAct1995

TheRacialHatredAct,introducedinOctober1995,extendsthecoverageoftheRDAsothatpeoplecancomplaintotheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionaboutraciallyoffensiveorabusivebehaviour.Itaimstostrikeabalancebetweentwovaluedrights:therighttocommunicatefreelyandtherighttolivefreefromvilification.

TheActcoverspublicactswhichare:

⇒ done,inwholeorinpart,becauseoftherace,colour,ornationalorethnicoriginofapersonorgroupAND

⇒ reasonablylikelyinallthecircumstancestooffend,insult,humiliateorintimidatethatpersonorgroup.

6.2 FEDERALHUMANRIGHTSFRAMEWORKS

Australiahasalongtraditionofsupportinghumanrightsaroundtheworld,andwascloselyinvolvedinthedevelopmentoftheinternationalhumanrightssystem14.UnderAustralia’slegalsystem,therecognitionandprotectionofmanybasicrightsandfreedomsisenshrinedinbothstatutelawandcommonlaw.Thecommonlawhasalsodevelopedprinciplesofstatutoryinterpretationthatfunctiontoprotecthumanrights.Thefirstprincipleisthatwheninterpretinglegislation,courtswillpresumethatParliamentdidnotintendtointerferewithfundamentalhumanrights.Thesecondprincipleisthatincasesofambiguity,courtswillpresumethatlegislationisintendedtobeconsistentwithestablishedrulesofinternationallaw,includingAustralia’sinternationalhumanrightsobligations.Internationalhumanrightsprinciplesalsoplayanimportantroleinshapingthecommonlaw.

Federally,arangeoflaws(statutelaw)helpAustraliatoimplementitshumanrightsobligations.Inparticular,theAustralianHumanRightsCommissionAct1986(Cth)restatestheobligationsCommonwealthauthoritieshaveunderkeyhumanrightsinstruments.VictoriaandtheAustralianCapitalTerritoryhaveintroducedstatutorychartersofrightsbasedona‘dialoguemodel’.TheHumanRightsAct2004(ACT)andtheVictorianCharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesAct2006(Vic)protectcivilandpoliticalrights,requirepublicauthoritiestoactinamannerconsistentwiththoserights,andrequirepublicauthoritiestogiveproperconsiderationtothoserightswhenmakingadministrativedecisions.

InApril2010,thethenAustralianGovernmentannouncedAustralia’sHumanRightsFramework,asetofmeasurestopromoteandprotecthumanrights.AnationalHumanRightsActionPlanwasalsosubsequentlydeveloped.

DetailsoftheFrameworkandkeylegislativemeasuresaresetoutbelow.

AustralianHumanRightsCommissionAct1986(Cth)

TheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionAct1986(formerlycalledtheHumanRightsandEqualOpportunityCommissionAct1986)establishedtheHumanRightsandEqualOpportunity


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Commission(nowknownastheAustralianHumanRightsCommission)andgivesitfunctionsinrelationtoanumberofinternationalinstruments.

UnderthisAct,theAustralianHumanRightsCommissionhasarangeofpowerstolookathowthefederalgovernmentismeetingitshumanrightsobligations.Thisincludes:

q resolvingcomplaintsofdiscriminationorbreachesofhumanrightsunderfederallawsq holdingpublicinquiriesintohumanrightsissuesofnationalimportanceq developinghumanrightseducationprogramsandresourcesforschools,workplacesand

thecommunityq providingindependentlegaladvicetoassistcourtsincasesthatinvolvehumanrights

principlesq providingadviceandsubmissionstoparliamentsandgovernmentstodeveloplaws,

policiesandprograms,q undertakingandcoordinatingresearchintohumanrightsanddiscriminationissues.

Section3(1)oftheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionAct1986(Cth)definesdiscrimination.TheAustralianHumanRightsRegulations1989(Cth)listsadditionalgroundswhichwillconstitutediscriminationundertheAct.

Australia’sHumanRightsFramework

Australia’sHumanRightsFramework,launchedin2010,setsoutarangeofAustralia’skeymeasurestofurtherprotectandpromotehumanrightsinAustralia’sdomesticpolicy.Itisbasedonfivekeyprinciplesandfocuseson:

⇒ reaffirmingacommitmenttoourhumanrightsobligations⇒ theimportanceofhumanrightseducation⇒ enhancingourdomesticandinternationalengagementonhumanrightsissues⇒ improvinghumanrightsprotectionsincludinggreaterparliamentaryscrutiny,and⇒ achievinggreaterrespectforhumanrightsprincipleswithinthecommunity.

VictorianstateandlocalgovernmentauthoritiesarenotrequiredtodemonstratetheircompliancewithinternationalhumanrightsinstrumentsliketheICCPRtotheAustralianHumanRightsCommission,andthefederalparliamentaryscrutinycommitteecan’tconsiderthehumanrightsissuesraisedinVictorianlaws.

ThisisonereasonthatVictoriahastheHumanRightsandEqualOpportunityCharter–theVictorianParliamenthasmadeacommitmentabouthumanrightstothepeopleitservesandhassetupamechanismsothatVictorianpublicauthoritiesaretransparentandaccountableinhowtheytakethisintoaccountintheworktheydo.

1.3 MIGRATIONLEGALFRAMEWORKS

MigrationlawinAustraliaisextremelycomplexanditisnottheintentionofthissectiontoprovideadetailedexaminationofthemyriadofrulesandregulationsthatsurroundthekeypieceoflegislation–theMigrationAct1958.RatherthissectionbrieflysetsoutthecorepurposeoftheMigrationAct,withparticularreferencetorecentchangesrelatingtoregionalprocessingsystemsfor‘unauthorisedmaritimearrivals’.


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MigrationAct1958

TheobjectofAustralia'sMigrationAct1958istoregulate,inthenationalinterest,thelawfulentryandstayofpeopleinAustralia.Allnon-citizenswantingtovisitAustraliahavetoapplyfor,andbegranted,avisatoenterAustralia.Non-citizenswhoareinthemigrationzoneanddonotholdavalidvisaentitlingthemtoremaininAustraliaareunlawfulnon-citizens.

Australia'sMigrationAct1958requiresthatunlawfulnon-citizenswhoareinAustralia'smigrationzonebedetainedandthatunlesstheyaregrantedpermissiontoremaininAustralia,theymustberemovedassoonasreasonablypracticable.

Thosewhoarefoundtoberefugeesarereleasedfromimmigrationdetentionimmediately,subjecttohealthandcharacterrequirements.

On20May2013theMigrationAmendment(UnauthorisedMaritimeArrivalsandOtherMeasures)Act2013(“theAct”)cameintoeffect.ThisActformedpartofthepackageofreformsrecommendedbytheExpertPanelonAsylumSeekersreportinAugust2012andtheimplementationofthe‘noadvantagepolicy’.Thislegislationwaspopularlyreferredtoasthe‘excisionoftheAustralianmainlandfromthemigrationzone’.TheActmadeseveralchangestotheMigrationAct1958.

TheActremovedthedefinitionof“offshoreentryperson”fromsection5(1)oftheMigrationActandinsertedanewdefinitionof“unauthorisedmaritimearrivals”insection5AA.AnunauthorisedmaritimearrivalisdefinedasapersonwhoentersAustraliabyseaatanexcisedoffshoreplace,oranyotherplace,andbecomesanunlawfulnon-citizenasaresult.Thatis,theyarenotanAustraliancitizenandtheydonotholdavalidvisaforAustralia.NewZealandcitizens,permanentresidentsofNorfolkIsland,andotherprescribedpersons(namelythosewhoholdandproduceETA-eligiblepassports)areexcludedbythedefinitionofunauthorisedmaritimearrivals.ThosewhoarriveinAustraliabyplanearenotunauthorisedmaritimearrivals.

AustralianCitizenshipAct2007

CitizenshipintheformallegalsenseisregulatedbytheAustralianCitizenshipAct2007.

Australiancitizensenjoythefollowingrights(subjecttocertainexceptions):

• entitlementtoanAustralianpassportandtoAustralianconsularassistanceoverseas• entitlementtore-enterAustraliaatanytimewithoutanyimmigrationrestrictions• immunityfromdeportation• entitlementtoregisteroverseasbornchildrenasAustraliancitizensbydescent(subject

tosomeadditionalcriteria)• entitlementtoseekemploymentbytheFederal(Commonwealth)Government,orinthe

AustralianDefenceForce(wherecitizenshipisnormallyrequired)[4]• entitlement tovoteandstand forpublicoffice (dualcitizenscannotstand foroffice in

the Federal Parliament unless they have taken all reasonable steps to renounce theirforeigncitizenship.(MoststatesdoallowdualcitizenstostandforStateParliaments).


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ThefollowingresponsibilitiesareexpectedofAustraliancitizens:

• obeythelaw• paytaxthatisdue• defendAustraliashouldtheneedarise• enroll to vote, and vote at all elections and referenda (unless there is a reasonable

excusesuchasareligiousobjection,beingoverseasorillnessonpollingday)• serveonajury,ifcalledupon

Citizenship ceremonies fulfil legal requirements prescribed by the Australian Citizenship Act 2007(the Act) and the Australian Citizenship Regulations 2007 (the Regulations). They are conductedundertheauthorityoftheAustralianGovernmentministerresponsibleforcitizenshipmatters.

The Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code provides guidance for organisations conductingcitizenship ceremonies. It sets out the legal and other requirements for conducting citizenshipceremoniesaswellastherolesandresponsibilitiesofthoseconductingceremonies.

Therearethreelegalrequirementswhichmustbefollowed.

• ThepresidingofficermustbeauthorisedbytheAustralianGovernmentministerresponsibleforcitizenshipmatters.

• The presiding officermust read schedule 1 of the Australian Citizenship Regulations 2007(preambleforcitizenshipceremonies)tothecandidates.SeeAppendix2.

• Most people 16 years of age and over applying for citizenship by conferralmustmake apledge of commitment as a citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia (the pledge). Thepledgemustbemadebeforethepresidingofficer.

AustralianCitizenshipDay—17September

Introducedin2001,AustralianCitizenshipDayisadayforeveryoneinthecommunitytoreflectonandcelebratethemeaningandimportanceofAustraliancitizenshipandtheroleAustraliancitizenshave played in shaping our nation. It is a day for all Australians to celebrate the values whichunderpin Australian citizenship including democracy, equality under the law and respect for eachother’sbeliefsaswellasthoseaspectsofourwayoflifethatuniteus.

AustralianCitizenshipDayiscelebratedwithspecialcitizenshipceremoniesaffirmationceremoniesand other events around Australia. Local government councils, community organisations, schoolsandothersinthecommunityareencouragedtoparticipateinAustralianCitizenshipDay.

1.4 FEDERALPOLICYCONTEXT

Australia'smulticulturalpolicy-ThePeopleofAustralia

Australia'smulticulturalpolicy,ThePeopleofAustralia,isalandmarkpolicylaunchedundertheLaborGovernmentin2011.ThepolicydemonstratedtheAustralianGovernment'sunwaveringcommitmenttoamulticulturalAustralia.Asthepolicystates,ourmulticulturalcompositionisattheheartofAustralia'snationalidentityandintrinsictoourhistoryandcharacter.


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Thepolicyembracesoursharedvaluesandculturaltraditions.ItrecognisesourrightsandresponsibilitiesasenshrinedinourcitizenshippledgeandsupportstherightsofallAustralianstocelebrate,practiseandmaintaintheirculturalheritage,traditionsandlanguagewithinthelawandfreefromdiscrimination.

Australia'smulticulturalpolicyacknowledgesthatgovernmentservicesandprogramsmustberesponsivetotheneedsofourculturallyandlinguisticallydiversecommunities.ItcommitstoanaccessandequityframeworktoensurethattheonusisongovernmenttoprovideequitableservicestoAustraliansfromallbackgrounds.Australia'smulticulturalcharactergivesusacompetitiveedgeinanincreasinglyglobalisedworld.MulticulturalismisaboutallAustralians.

Thisvisionisreflectedinthefourprinciplesthatunderpinthismulticulturalpolicy:

• TheAustralianGovernmentcelebratesandvaluesthebenefitsofculturaldiversityforallAustralians,withinthebroaderaimsofnationalunity,communityharmonyandmaintenanceofourdemocraticvalues.

• TheAustralianGovernmentiscommittedtoajust,inclusiveandsociallycohesivesocietywhereeveryonecanparticipateintheopportunitiesthatAustraliaoffersandwheregovernmentservicesareresponsivetotheneedsofAustraliansfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.

• TheAustralianGovernmentwelcomestheeconomic,tradeandinvestmentbenefits,whicharisefromoursuccessfulmulticulturalnation.

• TheAustralianGovernmentwillacttopromoteunderstandingandacceptancewhilerespondingtoexpressionsofintoleranceanddiscriminationwithstrength,andwherenecessary,withtheforceofthelaw.

Thereareanumberofimportantinitiativesthatcontinuetosupportthepolicyunderthenewcoalitiongovernment:

• NationalAnti-RacismPartnershipandStrategy• MulticulturalAccessandEquity

NationalAnti-RacismPartnershipandStrategy

In2011,thethenAustralianGovernmentcommittedtodevelopandimplementaNationalAnti-RacismStrategyforAustralia.TheStrategywillbeimplementedbetweenJuly2012andJune2015andfocusesonpublicawareness,educationresourcesandyouthengagementandisunderpinnedbyresearch,consultationandevaluation.

TheaimoftheNationalAnti-RacismStrategyis:

• TopromoteaclearunderstandingintheAustraliancommunityofwhatracismis,andhowitcanbepreventedandreduced.

TheobjectivesoftheStrategyareto:

• createawarenessofracismandhowitaffectsindividualsandthebroadercommunity• identify,promoteandbuildongoodpracticeinitiativestopreventandreduceracism,and• empowercommunitiesandindividualstotakeactiontopreventandreduceracismandto

seekredresswhenitoccurs


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TheStrategyhasbeendevelopedthroughapartnershipledbytheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionanddrawsontheexpertiseofthefollowinggovernmentandcommunitybodies:theDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship;theAttorney-General’sDepartment;theDepartmentofFamilies,Housing,CommunityServicesandIndigenousAffairs;theAustralianMulticulturalCouncil;theNationalCongressofAustralia’sFirstPeoplesandtheFederationofEthnicCommunities’CouncilsofAustralia.

MulticulturalAccessandEquityPolicy

AccessandEquityisaboutensuringthatallAustraliansreceiveequitableaccesstogovernmentservicesregardlessoftheirculturalorlinguisticbackground.TheMulticulturalAccessandEquityPolicycoversallengagementandcommunicationofgovernmentdepartmentsandagencieswithmulticulturalcommunities,notjustdirectservicedelivery.

ThePolicyalsoenablesAccessandEquityreportingtobemoretransparentanddepartmentsandagenciestobemoreaccountablebyrequiringthemtodevelopandimplementtwo-yearlyAgencyMulticulturalPlans(AMPs).AMPsincludesixdimensions—Leadership,Engagement,Performance,Capability,ResponsivenessandOpenness—onwhichdepartmentsandagenciesmustreport.EachofthesedimensionsincludesminimumobligationsthattheAustralianGovernmentcommittedtodeliveringinthisarea.

SupportingresourceshavebeendevelopedtoassistdepartmentsandagenciesinunderstandingandmeetingtheirobligationsunderthestrengthenedPolicy.

1.5 FEDERALDEPARTMENTSTRUCTURESANDPROGRAMS

SignificantchangesinrelationtodepartmentstructuresrelatingtosettlementandmulticulturalaffairshavebeenimplementedsincetheelectionoftheCoalitionGovernmentinSeptember2013.

ResponsibilityforsettlementandmulticulturalaffairsrecentlymovedfromtheDepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtection(formerlyDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship)totheDepartmentofSocialServices.

AsaresultoftheAdministrativeArrangementOrderreleasedon18September2013,theDepartmentofSocialServicesisresponsibleforthefollowingrelevantmatters:

• Servicesforfamilieswithchildren,peoplewithdisabilitiesandcarers• Communitymentalhealth• Communitysupportservices• Familyrelationship,FamilyandChildren’sSupportServices• Arrangements for the settlement of migrants and humanitarian entrants, other than

migrantchildandmigrantadulteducation• Non-profitsectorandvolunteering• Multiculturalaffairs


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PolicyChanges-Asylumseekers

TheDepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtection(DIBP)recentlyadvisedthat“TheAustraliangovernmenthasintroducedacodeofbehaviour(thecode)whichwillapplytoallnon-citizensbeingconsideredforthegrantofabridgingvisaE(BVE)bytheMinisterforImmigrationandBorderProtection(theminister).”

“PeoplewhoareinthecommunitywhocurrentlyholdaBVEgrantedbytheministerorwhoseBVEgrantedbytheminsterhasexpiredandarewaitingafurtherBVEgrant,willberequiredtosignthecodebeforetheyaregrantedafurtherBVE.Themajorityofthesepeoplearelikelytobeillegalmaritimearrivals(IMAs).Thechangesapplyfrom14December2013.ThecodeoutlinesexpectedbehaviourforBVEholderswhilelivingintheAustraliancommunity.Bysigningthecode,peoplewillagreetobehaveaccordingtoit.Thisincludesagreeingtonotharass,intimidateorbullyotherpeopleinAustralia,getinvolvedincriminalactivityorviolence,bedisrespectfulorinconsideratetomembersoftheAustraliancommunity,andco-operatewiththedepartment.Itisimportantthatpeopleunderstandwhattheyareagreeingto,asbreachingthecodecouldleadtotheirBVEbeingcancelledoranyincomesupporttheyreceivebeingreduced.IftheirBVEiscancelled,theywillbereturnedtoimmigrationdetentionandtheymaybetransferredtoanoffshoreprocessingcentre.Apartfromvisacancellation,othersanctionsmaybeconsideredasappropriateonacasebycasebasis.Thisincludestheuseofawarningletter,counselling,orincomesupportreduction.”

TheNoticeofLegislativeChangeisavailableat:www.immi.gov.au/legislation/amendments.Thelegislativeinstrumentisavailableat:www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2013L02105

ChangestoVisas

TemporaryWork(Skilled)(subclass457)visa

Thesubclass457visaprogramisthemostcommonlyusedAustralianvisaprogramtosponsoroverseasskilledworkersonatemporarybasis.Ahighnumberof457VisaworkersresideinMelbourne’swesternregion.

TheTemporaryWork(Skilled)(subclass457)visaallowseligibleemployerstoaddressskillsshortagesthatcannotbefilledfromthelocallabourmarket.

TheDepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtection(themDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship)announcedinJune2013thatnewlawshadbeenpassedbytheAustralianFederalParliamenttostrengthenthe457temporaryvisasystemtoensureemployersuseonlytheschemetofillgenuineskillsshortages,andlooklocalfirstbeforehiringworkersfromoverseas.

Thenewlawsalso:

⇒ Protectoverseasvisaholdersfromexploitation,guaranteeingthesamepayandconditionsaslocalworkers,andextendingtheirvisasfrom28to90days,aftertheirinitialemploymentceased.Thiswillallowworkersmoretimetogettheirfamiliesaffairsintoorderifthey’removinghome,ortolookforanotherjob.


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⇒ Givegreaterpowersto300FairWorkOmbudsmaninspectors,toensureemployersarecomplyingwiththeschemeandequalpayandconditions,andmeetingothervisaconditions.

⇒ EnshrinetheroleofTheMinisterialAdvisoryCouncilonSkilledMigration–atripartitebodycomprisingunions,industryandgovernmentrepresentatives–willprovideadvicetotheMinisterandprovideoversightoftheGovernment’stemporaryworkprograms.

SettlementandMulticulturalAffairsPrograms

TheresettlementofrefugeesandothersinhumanitarianneedtoAustraliaissupportedbyarangeofcomprehensivepre-departureandsettlementservicesprovidedbythegovernment.TheseservicesarecriticalforsupportingnewarrivalstowardinclusionandactiveparticipationinAustraliansociety.

TheDepartmentofSocialServicesisresponsibleforsettlementandmulticulturalpoliciesandwilladministermostofthesettlementandmulticulturalaffairsprogramsincluding:

• theAustralianCulturalOrientation,orAUSCO,program;• HumanitarianSettlementServices;• theSettlementGrantsProgram;• ComplexCaseSupport;• theDiversityandSocialCohesionProgram;and• theMulticulturalArtsandFestivalsGrants.

Pre-DepartureandSettlementServices

PlanningforsettlementservicesistheprocessbywhichtheAustralianGovernmentidentifiesnewarrivalswhoaremostinneedofassistancetosettle,identifieswhattheirparticularneedsareandhowbesttotargetpolicyandprogramstomeetthoseneeds.

Adjustingtoanewlifeinanothercountrypresentssignificantchallenges.Forrefugeeandhumanitarianentrants,thedifficultyofadjustingoftencomesfromtheirtraumaticpre‑arrivalexperiences.Forthisreason,Australia’sassistancetorefugeeandhumanitarianentrantsdoesnotendwhentheyarriveinAustralia.

TheAustralianGovernment,throughthedepartment,hasputinplacearangeofservicestosupportrefugeeandhumanitarianentrantsoncetheyarrive.

Thisassistance,providedwithintheirfirstfiveyearsofsettlement,isdesignedandadministeredthroughspecialisedsettlementprogramsandserviceswhich:

〉 providesettlementinformationandorientation〉 addressEnglishlanguagelearning,translatingandinterpretingneeds〉 providesupporttothecommunitydevelopmentofnewculturalgroups〉 respondtospecialistneeds,suchastortureandtraumacounselling.


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Overviewofkeyprogramsandservices

PROGRAM/SERVICE DETAILSAustralianCulturalOrientation(AUSCO)program

TheAustralianCulturalOrientation(AUSCO)programisprovidedtorefugeeandhumanitarianvisaholderswhoarepreparingtosettleinAustralia.TheprogramprovidespracticaladviceandtheopportunitytoaskquestionsabouttraveltoandlifeinAustralia.Itisdeliveredoverseas,beforetheybegintheirjourney.TheInternationalOrganizationforMigration(IOM)iscurrentlycontractedtodeliverAUSCOonbehalfoftheDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship(DIAC).Thefive-dayAUSCOcourseisdeliveredinrefugeecampsandurbancentresacrossthreeregions–Asia,AfricaandtheMiddleEast–bytrainersrecruitedbyIOM.Eachyearapproximately300coursesareorganisedforgroupsof25-30peoplepercourse.SinceAUSCObeganin2003,courseshavebeendeliveredincountriesincluding:Bangladesh,Egypt,Ghana,Guinea,India,Iran,Jordan,Kenya,Lebanon,Malaysia,Nepal,Pakistan,Romania,theRepublicofCongo,SierraLeone,Sudan,Syria,Tanzania,Thailand,Turkey,Uganda,ZambiaandZimbabwe.TheAUSCOprogramisthebeginningofthesettlementprocessforpeoplecomingtoAustraliaundertheHumanitarianProgramandisdesignedtoprovidepracticalinformationtoprepareparticipantsforlifeinAustralia.Informationcovers:traveltips,settlementsupportservicesandon-arrivalassistanceincludinglanguage,healthcare,employmentandaccommodationservicesandcomparativeculturalpractices.AUSCOisdesignedto:•preparevisaholdersfortravel;•enhancesettlementprospects;•createrealisticexpectationsfortheirlifeinAustralia;and•provideinformationaboutAustralianlaws,valuesandlifestyle.

HumanitarianSettlementServices(HSS)

HSSprovidesintensivesettlementsupport,throughacoordinatedcasemanagementapproach,tonewly-arrivedhumanitarianclientsonarrivalandthroughouttheirinitialsettlementperiod.HSSisfocusedonhumanitarianclientsreachingsustainableandmeasurablesettlementoutcomesthatwillstandthemingoodsteadfortheirsettlementjourney.TheHSSprogramdeliversfourkeyservices—

1) casemanagement,2) accommodation,3) localareacoordinationand4) anoptionalvolunteerprogram.

Servicesaredeliveredthroughacoordinatedcasemanagementmodel.Keyfeaturesoftheprograminclude:aflexibleclient-


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centredapproach,focusingonindividualsettlementneeds;greaterfocusontheparticularneedsofyoungpeople;thecomprehensiveonshoreorientationprogram,whichdeliverscompetencybasedoutcomestoclients;andflexibleandinnovativeapproachesfortheprovisionofaccommodationservices.ExitfromtheHSSprogramisbasedonclientsachievingclearlydefinedsettlementoutcomes.

HSSisdesignedtoequipclientswiththeknowledgeandskillstoparticipateinthesocialandeconomiclifeofAustralia.Intheeventofdomesticandfamilyviolenceincidents,clientsareconnectedtorelevantandappropriatespecialistandmainstreamsupportmechanisms,includingemergencyaccommodationandcounselling.TheHSSprogramaimstodelivercriticalandimportantmessagesearlyaboutpersonalsafety,respectfulrelationshipsandchildprotection.InformationregardingchildprotectionanddomesticviolenceisakeycomponentoftheAustralianLawmodule.

LocalAreaCoordinationHSSserviceprovidersdeveloplinksandnetworkstodomesticandfamilyviolenceandothercrisisserviceagencies.IndividualcasemanagementissupportedbyregularLocalAreaCoordination(LAC)meetings.TheobjectiveofLACmeetingsistoimproveservicecoordinationandcooperationbetweenkeyservicedeliveryagencies,includingrepresentativesandpractitionersfromthefollowingservices:• refugee,childandmentalhealth;• domesticandfamilyviolenceandothercrisisservices;• employmentandeducation;• accommodationproviders;• policeandemergencyservices;and• Centrelink(DepartmentofHumanServices).

TheSettlementGrantsProgram

SettlementGrantsProgramdeliversarangeofservicestohumanitarianentrants,familymigrantsanddependantsofskilledmigrantsinruralandregionalareas.

ComplexCaseSupport TheComplexCaseSupport(CCS)programdeliversspecialisedandintensivecasemanagementservicestohumanitarianentrantswithexceptionalneedsandisspecificallytargetedatsupportingclientswhoseneedsextendbeyondthescopeofothersettlementservices.CCSclientsusuallyhaveseveralintenseorcriticalneedsthatrequireaccesstomultipleservices,suchas:mentalhealth(includingtortureandtraumaservices);physicalhealth;domesticandfamilyviolenceintervention;counselling;specialservicesforchildrenoryouth;andsupporttomanageaccommodation.

TheAdultMigrantEnglish ThroughoutAustraliatheAdultMigrantEnglishProgram(AMEP)helpsnewlyarrivedmigrantsandrefugeestoachievefunctional


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Program

EnglishsotheycanmaximisetheirsettlementopportunitiesinAustralia.Theprogramprovidesupto510hoursoflearningactivitiestoeligibleclients,freeofchargetomostpeople.

TheTranslatingandInterpretingService(TISNational)

TISNationalisaninterpretingservice,providedbytheDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship,forpeoplewhodonotspeakEnglishandfortheEnglishspeakerswhoneedtocommunicatewiththem.TISNationalhasmorethan30yearsofexperienceintheinterpretingindustry,andhasaccesstoover1900contractedinterpretersacrossAustralia,speakingmorethan170languagesanddialects.TISNationalisavailable24hoursaday,sevendaysaweekforanypersonororganisationinAustraliarequiringinterpretingservices.Itprovidesimmediatetelephoneinterpretingservices,aswellaspre-bookedtelephoneandon-siteinterpreting.Thedepartmenthasrecentlyextendedfee‑freeinterpretingservicestonominatedrealestateagentsaspartofapilotprogramtoassisthumanitarianentrantstosecureaccommodationintheprivaterentalmarket.


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Appendix 2: Victoria’s Legislative and Policy Context for multiculturalism and settlement

2.1 STATELEGISLATIVECONTEXT

Thefollowingstatutesdonotprovideforindividualrights,butprovideaframeworkforawholeofgovernmentcommitmenttomulticulturalismthatincludesequalityofaccess,thepromotionoffullparticipation,andthepromotionofinter-culturalunderstanding.

• Multicultural Victoria Act (2011) - outlines a set of principles that accord respect forVictoria’scultural,religiousandlinguisticdiversity.

• Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 - The Charter enshrines civil andpoliticalrights,andsomeculturalrightsintoVictorianlaw.

• RacialandReligiousToleranceAct2001-makesitagainstthelawtovilifypeoplebecauseoftheirraceorreligion

• EqualOpportunityAct (2010) -makes itagainst the lawtodiscriminateagainstpeopleonthebasisofanumberofdifferentpersonalcharacteristics.

• LocalGovernmentAct(1989)-directsCouncilstotakeintoaccountthediverseneedsofthelocal community in decision making, ensuring that services delivered are equitable andaccessible,improvingtheoverallqualityoflifeofpeopleinthecommunity.

MulticulturalVictoriaAct2011

TheVictorianGovernment’smainresponseisdeliveredthroughthelegislativeframeworkoftheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011.TheActestablisheskeyprinciplestofosteracommonunderstandingofculturaldiversity.TheActalsorecognisesthepositiveeffectofculturaldiversityonsocial,culturalandeconomiclifeinVictoria.

TheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011cameintoeffecton1September2011andrecognisesinitspreamblethatoneofthecentraltenetsofmulticulturalismiscitizenshipandthattheexpressioncitizenshipisnotlimitedtoformalAustraliancitizenship,butreferstotherightsandresponsibilitiesofallpeopleinamulticulturalsociety

ReportingRequirements

TheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011requiresallVictorianGovernmentdepartmentstoreportannuallyontheirachievementsandinitiativesinmulticulturalaffairs,includingtheiruseoflanguageservices,multiculturalcommunicationsandmulticulturalrepresentationongovernmentboardsandcommittees.

ItisarequirementundertheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011thatallVictorianGovernmentdepartmentsreportannuallyonmulticulturalachievementsandinitiatives.


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TheActrequireseachDepartmenttoreportannuallyon:

• theuseofinterpretingandtranslatingservices• communicationsinlanguagesotherthanEnglishandcommunicationsinthe

multiculturalmedia• anymajorimprovementsmadeorinitiativesdevelopedthatpromotemulticulturalismin

VictoriaandmeettheidentifiedneedsofVictoria'sculturallyandlinguisticallydiversecommunities,includingtheidentifiedneedsofyouth,olderpersonsandwomenwithinthesecommunities

• theextenttowhichpeoplefromdifferentculturalandlinguisticallybackgroundswererepresentedonboardsandcommittees

• progressunderitsculturaldiversityplan• anyinitiativesdevelopedtomeettheidentifiedneedsofdiversecommunitiesinrural

andregionalareas• anymeasurestakentopromotehumanrightsinaccordancewiththeCharterofHuman

RightsandResponsibilities2006.

TheActalsorequirestheVictorianMulticulturalCommissiontoconsultwiththecommunityonthecontentofeachreport.Feedbackfromtheseconsultationsinformsdepartments'futureplanningformulticulturalservicedelivery.

CharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesAct2006

VictoriaalsohasaCharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilities,whichoutlinesthebasichumanrightsofallpeopleinVictoriaandgivesspecificlegalprotectionto20fundamentalrights.ItisenabledthroughtheCharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesAct2006andcameintofulleffecton1January2008.

TheCharterrequiresthatgovernments,localcouncilsandotherpublicauthoritiescomplywithCharterrightsandconsiderrelevantCharterhumanrightswhentheymakedecisions.

Becausetheyworksocloselywiththecommunity,localcouncilscanplayavitalroleinbuildingunderstandingandrespectformanyeverydayhumanrights.

TheCharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesalsoplacesaresponsibilityonlocalcouncilsinVictoriatorespecthumanrightsinthewaytheygoabouttheirworkandhowtheydelivertheirservices.

Asapublicauthority,localcouncilshaveanobligationtoensurethat:

• allcouncildecisionsgiveproperconsiderationtohumanrights• allactions,policiesandservicesarecompatiblewithhumanrights• locallawsareinterpretedandappliedconsistentlywithhumanrights• peoplewhoworkontheirbehalfdosoinawaythatrespectshumanrights.

Incertaincircumstances,somerightsmaybelimited.However,thismustbefairandreasonableandthelocalcouncilmustgiveaclearreasonforthedecision.

SincetheChartercameintofulleffectinJanuary2008,manylocalcouncilshavereportedagrowingappreciationofthebenefitsthatahumanrightsapproachcanbringtotheirwork.


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EqualOpportunityAct(2010)

TheobjectivesoftheActinclude:

• Promotingeveryone’srighttoequalopportunity;• Eliminatingasfaraspossiblediscriminationandsexualharassment;• Providingredressforpeoplewhoserightshavebeenbreached;and• Empowering theVictorianHumanRights andEqualOpportunityCommission toenter into

enforceableundertakingswheresystemicdiscriminationexistswithinorganisations.

RacialandReligiousToleranceAct2001

TheRacialandReligiousToleranceAct2001waspassedbytheVictorianParliamenton14June2001andcameintoeffecton1January2002.InJune2006,theActwasamendedfollowingconsultationwiththemulti-faithcommunity.

TheActprohibitsracialandreligiousvilification.Vilificationispublicbehaviourthatinciteshatredagainst,seriouscontemptfor,orrevulsionorsevereridiculeofanotherpersonorgroupofpeoplebecauseoftheirraceorreligion.TheActsetsahighstandardfordeterminingvilification,anditisonlyinextremeandseriouscasesthatvilificationwillbefoundtohaveoccurred.

TheActprovidesacommunitystandardaboutourresponsibilitytowardseachotherinamulticulturalsociety.Itseekstoensurethatpeoplearetreatedwithdignityandrespect,regardlessoftheirparticularraceorreligion,anddonotbecometargetsofvilifyingbehaviour.

LocalGovernmentAct(1989)

Section3C(2)statesthatinseekingtoachieveitsprimaryobjective,aCouncilmusthaveregardtothefollowingfacilitatingobjectives;

(c)toimprovetheoverallqualityoflifeofpeopleinthelocalcommunity;and

(e)toensurethatservicesandfacilitiesprovidedbytheCouncilareaccessibleandequitable.

WithrespecttotheroleofaCouncil,Section3D(2)statesthattheroleofaCouncilincludes-

(a)actingasa representativegovernmentby taking intoaccount thediverseneedsof thelocalcommunityindecisionmaking;and

(f)fosteringcommunitycohesionandencouragingactiveparticipationinciviclife


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2.2 STATEPOLICYCONTEXT

Victoria’sAdvantage-UnityDiversityOpportunity

InMarch2014theVictorianGovernmentlauncheditsnewMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenshipPolicywhich:

• ReaffirmstheGovernment’ssupportforVictoria’scultural,linguisticandreligiousdiversityasastrengththatprovidesbenefitsforallVictorians.

• BuildsupontheprinciplesandvaluesofmulticulturalismandcitizenshipenshrinedintheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011

• RecognisestheimportanceofVictoria’swholeofgovernmentapproachtomulticulturalaffairsandsettlementascriticaltoachieveeffectiveservicedeliveryandoutcomes

• Identifiesthedemographicchanges,opportunitiesandchallengesthatVictorianeedstorespondtocontinuetoshapeapositivefutureforourmulticulturalsociety

• OutlinestheGovernment’sobjectivesandcommitmentstomaximisethebenefitsofourdiversity,promotecitizenship,participationandsocialcohesion,anddeliveraccessibleandresponsiveservicestoVictoriansfromdiversebackgrounds.

ThePolicyisorganisedunderthreethemesidentifiedascriticaltofosteringafair,inclusiveandharmoniousmulticulturalVictoria:

• Maximisingthebenefitofourdiversity• Citizenship,participationandsocialcohesion• Accessibleandresponsiveservices

LevelsofGovernmentworkingtogether

ThePolicyrecognisesthateachlevelofgovernment–state,commonwealthandlocal–playsacomplementaryandcollaborativeroleinpromotingsocialinclusion,enhancingparticipationincivicsocietyandmakingthemostoftheopportunitiesthatculturaldiversitybrings.

ThePolicystatesthatlocalgovernmentcontributestothemulticulturalsuccessofVictoria.Byworkingwithpeopleintheneighbourhoodsandplacesinwhichtheyliveandwork,localcouncilsacrossVictoriahelpnewarrivalsaccesslocalfacilitiesandservices,andstrengthensocialcohesionandunderstandingbybringingcommunitiestogether.

2.3 VICTORIANGOVERNMENTSTRUCTURES–MULTICULTURALAFFAIRS

OfficeofMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenship

TheOfficeofMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenshipsitswithintheDepartmentofPremierandCabinetandisresponsibleforimplementingVictorianGovernmentmulticulturalpolicyandprogram,withafocusonthesettlementofnewlyarrivedimmigrants.

Itmanagesarangeofprogramsandservicessuchas:

• languageservices• enhancingculturalprecincts• communitygrantsprogram


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• promotingharmonyandmultifaithinitiatives• settlementcoordination

Languageservices

TheMulticulturalLanguageServicesprogramisakeyinitiativeoftheVictorianGovernmentaimedatimprovinginterpretingandtranslatingservicesforVictoriansfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.ArangeofinitiativesareinplacetohelpincreasethesupplyofinterpretersandtranslatorsinVictoriaandtooptimisetheuseoflanguageservicesbygovernmentserviceproviders.ImprovingtheprovisionoflanguageserviceswillhelpmakegovernmentservicesmoreaccessibletoVictorianswithlimitedEnglishlanguageproficiency.

Initiativesinclude:

• NationalInterpreterSymbol• VictorianInterpreterCard• StandardsandGuidelinesforimprovingtheuseoftranslatingandinterpreterservices,data

collection,andcontractstandardsforprovidersoflanguageservices.• Interpretertrainingandscholarships• VictorianPublicServicelanguageallowance

EnhancingCulturalPrecincts

TheVictorianGovernmenthascommitted$22millionfortheenhancementofculturalprecinctsandcommunityfacilitiesinVictoria.Ofthisfundingpackage,$10millionhasbeeninvestedinMelbourne'slong-establishedChinese,GreekandItalianprecincts,throughtheCulturalPrecinctsEnhancementFund.Afurther$12millionhasbeencommittedtoimproveculturalprecinctsandcommunityinfrastructureacrossVictoriathroughthenewCulturalPrecinctsandCommunityInfrastructureFund.Thefundingisaimedatinfrastructureprojectsthatwillsecurethesustainabilityandlongevityofourcommunityassetsforfuturegenerations.

Moreinformationcanbefoundathttp://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/projects-and-initiatives/enhancing-cultural-precincts

CommunityGrantsProgram

UnityThroughPartnershipsGrantsProgram

TheUnityThroughPartnershipsGrantsProgramopensonMonday,13January2014,andwillcloseon28February2014.AdministeredbytheOfficeofMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenship,theUnityThroughPartnershipsGrantsProgramprovidesfundingofupto$100,000forprojectsundertakeninpartnershipbytwoormoreofVictoria’sdiverseethnic,culturalandreligiouscommunities,culminatinginapublicfestival,eventorgathering.ThetotalannualbudgetoftheUTPGrantsProgramis$1.1million.Organisationsmaymakeapplicationsforupto$100,000.Inpreviousrounds,grantshaverangedbetween$5,000and$100,000,withanaveragegrantsizeofapproximately$30,000.Applicationswillbeacceptedforfestivalsand/oreventsthatarescheduledtorunbetween1July2014and30June2015.Moreinformationisavailableatwww.multicultural.vic.gov.au/grants


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CALDSeniorsGrantsProgram

TosupportolderpeoplefromCALDbackgrounds,theVictorianGovernment’sParticipationforCALDSeniorsGrantsProgramfundsprojectstohelpfindisolatedpeopleandconnectthemtoexistingornewsupportnetworksandactivities.Forcouncils,SeniorsGroupsandotherorganisationsthatneedfundingtocreateorexpandopportunitiesforCALDseniors,roundthreeoftheParticipationforCALDSeniorsGrantsProgramisopenforapplicationsuntilFriday28February2014.

Formoreinformationoradditionalsupport,councilscancontacttheVictorianGovernmentDepartmentofHealthon(03)90967157;community-basedorganisationsshouldcontacttheEthnicCommunities’CouncilofVictoriaon(03)93494122.

Formoreinformationongrantsprogramsvisithttp://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/projects-and-initiatives/promoting-harmony

SettlementCoordinationUnit(SCU)

EstablishedwithinOMACin2011theSCU:

• Facilitatesamorecoordinatedandtargetedapproachtoservicedeliverythatcouldmoreeffectivelyassistnewlyarrivedmigrants,refugeesandasylumseekerssettleinVictoria.

• WorkswithdepartmentsandagenciesacrosstheVictorianandCommonwealthGovernments.

• SupportsprogramsandinitiativestoassisthumanitarianarrivalstoactivelyengagewiththewidercommunityandtomaximizetheirparticipationinVictoriansociety.

SCUPRIORITIESStrengtheningrelationshipsacrossalllevelsofgovernment

⇒ NationalSettlementFramework(NSF)⇒ OngoingcommunicationwithDIACinregardsofrefugeesandasylum

seekers⇒ Targetingstrategicandlocalefforttobetteraddresscritical

settlementbarriers⇒ Strengtheningrelationshipsamongstkeystakeholders

Strengtheningcommunityparticipationandleadership

RefugeeActionProgram(RAP)

TheRefugeeActionProgram(RAP)isacommunitycapacitybuildingprogramwhichaimstoassistnewlyarrivedrefugeestobetteraccessservicesandengagewiththeirlocalcommunitiesthroughtheimplementationofcommunitydrivensolutions.TheRAPalsoincorporatesthedeliveryofRightsandResponsibilitiesSeminars.TheRAPisdeliveredbykeyserviceprovidersacrossmetropolitanandregionalVictoria,includingGeelong,Bendigo,SheppartonandMildura.


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AsylumSeekerSupportProgram(ASSP)

TheAsylumSeekerSupportProgram(ASSP)aimstostrengthenthecapacityofcommunity-basedasylumseekerstoaccesscriticalsupportsevendaysaweekincludingcasework,housing,materialaidandfoodprograms.Italsosupportsorganisationstoprovidesocial,employmentandskillsdevelopmentprogramsandasafegatheringspacetoreducetheriskofsocialisolation.TheASSPisdeliveredbyapartnershipoffourmetropolitanbasedasylumseekersupportagencies.AfricanLeadershipProgram

TheAfricanLeadershipProgramaimstodeveloptheleadershipcapacityofpotentialleadersacrossVictoria’sdiverseAfricancommunities.Theprogramdeliverstailoredseminarsonprojectmanagement,conflictresolution,teamleadership,managingvolunteers,financialmanagementandgovernance,workingwiththemediaandprofessionalnetworking.

Informedandeducatedcommunities

RightsandResponsibilitiesSeminarProgram(RRSP)

TheseseminarscomplementtheworkoftheSGPandHSS. The seminars outline the basic rights and responsibilities of Victorian

residentsinrelationtolawsandthelegalsystem,democraticinstitutionsandtheimportanceofparticipatinginmulticulturalVictoria.

One of the key concepts behind the seminars is the idea that civicparticipation is important to our democracy because Victorians are allinherentlyboundbycertainrightsandresponsibilitiesandtoeachotheraspartofabroadcommunity.

VictorianMulticulturalCommission

Establishedin1983,theVictorianMulticulturalCommission(VMC)hasprovidedindependentadvicetotheVictorianGovernmenttoinformthedevelopmentoflegislativeandpolicyframeworks,aswellasthedeliveryofservicestoculturally,linguisticallyandreligiouslydiversesociety.

TheVMCisthevoiceofVictoria’sculturallyandlinguisticallydiverse(CALD)communitiesandisthemainlinkbetweenthemandthegovernment.Victoria’suniquemulticulturalsocietyremainsoneofourstate’sgreatestassetsandstrengths.

OperatingundertheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011theVMCisanindependentstatutoryauthorityand consists of 12 commissioners: a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, a Youth Commissioner, arepresentativeofacommunityorganisationandeightothermembers.

ObjectivesandFunctions

AsspecifiedintheMulticulturalVictoriaAct2011theVMC’sobjectivesaretopromote:

• full participation by Victoria's diverse communities in the social, cultural, economic andpoliticallifeofVictoria

• accessbyVictoria'sdiversecommunitiestogovernmentservices• unity,understanding,mutualrespectandharmonyamongVictoria'sdiversecommunities• co-operationbetweenbodiesconcernedwithmulticulturalaffairsanddiversity


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• abetterunderstandingofVictoria'sdiversecommunities• thesocial,culturalandeconomicbenefitsofdiversity,and• toencourageallofVictoria'sdiversecommunitiestoretainandexpresstheirsocialidentity

andculturalinheritance.

A key function of theVMC is to provide honest and candid advice to the government onmulticulturalaffairsandcitizenshipinVictoria.TheworkoftheCommissionincludes:

• state-wideconsultationsviaanetworkofregionaladvisorycouncilstodeterminetheneedsofVictoria'sdiversecommunities

• developing and maintaining partnerships between community organisations that providesettlementsupportandservicedeliveryfordiversecommunities

• developingandmaintainingharmoniouscommunityrelations• researching,advisingandreportingtotheMinister forMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenship

onanymatterrelatingtothecommission’sobjectives,and• focusingonsystematicandcommunity-widesettlementandserviceissues.

RegionalAdvisoryCouncils(RAC’s)

In2012theVMCestablishedeightRACsacrosstheState.TheaimsoftheRACsaretoprovideadvicetotheVMConmigrantandrefugeesettlement,multiculturalaffairs,servicedeliveryandcitizenshipissues;advocateonbehalfofCALDcommunities;andpromotethebenefitsofculturalandreligiousdiversityatthelocallevel.ThreeRACsarebasedinMelbourneandfivearebasedinregionalVictoria.

EachoftheeightRACshasuptothirteenappointedmembers(includinguptothreefromlocalcouncils)andmeetsthreetimesayear.

VictorianRegionalAdvisoryCouncil(RAC)membersarepeoplewiththecapabilitiesandexpertisetocontributelocalinformationaboutmulticulturalaffairs,settlementandcitizenshipissues.Appointeesareexpectedtorepresentthebroadinterestsoftheregionandmustbeavailableforparticipationincommitteemeetingsandactivities.CurrentRACmembershavebeenappointedforatwoyeartermfromFebruary2012toFebruary2014.IfyourcouncillorsoranyseniorcouncilprogrammanagersareinterestedinbeingconsideredasaRACmember,[email protected].

CulturalDiversityWeek

TheVMCengagedVictoriansinaseriesofeventsfrom17–25March2012tocelebrateCulturalDiversityWeek,includinghostingVivaVictoria,afreemulticulturalfestivalatFederationSquarethatattractedmorethan45,000peopletoexperienceadiverserangeofculturalperformances,foodandartsandcrafts.

AwardsandRecognitionPrograms

TheVMChostsvariousfunctionsandawardceremoniestoprovideopportunitiesforVictoriansfromarangeofethnicitiesandreligionstocometogether.Awardsinclude:

⇒ Victoria'sMulticulturalAwardsforExcellence⇒ MulticulturalHonourRollRecipients


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Victoria'sMulticulturalAwardsforExcellence

Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence reward outstanding achievements and services ofindividualsandorganisationswhohaveactivelysupportedculturaldiversityandmadearealimpactinpromotingcommunityharmony.

MulticulturalHonourRoll

The new Multicultural Honour Roll award, introduced as a new category in the 2011 VictorianMulticultural Awards for Excellence, recognises newly arrived migrants and refugees who haveplayed a leadership and volunteering role that contributes to Victoria's harmonious and diversecommunity.

VictorianRefugeeRecognitionRecord(VRRR)

TheVictorianRefugeeRecord(VRRR)hasbeenheldannuallysince2004andisanawardsprogramwhichrecognisesindividualsofarefugeebackgroundfortheiroutstandingworkinthecommunity.The VRRR also marks and celebrates RefugeeWeek (16-22 June 2013) – Australia’s peak annualactivityto informthepubliconrefugeeissuesandtocelebratethepositivecontributionsmadebypeopleofrefugeebackgroundtoAustraliansociety.

Previous VRRR recipients have representedmany different cultures and age groups, and work inmanydifferentfields.Allhavebeenselectedforthesignificantcontributiontheyhavemadetowardsfosteringcommunityharmony.Manyrecipientsdedicatetimetovoluntarywork,eitherwithintheirown local community, or the community at large. A lot of them have taken on leadership roleswithintheircommunities,andprovidesupporttootherswhoaremarginalisedordisadvantaged.Allholdacommoncommitmenttobetteringtheirlivesandthosearoundthem.

2.4 VICTORIANGOVERNMENTCONSULTATIVESTRUCTURES

VictorianGovernmentMulti-FaithAdvisoryGroup

TheMultifaithAdvisoryGroup(MAG)wasestablishedinJanuary2008aspartoftheGovernment'scommitmenttoongoingdialoguewithVictoria'sfaithleaderstolookathowwecanbestpromoteharmonyinourState.

TheMAGmeetsquarterlyandismadeupofapproximately20seniorfaithrepresentativeswhoprovideadvicetotheGovernmentonissuesofinterestandconcerntofaithcommunitiesandopportunitiesandstrategiestopromotecommunityharmony.TheMAGhastakenaproactiveapproachtopromotingcommunityharmony.


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MultifaithMulticulturalYouthNetwork(MMYN)

TheMultifaithMulticulturalYouthNetwork(MMYN)wasestablishedinSeptember2007toprovideadvicetotheVictorianGovernment,throughtheOfficeofMulticulturalAffairsandCitizenship,onissuesandinitiativesthataffectyoungVictoriansfromculturally,religiouslyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.

TheMMYNiscomprisedof25youngpeoplefromarangeoffaiths,cultures,ages,geographicallocationsandlifeexperiences.

TheMMYNmeetsfourtosixtimesayearandaswellashighlightingkeyissuesfacingyoungVictorians,membershavetheopportunitytodevelopyouth-ledprojectswhichrespondtosomeoftheseissues.

Alongsidetheiradvisoryrole,MMYNmembershavebeeninvolvedinanumberofinitiativesincluding:

Developingandimplementingfiveyouth-ledprojectswhichfocusedonemployment,media,sport,educationandnewlyarrivedyoungpeople;

PlanninganddevelopingSchoolsToursin2009and2010todiscussfaith,cultureandhumanrightswithhighschoolstudentsinregionalVictoria;and

ParticipatingintheParliamentoftheWorld’sReligionsandactingasrepresentativesontheParliamentYouthCommitteeinDecember2009.

Participatinginthe2010DiversityinHealthConferenceorganisedbytheCentreforCulture,EthnicityandHealthinJune.

ParticipatinginatVictorianEqualOpportunityandHumanRightsCommission’sEverydayPeople,EverydayRightsConference

Planningandcarryingoutthe“UBUNTU”YouthStageaspartoftheVivaVictoriafestivalin2011in2012

Planninganddeliveringajointpublicforumin2011withtheEthnicYouthCouncilonYoungPeople,IdentityandtheMedia:PerspectivesfromtheRefugeeCommunity.

VictorianMulticulturalBusinessAdvisoryCouncil

Victoria’sMulticulturalBusinessMinisterialCouncilhastheaimoffacilitatingbusinessopportunitiesthattakeadvantageofVictoria’sculturalandlinguisticresources.TheMulticulturalBusinessMinisterialCouncilprovidesimportantinputfromtheperspectiveofculturallyandlinguisticallydiverse(CALD)businesscommunities.SpecificallytheCouncil'sfocusisondevelopingVictoria'sexportcapabilitiesthroughbetteruseofthemulticulturaldiversitywhichexistsinthisstate.

TermsofReference

TheCouncilprovidesapeakbodyfacilitatingGovernmentinteractionwithVictoria'sethnicbusinesscommunity.ItcontributestotheGovernment'soverallaimofimprovingtheutilisationofbusinessskillsandopportunitiespresentedbypeoplefromnon-EnglishspeakingbackgroundstoassistinemploymentandwealthcreationforallVictorians.


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TheCounciloperatesunderthedirectionandattherequestoftheMinisterforInnovation,ServicesandSmallBusinessand:

identifiestradeopportunitiesandrecommendstrategiesfordevelopingtheexportcapabilitiesofVictoriansmallbusiness

advisestheGovernmentonpotentialtradefairandmissionopportunitiesandstrategiestoinvolveVictoriansmallbusiness

activelypromotesVictoriaasaculturallydiversebusinesscentrebyassistingtheGovernmentcommunicatepolicyandprogramstothemulticulturalbusinesscommunity

supportsthedevelopmentofVictoriantradeinemergingmarketsbyidentifyingopportunitiesandutilisingoverseasnetworks

providesaforumforstrategicbusinessnetworkingbetweenmulticulturalbusinesscommunities

2.5 OTHERKEYINSTITUTIONS

VictorianEqualOpportunityandHumanRightsCommission

TheVictorianEqualOpportunityandHumanRightsCommissionisanindependentstatutorybodywithresponsibilitiesunderthreelaws:

• EqualOpportunityAct2010• RacialandReligiousToleranceAct2001• CharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesAct2006.

UndertheEqualOpportunityAct2010andtheRacialandReligiousToleranceAct2001,theCommissionhelpspeopleresolvecomplaintsofdiscrimination,sexualharassment,victimisationandracialorreligiousvilificationthroughafree,fairandtimelydisputeresolutionservicewiththeaimofachievingamutualagreement.

TheCharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesAct2006(theCharter)meansthatgovernmentandpublicbodiesmustconsiderhumanrightswhenmakinglawsandprovidingservices.

TheCommission'sroleistoeducatepeopleabouttherightsandresponsibilitiescontainedintheCharterandtoreportannuallytothegovernmentabouttheoperationoftheCharter.TheCommissiondoesnothandlecomplaintsrelatedtotheCharter.

ServicesprovidedbytheCommissioninclude:

• afreetelephoneEnquiryLine• afree,fairandtimelydisputeresolutionservice• informationandeducationaboutequalopportunity,racialandreligiousvilificationandthe

CharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilities• education,trainingandconsultancyservices.


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RelevantActivities

Reportingracism:whatyousaymatters

Reportingracism:whatyousaymatters,completesthefirststageofamulti-tieredprojecttoraiseawarenessofracisminthecommunityandtobuildcapacityforvictimsandbystanderstoreportracismandvilificationwhentheyexperienceit.Thereportofthatresearchwasreleasedon27May2013

ThereportsetsouteightkeyactionstheCommissionwillundertakeinpartnershipwithotheragenciestorespondtotheissuesraised.Theserangefromworkingwithcommunitygroupstodelivertargetedcommunityinformationsessionsaboutrights;supportingbystandersonpublictransportwhoobserveinstancesofracistbehaviour,andpartneringwithschools,youthgroups,sportingorganisations,localgovernments,employersandotheragenciestopromoteandimplementtheAnti-Hatecampaignmessagesintoexistingprogramsandcurriculum.

In2012theCommissionrananon-linesurvey.227peopletookpart.Aswellasprovidingevidenceofracismandvilificationthesurveyhelpedtoidentifyactionsandsolutionsthatwecanalltaketohelpaddressracismandvilification.

Inaddition,keyinformantinterviewswereundertakenwithpeakandcommunityorganisationsinVictoriatounderstandboththeprevalenceandseverityofracistconductwithintheircommunities.

TheCommissionalsoreviewedandcollectedincidentsofracialandreligioushatespeechonlineandinthemedia,includinginsocialmediasites.TocollectevidenceonthenatureandextentofracisminVictoria,theCommissionconductedanonlinesurvey,interviewswithabroadrangeofcommunitystakeholdersandareviewofonlinecontent.

Thisprojectseekstounderstandthetypeofexperiencespeoplehave,andtheextentandnatureofmaterialthatpeoplesee,experience,hear,aresentorsimplycomeacrossintheirdailylivesthatisracistorvilifying.Thismightincludeflyersandstickers,graffiti,websites,blogmaterial,verbalabuseorothertreatmentthatpeopleexperienceasracismorvilificationbecauseoftheirraceorreligionTheCommissionhasconductedresearchtolearnmoreabouttheexperiencesofracismandracialandreligiousvilificationinVictoria.Throughthisresearch,theCommissionhasreceivedresponsesfromthecommunityonthetypesofactionsandsolutionsthatwecanalltaketohelpaddressracismandvilification.TheseideashavebeenincludedintheCommission'santihatecampaignthatcanbefoundatwww.antihate.vic.gov.au

AntihateCampaign

The ‘Anti-Hate Spray’ campaign is part of the Commission’swork to address vilification, hate andotherformsofdiscrimination.

The campaign was developed in response to their own research as well as academic work onpreventing and responding to discrimination. The Commission also drew on data from thecomplaints they receive at the Commission, as well as working closely with community andstakeholdersontheReportingRacismReferenceGroup.


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ThecampaignisalignedwiththeNationalAnti-RacismStrategyandNoToHomophobiacampaign.OthersupportersincludetheVictorianMulticulturalCommission,MulticulturalArtsVictoriaaswellasVictorianGovernmentdepartmentsandagencies.

Thecampaignisdesignedtomakeiteasyforpeopletodosomethingwithoutfeelingafraidorthatthey are being judged. Importantly, one of its key aims is to reach peoplewhere they are – andwheremuchofthediscriminationisnowoccurring–online.

It also provides a place for people whowould usually be unable, or unwilling, tomake a formalreporttoletusknowabouttheirexperiences.

Aimsofthecampaign

Thecampaignhasthreemainaims:

1. To encourage people to understand that there is something you can do about hate. Bywalkingpastoffensivegraffitionawallor sitting silentlyona trainwhile someoneelse isbeingabused,weinadvertentlycontributetoanenvironmentwherethissortofbehaviourisseenasOK. It’s importantthatwedon’tputupwithhate,bothforthetargetofthathateandforthewholecommunity.

2. To give people a way of reporting what has happened to them if they experiencediscriminationsuchasracism,homophobiaorsexism.Italsooffersaplaceforpeopletogoiftheywitnessdiscriminationintheircommunityorseeitonline,andwhentheycomeacrossgraffitithatishatefulandoffensive.

3. To enable people share stories of how they have stood up against hate – from calling acouncil to removegraffiti to responding topeople tauntingothers in the street.Wehopethiswillencourageandinspireotherpeopletotakeastand.

TheAntiHateHelpsectionofthewebsitehttp://www.antihate.vic.gov.au/antihatehelp/haslinkstoother agencies that can assist, such as Victoria Police, local councils and the AustralianCommunicationsandMediaAuthority.

Italsooffersonlinetools,includingsendingimagesofthecampaignwithlinkstothesite,lettersandAnti-HatemessagethatuserscanposttohatersonFacebook,blogsandonlineforumsaswellastipsforbystandersonhowtoSprayBackagainsthate.reportingracism:whatyousaymatters,completesthefirststageofamulti-tieredprojecttoraiseawarenessofracisminthecommunityandtobuildcapacityforvictimsandbystanderstoreport

2.6 LOCALGOVERNMENTSTRUCTURES

Atalocallevel,CouncilsoperatenotonlywithinthecontextoftheFederalandStatepolicycontextsforthepromotionofmulticulturalism,butalsowithinthestatutoryrequirementsoftheLocalGovernmentAct.Asaresult,Councilsarerequiredtoprepareanumberofstatutoryplansandreportstomeettheneedsoftheirlocalcommunity.

Localgovernmentplaysanimportantroleinrespondingtodiversityinlocalcommunitiesbyinitiatinglocalactivitiesandengagementformulticulturalgroupsandethniccommunities.


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MunicipalAssociationofVictoria(MAV)StatementofCommitmenttoCulturalDiversity

TheMAVcommitmenttoculturaldiversityaimstopromoteandfacilitategoodmulticulturalpracticeandleadershipinthelocalgovernmentsectorandacrosslocalgovernmentinVictoria.ThecommitmentoutlinestheMAVroleinsupportingthebuildingofstrongandhealthycommunitiesfreefrominequalitybyharnessingandnurturingtherichnessofculturaldiversity.

VictorianLocalGovernmentMulticulturalIssuesNetwork(VLGMIN)

VLGMINisaninformalculturaldiversityofficers’networkthatsharesinformationbetweencouncils,advocatesonbehalfofcouncilsandpromotesbestpracticeinculturaldiversity.Itsmembersarelocalgovernmentofficersresponsibleformulticulturalservicesandculturaldiversitypolicydevelopment.


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Appendix 3: International Conventions and Protocols relevant to multiculturalism and settlement

Australiaisapartytovariousrelevantinternationalconventionsandprotocols,particularlythoserelatingtohumanrightsandtheprotectionsofpersonswhosatisfycriteriatobeacceptedasrefugeesunderinternationallaw.Thissectionprovidesabriefoverviewofthemostrelevantinternationalconventionsandhighlightssomecurrentdevelopmentsandtheirpossibleapplicationtolocalgovernment.

3.1 HUMANRIGHTS

LEGALFRAMEWORK

BRIEFDESCRIPTION AGENCIES RELEVANCETOAUSTRALIA

TheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(UDHR)

TheUDHRisoneofthefirstinternationaldocumentstobebasedontheideathatrightsareguaranteedtoeachhumanbeing.

AlthoughtheUDHRisnotlegallybindingithascreatedinternationalhumanrightsstandardsthatarecodifiedinvariousinternationaltreaties.

CommissiononHumanRights

AustraliawasafoundingmemberoftheUnitedNations(UN)in1945andhasbeenactivelyengagedintheorganisationsinceitsformation.TheUNisseenbytheAustralianGovernmentasameanstoinfluenceeventswhichdirectlyaffectAustralia'sinterestsbutoverwhichtheyhavelittleunilateralcontrol.

InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(1966)

ThecivilandpoliticalrightsdefinedintheCovenantinclude,interalia,therighttoself-determination;therighttolife,libertyandsecurity;freedomofmovement,includingfreedomtochooseaplaceofresidenceandtherighttoleavethecountry;freedomofthought,conscience,religion,peacefulassemblyandassociation;freedomfromtortureandothercruelanddegradingtreatmentorpunishment;freedomfromslavery,forcedlabour,andarbitraryarrestordetention;therighttoafairandprompttrial;andtherighttoprivacy.

HumanRightsCommittee

AustraliaagreedtobeboundbytheICCPRon13August1980,subjecttocertainreservations.TheICCPRisscheduledtotheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionAct1986(Cth)(theAHRCAct),andtheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionisresponsibleformonitoringAustralia’scompliancewiththeICCPR


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InternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(1966)

TheCovenantembodiessomeofthemostsignificantinternationallegalprovisionsestablishingeconomic,socialandculturalrights,including,interalia,rightsrelatingtoworkinjustandfavourableconditions;tosocialprotection;toanadequatestandardoflivingincludingclothing,foodandhousing;tothehighestattainablestandardsofphysicalandmentalhealth;toeducationandtotheenjoymentofthebenefitsofculturalfreedomandscientificprogress.

UnitedNationsCommitteeonEconomicSocialandCulturalRights(theCESCR).

On10December1975,AustraliaagreedtobeboundbytheICESCR.TheICESCRdoesnot,however,formpartofAustralia’sdomesticlawandisnotscheduledto,ordeclaredunder,theAHRCAct.However,theAHRCActdoesgivetheAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderSocialJusticeCommissionerspecificstatutoryfunctionsinrelatingtoprotectingandpromotingthehumanrightsofAboriginalpersonsandTorresStraitIslanders

ConventionontheRightsoftheChild(1989)

TheConventionembodiesfourgeneralprinciplesforguidingimplementationoftherightsofthechild:non-discriminationensuringequalityofopportunity;

whentheauthoritiesofaStatetakedecisionswhichaffectchildrentheymustgiveprimeconsiderationtothebestinterestsofthechild;theright

tolife,survivalanddevelopmentwhichincludesphysical,mental,emotional,cognitive,socialandculturaldevelopment;andchildrenshouldbefreetoexpresstheiropinions,andsuchviewsshouldbegivendueweighttakingtheageandmaturityofthechildintoconsideration.

CommitteeontheRightsoftheChild

UNICEFresearchshowsthat10.9percentofchildreninAustralialiveinrelativepoverty.Themostat-riskgroupsareAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderchildren,childreninout-of-homecareandchildrenofasylumseekers.

On4-5June2012,theAustralianGovernmentcamebeforetheUNCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildtorespondtoquestionsonitscommitmenttoimprovingthefundamentalrightsandwelfareofitschildren.TheUNCommitteewelcomedtheintroductionoflegislationfortheestablishmentofaNationalChildren’sCommissioner,20yearsoverdue,yetfoundthatthenewrolewassettobeunder-resourced,therebyjeopardisingtheeffectivenessofthepositionbeforeitcommenced.

ConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities

TheentryintoforceoftheConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilitiesanditsOptionalProtocolinMay2008markedthebeginningofaneweraintheefforts“topromote,protectandensurethefullandequalenjoyment

CommitteeontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities

AfederalparliamentaryinquiryconductedbytheJointStandingCommitteeonMigration(JSCM)ledbyMichaelDanbyMP,tabledareportinJune2010called,‘EnablingAustralia’.Thisreportinquiringintothetreatmentofmigrationanddisability,outlined


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ofallhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsbyallpersonswithdisabilities,andtopromoterespectfortheirinherentdignity”(art.1).Althoughpersonswithdisabilitieshavealwaysbeenentitledtothesamerightsaseveryoneelse,itisthefirsttimethattheirrightsaresetoutcomprehensivelyinabindinginternationalinstrument.

18recommendationsthatasawhole,wouldpositivelyreformAustralia’simmigrationsystemandsignificantlyshiftpolicyawayfromthemedicalmodelofdisabilitythatcurrentlyprevails.

3.2 RACIALDISCRIMINATION

LEGALFRAMEWORK


ConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination(1965)

ICERDistheprimaryinternationallegalinstrumentrelatingtotheprotectionofdiscriminationonthebasisonrace.

TheConventiondefineswhatconstitutesracialdiscriminationandsetsoutacomprehensiveframeworkforensuringthatcivil,political,economicandsocialrightsareenjoyedbyall,withoutdistinctionofrace,colour,descentornationalorethnicorigin.ByratifyingICERD,thestatespartiesshowtheircommitmenttomaketherightscontainedintheConventionarealityintheircountry.

CommitteeontheEliminationofRacialDiscrimination

AustraliabecameasignatorytotheICERDin1966andratifieditin1975.

TheICERDisincorporatedintoAustralia’sdomesticlawthroughtheRacialDiscriminationAct1975andtheRacialHatredAct1995.


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3.3 MIGRATION

LEGALFRAMEWORK


InternationalConventionontheProtectionoftheRightsofallMigrantWorkersandMembersoftheirFamilies

On4December2000,theUNGeneralAssembly,takingintoaccountthelargeandincreasingnumberofmigrantsintheworld,proclaimed18DecemberasInternationalMigrantsDay.On18December1990,theGeneralAssemblyhadadoptedtheInternationalConventionontheProtectionoftheRightsofAllMigrantWorkersandMembersofTheirFamilies.

TheConventionstipulatesthatpersonswhoareconsideredasmigrantworkersunderitsprovisionsareentitledtoenjoytheirhumanrightsthroughoutthemigrationprocess,includingpreparationformigration,transit,stayandreturntotheirStateoforiginorhabitualresidence.

CommitteeontheProtectionoftheRightsofAllMigrantWorkersandMembersoftheirFamilies(CMW)

GlobalMigrationGroup

InternationalOrganisationforMigration

IntherecentUnitedNationsUniversalPeriodicReviewofAustralia’shumanrightsrecord,anumberofcountriesandtheAustralianHumanRightsCommissionurgedAustraliatoconsiderratificationoftheMigrantWorkersConvention.

Australiadecidednottoratify.

3.4 REFUGEESANDASYLUMSEEKERS

LEGALFRAMEWORK


ConventionRelatingtotheStatusofRefugees(1951)

TheRefugeeConventionistheprimaryinternationallegaldocumentrelatingtorefugeeprotection.Itdefineswhoisarefugeeandoutlinestherightsofrefugeesandthelegalobligationsofstatestowardsrefugeesandasylumseekers.In

UnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees.

AustraliawasamongtheearlieststatespartiestotheRefugeeConvention,accedingtothetreatyon22January1954.Australiaratifiedthe1967Protocolon13December1973.


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1967,theProtocolRelatingtotheStatusofRefugeesremovedthegeographicandtimelimitationsoftheoriginalConvention,broadeningitsscopetocreatecapacitytorespondtonewrefugeesituations.Theprotocolenteredintoforceon4October1967.

3.5 CULTURALDIVERSITY/INTERCULTURALDIALOGUE

LEGALFRAMEWORK


UniversalDeclarationonCulturalDiversity(2001)

Thedeclarationdescribesculturaldiversityas“thecommonheritageofhumanity”.Thedefenceofculturaldiversityisconsequentlyheldtobeanethicalimperative,inseparablefromrespectforhumandignity

UNESCO

TheUNAllianceofCivilizations

Australiaisasignatorytotheuniversaldeclarationonculturaldiversity.

TheConventionontheProtectionandPromotionoftheDiversityofCulturalExpressions

TheConvention’smainobjectiveistostrengthencreation,production,distribution/dissemination,accessandenjoymentofculturalexpressionstransmittedbyculturalactivities,goodsandservices,withastrongfocusondevelopingcountries.

UNESCO

AustraliaisapartytotheUNESCOConventionthatcoversculturaldiversity.

On23September2009thethenMinisterfortheEnvironment,HeritageandtheArtsannouncedthatAustraliahadbecomeapartytotheConvention.

InternationalculturalcollaborationprovidestheopportunityforAustraliatotakeitsuniqueculturaldiversitytotheworld.Italsogiveslocalaudiencesandculturalpractitionersaccesstoadiversityofculturalexpressionsandexperiences.


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3.6 RELIGION/FAITH/INTERCULTURALDIALOGUE

LEGALFRAMEWORK


DeclarationontheEliminationofAllFormsofIntoleranceandofDiscriminationBasedonReligionorBelief

TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblypassedtheDeclarationontheEliminationofAllFormsofIntoleranceandofDiscriminationBasedonReligionorBeliefin1981.Althoughnotendowedwiththeforceofinternationallaw,thisresolutionwasthefirstinternationallegalinstrumentdevotedexclusivelytothefreedomofreligion.

SpecialRapporteuronFreedomofReligionorBelief

AustraliaadoptedtheDeclarationontheEliminationofAllFormsofIntoleranceandofDiscriminationBasedonReligionorBeliefasaninternationalinstrumentrelatingtohumanrightsandfreedomsinFebruary1993.


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Appendix 4: Australia’s Demographics

4.1 INTRODUCTION

Australiaisnowoneofthemostdiverseandsociallycohesivenationsonearth.Today,Australiansidentifywitharound300ancestriesandspeakasmanylanguages,includingIndigenouslanguages.MorethanaquarteroftheAustralianpopulationwasbornoverseas.OfthoseofusborninAustralia,oneinfivehasatleastoneparentbornoverseasandnearly4millionpeoplespeakalanguageotherthanEnglishathome.

ForthepastsixdecadesmigrationhasbeenconstantdriverofAustralia’spopulationgrowth.Ourmigrationprogramsourcespeoplefrommorethan200countriesandincludespeoplefromculturesquitedifferenttoourown.

PeoplefromCALDbackgroundsarriveinAustraliaundervariouscircumstances,includingasmigrants,refugees,internationalstudentsorunaccompaniedminors.

4.2 AUSTRALIA’SCALDDEMOGRAPHICCONTEXT

Thefollowingdataisderivedfromthe2011Census:

• 24.6%ofAustralianswerebornoverseasand70%wereborninAustralia.• 8.5%ofpeoplewereborninnon-Englishspeakingcountriescomparedto21.6%whowere

borninEnglishspeakingcountriesotherthanAustralia.• ThelargestoverseasborngroupcomprisedpeoplebornintheUnitedKingdom(1,101,082

peopleor5.1%ofthepopulation)followedbyNewZealand(483,398peopleor2.2%),thenChina(318,969peopleor1.5%)andIndia(295,363peopleor1.4%).Noothercountryaccountedformorethan1%.

• TheStatewiththelargestnumberofoverseasborn(1,778,544people)wasNewSouthWalesfollowedbyVictoria(1,405,332people)andQueensland(888,636people).WesternAustraliahadthehighestproportionofoverseasbornresidents(30.7%)excludingotherterritories(41.6%).

Figuresfromthe2011censusshowedthatMandarinisnowthesecondmostpopularlanguagespokenafterEnglish.UntilrecentlyItalianwasthesecondmostpopularlanguage.Additionally,datafromtheAustralianBureauofStatistics(ABS)revealedthatWesternAustraliaandQueenslandbothrecordeddouble-digitpopulationgrowthoverthepastfiveyears,muchhigherthanthenationalaverageof8.3percent.

AsiansaccountedforthebiggestincreaseinimmigrationtoAustraliaintermsofethnicity,withIndianandChinesethefastest-growinggroups.Thecensusshowedthataroundoneinfourofthe21.5millionpeoplesurveyedinthecensuslastyearwerebornoutsideAustralia,comparedwith22percentadecadeago.

Furthermore,thenumberofEuropeanimmigrantscomingtoAustraliahasdecreasedfrommorethanhalfofarrivalsadecadeagoto40percentlastyear.


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TheAustralianmigrationprogramisprimarilyFederal,withincreasedStateandTerritoryinvolvementandlocalgovernmentbeingimportantforfrontlineservicedelivery.

Australiahasanon-discriminatorymigrationpolicywhichdoesnotselectbycountryorracebutaccordingtocriteriadeterminedbygovernmentpolicyandobjectives.Thetwomainmigrationprogramsare:

1) theMigrationProgram(formerlytheGeneralSkilledmigrationProgram),comprisingthepointstestedskilledstream,theemployersponsoredandbusinessstreams,andthefamilymigrationstream,and

2) theHumanitarianMigrationprogram,comprisingonshoreandoffshorehumanitarianandrefugeestream

Ancestry

Forthe2011Census,theobjectiveofthequestiononancestryistogainabetterunderstandingofaperson'sethnicbackground,particularlyforAustralianswhohaverecentlyarrived.Aperson'sancestry,whenusedinconjunctionwiththeperson'sbirthplace,languageandreligion,andwhethertheperson'sparentswereborninAustraliaoroverseas,providesagoodindicationoftheethnicbackgroundoffirstandsecondgenerationAustralians.

AncestrydataalsohelptoidentifythedistinctculturalgroupswithinAustralia,suchasMaorisorAustralianSouthSeaIslanders,andgroupsthatarespreadacrosscountries,suchasKurdsorIndians.Countryofbirthdataalonecannotidentifythesegroups.Identificationofthesegroupsisessentialforplanningandfortheeffectivedeliveryofservicestoparticularethniccommunities15.

Inthe2011Census,respondentswereaskedtomarktheirancestriesbackasfarastwogenerations.Respondentswereaskedtoreportatleastoneancestry,butnomorethantwo.


• About50%ofrespondentsindicatedthatbothparentswereborninAustralia.• About43%ofrespondentsindicatedthatatleastoneoftheirparentswasbornoverseas.• About25%ofresponsesindicatedthattherespondentwasofAustralianancestry.• ThemostcommonancestriesotherthanAustralianidentifiedbyrespondentswereEnglish,

Irish,Chinese,Italian,ScottishandGerman.OthercommonancestriesidentifiedwereIndian,Greek,Vietnamese,FilipinoandDutch.

LanguageDiversity

Languageisakeymarkerofmembershipofanethnicgroup.Languageallowscommunicationofvaluesandbeliefsofaparticularcultureandallowsparticipationinfamilyandcommunitylife.The

15Forthe2011Census,AncestryisclassifiedtotheAustralianStandardClassificationofCulturalandEthnicGroups(ASCCEG).Thisclassificationhasbeenupdatedsincethe2006Census,whentheAustralianStandardClassificationofCulturalandEthnicGroups(ASCCEG)SecondEdition,2005(cat.no.1249.0)wasusedtoclassifyAncestry.


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majorityofAustraliansspeakEnglishasafirstorotherlanguage,howeverasignificantnumberofpeoplealsospeaklanguagesotherthanEnglish.About77%ofAustraliansspeakonlyEnglish.


• Collectively,Australiansspeakover200languages.Ofthese,about50areAustralianIndigenouslanguages.

• About18%ofAustraliansspeakalanguageotherthanEnglish.AustralianIndigenouslanguagesarespokenbyabout0.3%ofthetotalpopulation.

• ThemostcommonlanguagesotherthanEnglishare:Italian,Greek,Cantonese,Arabic,MandarinandVietnamese.Collectively,Chineselanguages(includingCantonese,MandarinandotherChineselanguages)havethegreatestnumberofspeakersafterEnglish,accountingforapproximately3%ofthetotalpopulation.

• ThelanguagesotherthanEnglishspokenathomevarybetweenthestates.

ReligiousDiversity

Overthelasttwodecades,Australia’sreligiouscompositionhaschangedprofoundlywiththeglobalmovementofpeople,ideasandnewtechnologies.AlthoughAustraliaisconsideredaChristiancountry,thereareavarietyofreligionsthatcanbefoundhere.Thequestionaboutaperson'sreligiousaffiliationhasbeenaskedoneverycensustakeninAustralia.Since1933theanswerhasbeenspecificallystatedasvoluntary.

Inthe2011Census,Christiansrepresented61%ofthepopulation.Non-Christiansrepresentedabout8%ofthepopulation.About31%ofthepopulationstatedtheyhadnoreligionordidnotstatetheirreligion.The2011Censusrecordedover120differentreligiousdenominationseachwith250ormorefollowers.ThereligiouscompositionoftheStatesandTerritoriesvaries.

TheAustralianMuslimcommunityislarge,diverseandheterogeneous,composedofatleast120ethnicand/orlinguisticbackgrounds,eachwiththeiruniqueculturalnorms

4.3 MIGRATIONPROGRAM

TheMigrationProgramwillbemaintainedat190000placesin2013–14andprovidesfor128550placesforskilledmigrants,60885placesforfamilymigrationand565placesformigrationunderspecialeligibilityandwilloptimisethesocialandeconomicbenefitsofourregularmigrationstreamstotheAustraliancommunity.

KeyFacts

• Skilledmigrationcontinuestomakeupmorethantwothirdsoftheprogramme• Indianmigrantscomprisedatotalof29,018placesor15.7%ofthetotalmigration

programmeof185,000placesunderthe2011/12permanentmigrationprogramme.• ChinaandtheUnitedKingdomwereAustralia’ssecondandthirdlargestsourcesof

permanentmigrants,with25,509and25,274placesrespectively.• Indeedsevenofthetop10sourcecountriesinAustralia’s2011/12migration

programmearefromAsia;India,China,thePhilippines,SriLanka,Malaysia,theRepublicofKoreaandVietnam.


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4.4 HUMANITARIANMIGRATIONPROGRAM

Australia’sHumanitarianProgramrespondstoglobalresettlementchallengesandcomplementsmultilateralsolutionsforassistingrefugeesanddisplacedpeople.AustraliaenjoysaproductiveworkingrelationshipwiththeUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)andresettlementpartnersintheinternationalcommunity,andisanactiveparticipantinstrategiestorespondtotheplightofrefugeesanddisplacedpersons.

AustraliaisguidedbyadvicefromUNHCRontheuseofresettlementand,inrelationtotheRefugeecomponentoftheHumanitarianProgram,AustraliatakesintoaccounttheglobalprioritiesidentifiedbyUNHCR.

UNHCRestimatesglobalresettlementneed,includingpopulationswhereresettlementisenvisionedoveraperiodofseveralyearstobe859300persons.In2013specifically,UNHCRestimatestheglobalneedforresettlementtobeabout181000persons,withonly81000placesexpectedtobeofferedbyresettlementcountries16.

TABLE—TOPTENNATIONALITIESWITHINTHEOFFSHORECOMPONENT2012–13

OffshoreHumanitarianProgramme*

Rank 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–1312345678910

IraqBurmaAfghanistanBhutanSudanEthiopiaCongo(DRC)SomaliaLiberiaSierraLeone

BurmaIraqBhutanAfghanistanCongo(DRC)EthiopiaSomaliaSudanLiberiaSierraLeone

IraqBurmaAfghanistanBhutanCongo(DRC)EthiopiaSriLankaIranSudanSomalia

BurmaIraqAfghanistanBhutanEthiopiaCongo(DRC)EritreaIranSomaliaCongo(ROC)

IraqAfghanistanMyanmarBhutanCongo(DRC)IranSomaliaSudanEritreaEthiopia

4.5 VICTORIA’SCALDDEMOGRAPHICCONTEXT

Victoria’spopulationof5.35millionisamongthefastestgrowingandmostdiverseinAustralia.

According to the 2011 Census, 26 percent of Victorians were born overseas in more than 200countriesand47percentofVictorianswereeitherbornoverseasorhaveat leastoneparent thatwas.Thereareover230languagesanddialectsbeingspokeninVictoria

According to the 2011Census, the Buddhist community grewbymore than 27 per cent over thepreceding fiveyears, and isnow theState’s largestnon-Christiancommunity,withnearly170,000membersfromarangeofethnic,linguisticandculturalbackgrounds.

16UNHCRProjectedGlobalResettlementNeeds2013


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Approximately 3,500humanitarian refugees arrive inVictoria annually,withhalf aged19 yearsoryoungerwithmanyhavingseveralhealthissues

UnprecedentedchangestotheCommonwealthimmigrationpolicysawmorethan11,000refugeesandasylumseekerscometoVictoriathisfinancialyear–morethandoubletheyearbefore.

Detailedstatistics

Atthe2011Census,thetotalpopulationofVictoriawas5,354,039persons,increasingby8.5%(or421,617persons)fromthe2006Census.

• 26.2%ofVictorianswerebornoverseasinmorethan200countries(anincreasefrom23.8%in2006).

• 46.8%ofVictorianswereeitherbornoverseasorhaveatleastoneparentbornoverseas(anincreasefrom43.6%in2006).

• 23.1%ofVictoriansspokealanguageotherthanEnglishathome(anincreasefrom20.4%in2006).

• 67.7%ofVictoriansfollowed135faiths-comparedto68.7%following130faithsin2006.

CountryofBirthVictoriansborninAustraliaincreasedby6.9%from3,43,471personsin2006to3,670,937in2011.However,theoverseas-bornincreasedby19.8%,from1,173,250to1,405,330inthesameperiod.Ofthetotaloverseas-born,74.5%(1,048,068)camefromnon-mainEnglish-speakingcountries,increasingfrom72.8%in2006.TheproportionofthoseborninthetraditionalsourcecountriesinNorthandWestEuropedeclinedsteadilyoverthelastthreecensuses,from26.9%in2001to24.4%and21.1%in2006and2011respectively,althoughnumbershaveremainedfairlystable(Table1andFigure1).ThoseborninSouthernandEasternEuropehavedeclinedmoresignificantly.ReflectingrecenttrendsinmigrationtoVictoria,theoverseas-bornfromNorthAfricaandtheMiddleEast,South-EastAsia,North-EastAsiaandinparticularSouthernandCentralAsia,haveincreasedinbothabsolutenumbersandasaproportionofthetotal.ThetoptencountriesofbirthforVictoriain2011were:England,India,China,NewZealand,Italy,Vietnam,Greece,SriLanka,MalaysiaandPhilippines.Amongthetoprankedcountriesofbirth,thefastestgrowingwere:India(increasingby111.5%);China(66.0%);SriLanka(39.7%);Philippines(39.0%);andNewZealand(25.4%).Amongthelowerrankedcountriesofbirth,thefastestgrowingincludedthosefromrefugeesourcecountries:Iraq(48.6%);Afghanistan(89.5%);Iran(68.0%);Burma(212.9%);Bangladesh(70%);andNepal(418.5%).ThehighestrankingEngland-bornincreasedby6.9%.TheItaly-bornandGreece-borndecreasedby7.2%and8.0%respectively.


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LanguagespokenathomeThe2011CensushasalsorevealedincreasingdiversityinlanguagesotherthanEnglish(LOTE)spokenathome.ThenumberspeakingaLOTEincreasedby22.6%(227,997)from1.00millionin2006to1.23millionin2011.Fast-growingLOTEspeakersareassociatedwithfast-growingsourcecountries.Forexample:Mandarin(61.2%increasebetween2006and2011);Hindi(79.9%);Punjabi(278.8%);Sinhalese(66.4%);Tamil(57.3%);andseveralotherIndiansub-continentlanguages.SeveralEuropeanlanguagesexperiencedaslightdeclineinthenumberofspeakers-forexample:Italian(-6.4%);Greek(-0.9%);Croatian(-3.5%);andMaltese(-4.4%).AnumberofAfricanlanguagesexperiencedasignificantincreaseinthenumberofspeakers,albeitgrowingfromasmallerbase.

ReligionThenumberofVictorianswithareligionincreasedby249,091persons(7.4%),althoughtherewasaslightdecreaseintermsoftheproportionofVictorianswithareligion(from68.7%in2006to67.7%in2011).Thethreedominantreligions–WesternCatholic,AnglicanChurchandUnitingChurch-havenotchangedsignificantly(5.3%,-2.2%and-8.4%respectively).However,theothertoprankingreligions,whilenotasnumerousastheChristianfaiths,haveexperiencedsignificantgrowthrates,forexample:Buddhism(27.1%);Islam(39.7%);Hinduism(96.5%);andSikhism(224.6%).


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Appendix 5: Defining Settlement and Integration

Asacountrywithalongandformativehistoryofimmigration,Australiahasextensiveexperiencewiththeprocessthroughwhichnewcomersbecomeanintegralpartofoursociety.Muchhasbeensaidandwrittenaboutthisprocess-byhistorians,socialscientists,policy-makersandpoets.Nobriefsummarycandojusticetoasubjectsocomplex.Thereisnotevenasinglewordfortheprocess.Manydifferenttermsareused,including:

• resettlement• settlement• adaptation• adjustment• integration

Theresettlementprocesscanbeviewedasacontinuum,asnewcomersmovefromacclimatization,toadaptation,tointegration(seediagrambelow).

Defining Integration

Asearlyas1952,theUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCouncil,recognizingitscomplexity,definedintegrationasa"gradualprocessbywhichnewresidentsbecomeactiveparticipantsintheeconomic,social,civic,culturalandspiritualaffairsofanewhomeland.Itisadynamicprocessin

whichvaluesareenrichedthroughmutualacquaintance,accommodationandunderstanding.Itisaprocessinwhichboththemigrantsandtheircompatriotsfindanopportunitytomaketheirown

distinctivecontributions"(citedinKage,1962:165).

Chart1.TheSettlement/IntegrationContinuum

Resettlement/settlement

---------------- -------------------- ------------------- ----------------

AcclimatizationAdaptationIntegration

Assuch,settlementgenerallyreferstoacclimatizationandtheearlystagesofadaptation,whennewcomersmakethebasicadjustmentstolifeinanewcountry,includingfindingsomewheretolive,beginningtolearnthelocallanguage,gettingajob,andlearningtofindtheirwayaroundanunfamiliarsociety.Integrationisthelongertermprocessthroughwhichnewcomersbecomefullandequalparticipantsinallthevariousdimensionsofsociety.

Withintheseprocesses,eachindividualnewcomer'sexperiencesaremultifacetedandunique.Neverthelesswecanexplorethegeneralcharacteristicsoftheseprocesses,characteristicsthatwe


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needtotakeintoaccountindeveloping"bestpractices"insettlementservices.Settlementandintegrationare:

Two-way

Thereisnecessarilyamutualadaptationofnewcomersandmembersofthehostsociety.Thedemandsofadjustmenttendtobefocusedonnewcomers,whousuallymustmakesignificantadaptations.Anysocietythatreceivesnewmembersisalsochangedintheprocess,whetherwillinglyorunwillingly.However,society-peopleandinstitutions-hasanactive,andnotmerelyapassive,roleintheprocess:ithasapositiveresponsibilitytoadaptitselftoitsnewmembersandofferthemfullopportunitytocontributetheresourcestheybringwiththem.Thisinvolvesalloftheinstitutionsofthehostsociety.

Complex

Thecomplexityofthesettlementandintegrationprocessesreflectsthecomplexityofindividuallivesandofsociety.Experiencesdifferfromindividualtoindividualandfromgrouptogroup.Thenatureandtheresponseofthereceivingcommunityalsohavesignificantimpactontheprocess.

Long-term

Integrationisaprocesslastingmanyyears,ifnotgenerations.Individualsandcommunitiesmaybe"integrated"insomeaspectsoflifebutnotinothers.Issuescansurfacelongafterarrival,forexampleattimesofsignificantchangeorcrisis.

Bothprocessandgoal

Althoughweusuallytalkaboutsettlementandintegrationas"processes",andwerecognizetheirlong-term,ongoingnature,theycanalsobeseenasgoals.Thisperspectivefocusesonwhatcan,andwill,beachieved.Thosewhoarrivedinthepasthavebeenabletobecomefullparticipantsinastrengthenedsociety.Thispatternisconstantlybeingrepeatedandrenewed.

Amatterofindividualchoiceforthenewcomer

Itisfortheindividualnewcomertochoosehisorherownlevelofparticipationineachareaoflife,justasthoseborninthecountryofsettlementchoosehowandwheretoparticipate.Thehostsocietyhasaresponsibilitytoensurethatnewcomerscanparticipateastheywish,freeofbarriers.

Thespheresofsettlement/integration

Settlementandintegrationaremulti-dimensionalconcepts.Wecanexploretheseprocesseswithinfourmainspheres:

• thesocialsphere• theeconomicsphere• theculturalsphere• thepoliticalsphere


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Withineachsphere,thespeedanddegreeofintegrationcanvary,andwhathappensinonesphereaffectstheoutcomeintheotherspheres.Forexample,researchhasshownthatthosewhosucceedinintegratingeconomicallywillmoreeasilyintegratesociallyandculturally17.

Thesecomplexprocessesarealsoveryabstractandcannotbemeasureddirectly,butthrough"certaintraitswhichwebelieveareindicativeof,orindicatorsof"integration.Indicators-measurable,specific,simpleoutcomes-areonewaytoassessordeterminethedegreeofintegration.Thefollowingdiagramgivessomeexamplesofindicatorsthatmightbeusedtoevaluatenewcomers'andsociety'slevelofintegration.

PossibleIndicatorsofSettlementandIntegration

Dimension Short-term(settlement) Longerterm(integration)Economic • enteringjobmarket

• financialindependence• careeradvancement• incomeparity• entryintofieldofprior

employment

Social • establishedsocialnetwork• diversitywithinsocialnetwork

• accessinginstitutions• engagingineffortstochange

institutions

Cultural • adaptationofvariousaspectsoflifestyle(e.g.diet,familyrelationships)

• engagingineffortstoredefineculturalidentity

• adaptingorreassessingvalues

Political • citizenship• voting

• participationinpoliticalparties

• participationinsocio-politicalmovements

Ina1993-1994researchprojectsponsoredbytheSaskatchewanAssociationofImmigrantSettlementandIntegrationAgencies(SAISIA),immigrantsproposedanumberofindicators.Fiveofthetoptenindicators,includingthetopratedone,relatedtoemployment.Otherimportantindicatorsrelatedtogoodmentalhealth,languageskills,thesafetyandwell-beingofthechildrenwhileparentswork,andaharmoniousfamilylife.

NeedsandChallengesintheSettlementandIntegrationProcess

Therearemanyfactorswhichaffectanindividual'slifechances,andultimatelythedegreetowhichtheyintegrateintothedifferentspheresofsociety.Somearepersonal,individualattributessuchas

17GertrudNeuwirthin"SettlementIndicators,"INSCAN,Vol11(2),Winter1997.


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theirgender,age,skilllevel,education,andpastexperiences.Otherfactorsareexternalandencounteredinthehostcountry,suchasthebureaucraticprocessesassociatedwithimmigrationorasylumandracismordiscrimination.

Whilethetimetakenforintegrationvariesfromindividualtoindividual,asagrouprefugeesandothersfleeingcivilstrifeandviolencehaveparticularneedsandchallenges.Ratesofintegrationdependonhowquicklytheneedsspecifictotheirexperiencescanbemetandthechallengestotheirintegrationovercome18.

RegardlessofhowthesepersonsarelabelledunderAustralia’sImmigrationActorbyinternationalhumanitarianorganisations,suchastheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees,theysharetheexperiencesofforcedmigration.Theymustdealwithsignificantpersonallosses,oftenincludingtheviolentdeathsoffamilyandfriends.Theyfrequentlybearthescarsoftraumaticexperiences;manyaresurvivorsoftorture.Refugeesarealsomorelikelythanotherimmigrantstoarrivewithouttheirimmediatefamilies,havingbeenforcedtoseparateinflightfrompersecution.Tornfromtheirsocialsupportnetwork,uprootedfromculturalfamiliarity,possiblysurvivorsoftortureandtrauma,andoftenfearingforthesafetyofthoseleftbehind,theirmentalhealthmaybeprecarious.Becauseofthesesituations,refugeesoftensufferdepression,sleepingdisorders,nightmares,fatigue,inabilitytoconcentrate,etc.

UnlikethosewhofreelyanddeliberatelychoosetostartanewlifeinAustralia,theirthoughtsonarrivalmaybefocusedmoreonwhattheyhaveleftbehindthanontheirfuturehere.Furthermore,theexternalchallenges,suchastherefugeeprocessforthosewhomakearefugeeclaimonarrival,oftenleavetheminastateofstress,impermanenceanduncertaintyuntiltheyhavebeenabletoregularizetheirimmigrationstatus.Thisinsecurityfurtherslowstheintegrationprocess.

Ataninternationallevel,serviceprovidersandothershaveidentifiedsomekeyareasintheintegrationprocessthatneedtobeaddressedbynewcomersandmembersofthehostsocietyinorderfornewcomerstoachievefullparticipation19:

• Language• AccesstoEmployment• Culturalorientation• Recognitionofqualificationsandexperience• Racism/Discrimination• Familyreunification• Immigrationstatus• BuildingCommunities

18 In its surveyon resettlementand integration,UNHCRcites the researchofDanielle Joly,whoconcludesthat refugees should be treated differently from other categories of immigrants because their needs aredifferent(UNHCR,May7,1997).

19Thislistisdrawninpartfroma1996UNHCRsurveyofcountriesofresettlement,towhichtheCanadianCouncilforRefugees(CCR)contributed,andfromissuesidentifiedatCCRConsultationsandmanySettlementRenewalConsultationsheldacrossCanada.


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Language

Speakingthelanguageofthehostsocietyisclearlyafundamentalkeytoparticipationinthatsociety.ManyrefugeesandimmigrantsarrivewithlittleornoEnglish.Whiletheylearnthenewlanguagetheymaybenefitfromservicesintheirownlanguageandservicesofinterpretationasabridgetothewidercommunity.EventhosewhocancommunicaterelativelywellinEnglishmayfindthattheymustimprovetheirlanguageskillsinordertobeabletowork.

Accesstoemployment

Entryintothejobmarketisformostnewcomersoneofthemostimportantstepstowardsintegration-offeringfinancialindependence,anopportunitytocontributeandaccesstoanetworkofsocialcontacts.EmploymentisalsoakeywayinwhichAustraliansocietybenefitsfromtheskillsandexperiencesofnewcomers.

Culturalorientation

Newcomers-asindividuals,familiesandcommunities-mustlearntheirwayaroundthecultureofthehostsociety,withitsvaluesandpatternsofrelationshipandbehaviour.Thehostsociety,inturn,needstolearnsensitivitytowards,andtoadaptto,thevaluesinherentintheculturesnewcomersbringwiththem.

Recognitionofqualificationsandexperience

Inorderfornewcomerstocontributeacquiredskillsandlearning,theirqualificationsandexperiencemustberecognised.EducationalandprofessionalcredentialsareoftennotrecognizedbyAustralianinstitutionsandemployers.Newcomersbringwiththemawholerangeofotherskills(forexampleintheartsorincommunityleadership);adjustmentsarerequiredtoenablethemtocontributetheseskillstosociety.

Racism/Discrimination

AddressingracismanddiscriminationisacriticalstepinensuringnewcomersfeelwelcomeandapartofAustraliansociety.RacismisasystemicprobleminAustraliaandcreatesbarriersforpeoplefromethnicallydiversebackgrounds,whethernewcomersornot.Whilethereiscomparativelylittleviolentexpressionofracism,moresubtleandinstitutionalformsofracismaredeep-rootedinAustraliansociety.Therelatedproblemofxenophobiaaffectshownewcomersaretreatedandspokenof.

Familyreunification

BringingfamiliestogetherisacriticalstepinmakingnewcomersfeelathomeinAustralia.Refugeesinparticularoftenarriveseparatedfromtheirspouseand/oryoungchildren;integrationcannotreallybeginuntiltheimmediatefamilyisreunited.Separationalsohasatremendousimpactonfamilydynamicsbothduringseparationandafterbeingreunited:smallchildrenleftbehindfeelabandoned,andoncereunited,oftenresentful;spousesgrowapart.Manynewcomersalsohopetobereunitedwithotherrelatives(parents,grandparents,brothers,sisters,orphanedrelatives,etc.).


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Immigrationstatus

Permanentresidencestatusiskeytogivingnewcomersthesensethattheycanbuildtheirliveshere.Itisalsocriticalforaccesstoemployment,servicesandrights(employershesitatetoofferjobstopeoplewithtemporarystatus;health,socialandeducationalservicesmayberestricted).

BuildingCommunities

Welcomingcommunitiesiskeytosuccessfulintegration.Experienceshowsthatwhenimmigrantsandrefugeescanjoinanestablishedethnospecificcommunity,theintegrationprocesscanbeeased.Wherenosuchcommunityalreadyexists,newcomersfacethechallengeofbuildinganewcommunityhereinAustralia.


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Appendix 6: Evolution of Settlement Policy and Planning in Australia

6.1 RECENTHISTORYOFSETTLEMENTPOLICIESINAUSTRALIA20

Liberal-NationalCoalitionGovernment1996-2007

RefugeeandHumanitarianProgram

TheHowardGovernmentmadeaseriesofchangestotheRefugeeandHumanitarianProgram,withthemostsignificantchangebeingin1996whentheoff-shoreresettlementandonshoreasylumprocesseswerebroughttogetherunderoneprogramcappedat12,000placesperyear.Priortothis,thenumberofoffshoreresettlementplacesvariedconsiderably,sometimesbeingsignificantlyhigherandsometimessignificantlylowerthannumbersunderthenewpolicy.TheHowardGovernmentalsophasedouttheSpecialAssistanceCategoryandexpandedtheSpecialHumanitarianProgram.Followinganincreaseintheannualprogramto13,000in2004,inthefinalyearsoftheHowardGovernment,theRefugeeProgramconsistedof6000RefugeeProgramplaces(resettlementgenerallycoordinatedwithUNHCR)and7000placessplitbetweentheSpecialHumanitarianProgram(resettlementsupportedbyAustralianproposers)andtheOnshoreProtectionProgram.

Changestosettlementservices

TheHowardGovernmentmadeaseriesofsignificantchangestothestructureandfundingofsettlementservices.TheIntegratedHumanitarianSettlementStrategy(IHSS),firstintroducedfrom1997butsignificantlyexpandedfrom2001,wasdevelopedtobringtogethersupporttonewlyarrivedrefugeesintoasinglefundingprogram.Itwasadistinctdeparturefromthegrants-basedfundingofferedtocommunitygroups,not-for-profitorganisationsandmigrantresourcecentresonthebasisofneedsassessedbytheDepartment,towardsapurchaser-providermodelthatusedcompetitivetenderingtoallowbothcommercialandnot-for-profitorganisationstoapplyforserviceprovisioncontracts.In2005,allfundingpreviouslyprovidedtoMigrantResourceCentresandothersettlementagencies,includingthroughtheCommunitySettlementServicesScheme,wasrolledintotheSettlementGrantsProgram(SGP),whichwasbroaderrangeoforganisationswereinvitedtoapplyforSGPgrantstoimplementprojectsfocusingoninformation,referralandshort-termcaseworkservices;communitycapacitybuildinganddevelopment;andserviceplanning,developmentandintegrationpromotingparticipationandinclusioninAustraliansociety.

20 Reference: National Settlement Policy Network Background Paper ‘Settlement Policies – Where to from here?’,October2013http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/r/spn/131002-SPN-bg.pdf


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TemporaryProtectionVisas(TPVs)

TheTPVregimewasintroducedinOctober1999.ThesevisasweregrantedtopeoplewhoarrivedinAustraliabyboatasasylumseekersandwerefoundtoberefugees.TPVswerevalidforthreeyears,afterwhichtimethevisaholderhadtoreapplyforprotection.Thisprocessincludedareassessmentofconditionsintheirhomecountry.TheTPVregimewascontroversialforseveralreasons:

• DeprivingTPVsholdersofthestabilityandsecurityofpermanentprotectionhaddetrimentalimpactsontheirmentalhealthandhamperedtheirsuccessfulsettlementinAustralia.

• TPVholderswerenoteligibletosponsortheirfamiliesforresettlementinAustralia,norcouldtheyvisitfamilymemberslivingoverseas,astheydidnothavearighttore-enterAustraliaiftheytravelledelsewhere.Notonlydidthishaveanegativeimpactontheirmentalhealth,italsoresultedinfamilymembersofsomeTPVholderstravellingtoAustraliabyboatastheonlymeansbywhichtheycouldachievefamilyreunion.

• TPVholderswereineligibleformanygovernment-fundedsettlementservices,includingfreeEnglishclasses,interpretingservices(exceptfortortureandtraumacounselling)andassistancewithhousing,transport,culturalorientationandemployment.Thisshiftedtheresponsibilityforprovidingandfundingtheseservicestothecommunityservicessector.Additionally,thelackformalemploymentsupportservicesforcedmanyTPVholdersintocasual,unskilledand/orseasonalworkandleftthemmorevulnerabletoemployerexploitation.

• MostTPVholderscamefromcountriessuchasAfghanistanandIraqwheretherewasnoprospectforsafereturnintheforeseeablefuture,andthevastmajoritywaseventuallygrantedpermanentvisaswhentheirclaimswerereviewed.

Offshoreprocessing

InSeptember2001,theHowardGovernmentintroducedthePacificSolution,wherebyasylumseekersarrivinginAustraliabyboatweretransferredtoNauruandPapuaNewGuinea’sManusIslandforprocessing.Asylumseekersweredetainedindefinitelyforlongperiods(severalyearsinsomecases).ThepsychologicalimpactsofoffshoreprocessingcontinuetoaffectpeoplewhowereeventuallysettledinAustralia.

LaborGovernment2007-2013

TPVs

InAugust2008,theLaborGovernmentabolishedTPVs.FromthispointuntilAugust2013,asylumseekerswhoarrivedbyboatandwerefoundtoberefugeesweregrantedaPermanentProtectionVisa(PPV).ThosewhowerestillonaTPVbecameeligibletoapplyforResolutionofStatusVisawhichwasakintoaPPV.

Detention

During2010and2011,anincreaseinasylumseekerarrivalsanddelaysintheprocessingofclaimsledtolargenumbersofasylumseekersspendinglongperiodsindetention,triggeringanupsurgeinincidencesofself-harm,suicideandunrestindetentionfacilitiesacrossthecountry.Thementalhealthimpactsofprolongeddetentionhadaknock-oneffectforsettlementservices,withlong-termdetaineestypicallyrequiringmoreintensivesettlementsupportthanshorttermdetaineesorresettledrefugees.Beginningin2010,theGovernmentshiftedtowardsacommunity-basedmodel


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ofprocessingwherebyasylumseekerswerereleasedfromdetentionontemporaryvisasafterundergoingpreliminarychecksandwereallowedtoliveinthecommunitywhiletheirapplicationswereprocessed.

Offshoreprocessing

OffshoreprocessinginNauruandManuswasreintroducedinAugust2012,inresponsetotherecommendationsoftheExpertPanelonAsylumSeekers.Initially,asylumseekersweretoremaininoffshorefacilitiesuntiltheyhadwaitedforresettlementforthesameamountoftimetheywouldhavewaitedhadtheynottravelledtoAustraliabyboat,inlinewiththe“NoAdvantage”test.InJuly2013,theGovernmentannouncedthatallasylumseekerswhotravelledtoAustraliabyboatinthefuturewouldbetransferredtoPapuaNewGuineanotonlyforprocessing,butalsoforpermanentsettlement.InAugust2013,thisarrangementwasexpandedtoincludeNauru.

“NoAdvantage”test

TheExpertPanelonAsylumSeekersproposedthatasylumseekerswhoenterAustraliabyboatshouldnotgainan“advantage”overpeopleawaitingresettlementoverseas.Whilethistestwasoriginallyintendedtoapplyonlytoasylumseekersprocessedoffshore,itwasexpandedinNovember2012toincludepeopleprocessedonshore.Underthissystem,asylumseekerswhoarrivedinAustraliabyboatcouldstillbereleasedintothecommunitybutweredeniedworkrightsandreceivedonlylimitedfinancialassistance.Iffoundtoberefugees,theywouldremainontemporaryvisasandwaitforpermanentresidenceinthesamewayasasylumseekersprocessedoffshore.FromthispointuntilJuly2013,processingofasylumclaimsmadebypeoplewhoarrivedbyboatonorafter13August2012waseffectivelysuspended.

Changestosizeandstructureofhumanitarianprogram

In2008and2009,theLaborGovernmentmadetwosmallincreasestotheRefugeeandHumanitarianProgram,increasingthetotalnumberofplacesfrom13,000to13,750placesperyear.In2012,inlinewiththerecommendationsoftheExpertPanelonAsylumSeekers,theGovernmentincreasedAustralia’sRefugeeandHumanitarianProgramto20,000placesannually,including12,000placesfortheoffshoreRefugeecomponentand8,000placesdividedbetweentheSpecialHumanitarianProgram(SHP)andtheonshoreprotectionprogram.ConcessionsandprioritiesundertheSHPwereredefinedtodisadvantagerefugeeswhoarrivedbyboatandanadditional4,000placeswereallocatedtothegeneralfamilymigrationprogram,earmarkedforhumanitarianentrants.InDecember2012,theLaborGovernmentannounceditwouldallocateupto500placeswithinthe20,000intakeforacommunityproposalpilot.Underthisprogram,sponsoringorganisationswillbesubjecttoatwo-stagevisaapplicationchargeregimeofbetween$20,000and$30,000,aswellasairfaresandmedicalscreeningcosts.Organisationswouldalsoberequiredtoprovidehumanitariansettlementsupportforupto12months.ThepilotcommencedinJune2013.

ChangestoHSSeligibility

InAugust2013theLaborGovernmentimplementedchangestotheHumanitarianSettlementServices(HSS)program,wherebyProtectionVisaholderswhohadlivedinthecommunity(eitheronBridgingVisasorinCommunityDetention)wouldnolongerbeeligibleforservicesundertheHSS.


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6.2 SETTLEMENTPOLICYCONTEXTUNDERTHECOALITIONGOVERNMENT212013-

TheelectionofanewAustralianGovernmentinSeptember2013resultedinfurthersignificantchangestonationalsettlementpolicyprioritiesandprograms.

• TheRefugeeandHumanitarianProgramhasbeenreducedfrom20,000placesto13,750places.

• OffshoreprocessinghasbeenrapidlyexpandedonNauruandManusIsland.AsylumseekersprocessedoffshorewhoarefoundtoberefugeesarerequiredtoseekresettlementinacountryotherthanAustralia.

• TPVshavebeenreintroducedforasylumseekerswhoarealreadyinAustralia.TheperiodofvalidityforTPVsisbeingdeterminedonacase-by-casebasiswithnoTPVexceedingthreeyears.PermanentprotectionvisaswillnotbegrantedtoTPVsholderwithinthefirstfiveyearsoftheirfirstTPVbeingissuedandpermanentvisagrantswillbeattheMinister’sdiscretion.TPVholdersarenotbepermittedtosponsorfamilymembersforresettlementorre-enterAustraliaiftheytraveloverseas.TPVholdershavetherighttoworkandaccesstoMedicare.ThelevelofincomesupportpaidtoTPVholdersissetatthediscretionoftheGovernment,willnotexceedequivalentCentrelinkpaymentsandissubjecttoamandatory‘workforthedole’scheme.TPVholdersarenotentitledtoautomaticallyaccesssettlementservicesorsupport,withtheMinistergivendiscretion,byexception,tograntaccesstothissupport.AnyTPVsissuedareseparatetothe13,750permanentplacesallocatedundertheRefugeeandHumanitarianProgram.

• SeveralchangesarebeingmadetoAustralia’srefugeestatusdeterminationsystem.UnsuccessfulclaimsarenowreviewedbyaDIBPofficerinsteadoftheRefugeeReviewTribunal.Asylumseekerswhoarrivebyboatarenolongereligibleforgovernment-fundedlegaladvice.

Changestoportfolioresponsibilities

Withtheswearing-inofthenewGovernmenton18September2013,theGovernmentannouncedasignificantreorganisationofportfolioresponsibilities,includingofprogramswhichwerepreviouslyadministeredbyDIAC.Thechangesincluded:

• Settlementservices–includingHumanitarianSettlementServicesandtheSettlementGrantsProgram–havebeenmovedtothenewSocialServicesportfolio.

• MulticulturalaffairshasalsomovedtotheSocialServicesportfoliobutethnicaffairsremainswithImmigration.

• Adultmigranteducation,inparticulartheAdultMigrationEnglishProgram,hasmovedtotheEmploymentportfolio.

21Reference:NationalSettlementPolicyNetworkBackgroundPaper ‘SettlementPolicies–Wheretofromhere?’,October2013http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/r/spn/131002-SPN-bg.pdf


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TheDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenshiphasbeenrenamedtheDepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtection(DIBP)andtakesonresponsibilityforCustoms.Itisresponsiblefor:entry,stayanddeparturearrangementsfornon-citizens;borderimmigrationcontrol;citizenship;ethnicaffairs;andcustomsandbordercontrol(exceptquarantineandinspection).

Ineffect,DIBPisresponsibleforplanningandregulatingthearrivalofmigrantsandrefugees(boththosebeingresettledandthoseseekingasyluminAustralia)andtheirultimatepathtocitizenshipbutisnolongerberesponsibleforservicesassociatedwiththeirsettlementorEnglishlanguageacquisition.

ResponsibilityforprogramspreviouslyundertheImmigrationportfoliowillbedividedbetween:

• MinisterforImmigrationandBorderProtection,ScottMorrison,andAssistantMinisterforImmigrationandBorderProtection,SenatorMichaeliaCash.

• MinisterforSocialServices,KevinAndrews,andParliamentarySecretarytotheMinisterforSocialServices,SenatorConcettaFierravanti-Wells(whohasresponsibilityformulticulturalaffairsandsettlementservices).

6.3 PEAKSETTLEMENTADVOCACYBODIES

PeakbodiesinvolvedinconsultationswithDIACaboutsettlementneedsinclude:

SettlementCouncilofAustralia(SCOA):thenationalpeakbodyrepresentingmigrantandrefugeesettlementagenciesacrossAustralia.SCOAbringssettlementserviceproviderstogetheratanationallevelinordertocreatecohesionamongstmembers,andimprovecollaborativeandstrategicplanningprocessesforthesettlementsector.

RefugeeCouncilofAustralia(RCOA):thenationalumbrellabodyworkingwithrefugeesandasylumseekers.RCOAisactivelyinvolvedinnewresearch,policydevelopment,informationandrepresentationonrefugeeissues.

FederationofEthnicCommunitiesCouncilsofAustralia(FECCA):thenationalpeakbodyrepresentingAustraliansfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.FECCAprovidesadvocacy,developspolicyandpromotesissuesonbehalfoftheirconstituencytogovernmentandthebroadercommunity.FECCAsupportsmulticulturalism,communityharmony,socialjusticeandtherejectionofallformsofdiscriminationandracism.

MulticulturalYouthAdvocacyNetwork(MYAN):apeakadvisorybodyprovidinganationallycoordinatedapproachtofacilitatingandimprovingservicedeliveryformulticulturalyouththroughadvocacy.

MigrationCouncilAustralia(MCA):TheMigrationCouncilAustraliahasbeenestablishedtoenhancetheproductivebenefitsofAustralia’smigrationandhumanitarianprograms.TheCouncilwillbuildpartnershipsbetweencorporateAustraliaandthecommunitytopromotebestpracticeinmigrationandsettlementsupport.


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SettlementCouncilofAustralia

AsthepeakbodyforthesettlementsectorinAustralia,SCOArepresentsover80settlementagencies,advocatingtohelpensurethebestpossiblesettlementoutcomesformigrantsincludingpeopleofrefugeebackground.

SCOAhasidentifiedthefollowingkeysettlementissuesandrelatedrecommendations22inrelationtosettlementservices,basedonSCOA’sconsultationswiththesector,thetwonationalsettlementconferencesSCOAhasheld(June2012andMay2009)andSCOA’spartnershipswithnon-governmentagencies,fellowpeakagenciesandgovernmentagencies.SCOA’sadvocacyisbasedonanon-alignedapproachtosettlementwithinahumanrightsframeworkwhichincludesmulticulturalismandaccessandequityaskeyvalues.

• Thesettlementsectorissupportedbygovernmenttodeliveraprofessionalserviceandtoinputintopolicyandrequiredplanningforthesector.

• TheSettlementFrameworkarticulatestheengagementofalllevelsofgovernmentandthesectorbystrengtheninglinksbetweensettlementagenciesandthegovernment

• Thesettlementsectorhassecurityoffundingandnon-competitivemodelsofprocurementforprogramsandprojects.

• Sectorworkforcedevelopmentneedsongoinginvestmentandsupport.• Thedevelopmentofthenationalsettlementservicestandardsisresourcedand

implemented.• ThattheFederalGovernmentfundingoftheEqualRemunerationismatchedbyState

Governmentsandsetatanappropriatelevel.• TheresultsofanypilotprogramsimplementedbytheGovernmentaresharedwiththe

publictopromotetransparency.

NationalSettlementServiceStandards

SCOAisalsoleadingthedevelopmentofNationalSettlementServiceStandards.StandardsandaccreditationforthesettlementsectorareanimportantwaytocodifywhatisanalreadyhighstandardofpracticeacrossAustralia.Workisfocussingonthoseareasofpracticewhichfocusspecificallyonsettlement,anddrawsonprinciplesandindicatorsalreadypresentwithintheSettlementGrantsProgramandtheHumanitarianSettlementStrategy.

Aspartoftheprocessofdevelopingthestandards,SCOAembarkedonanumberofmeasures,whichtogetheraimedtoofinformtheprocess.Theseincluded:

• ResearchingqualitystandardsandbestpracticemodelsfromrelatedsectorsinAustralia• Researchingsettlementstandardsthathavebeendevelopedinothercountries• Seekingexamplesofbestpracticeinvariousaspectsofsettlementservicedeliveryfrom

acrosstheSCOAmembershipandthebroadersettlementsector• SeekingtheviewsofSCOAmembersregardingthenatureandscopeofqualitystandards

aimedatcoveringsettlementservicedeliveryinAustralia

22‘SCOA’sPositiononSettlementIssues’June2013http://www.scoa.org.au/new/Consultations/SCOA%20Documents/SCOA%20Key%20issues%20-%20June%202013%20-%20final.pdf


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NationalSettlementPolicyNetwork

TheNationalSettlementPolicyNetworkismadeupofmemberagenciesfromtheSettlementCouncilofAustraliaandtheRefugeeCouncilofAustralia.Inlate2013theNetworkheldateleconferencetodiscusstheelectionofthenewAustraliangovernmentandplannedsignificantchangestonationalsettlementpolicyprioritiesandprograms.

Keymessagesandadvocacyprioritiesidentifiedintheteleconferencereport23included:

• TheeffectivenessofAustralia’ssettlementservicemodelandtheimportancebothofmaintainingspecialisedsettlementservicesandensuringaccesstotheseservices.

• ThepositivecontributionsthatpeoplewhoarrivedasasylumseekershavemadetoAustraliaandthewasteofhumancapitalthatresultsfrompolicieswhichhampersuccessfulsettlement.

• Theimportanceofmaintainingaclearandconstructivepolicyonmulticulturalism.• Theneedtoshiftfromatime-limitedmodelofsettlementservicedeliverytoaneeds-based

model,underwhicheligibilityforserviceswouldbebasedonanindividual’sneedsratherthananarbitrarytimelimit.

• TheimportanceoftransparencyintheimplementationoftheGovernment’snewsuiteofasylumpolicies,particularlyoffshoreprocessingandthevariousmeasureswhichformpartof“OperationSovereignBorders”.

• TheinadequacyoftheinitialhealthassessmentundertakenbeforeasylumseekersaretransferredtoNauruandPapuaNewGuinea

• ThelikelyimpactoftheTPVpolicyintermsofdemandforservicesonstateandlocalgovernments.

• TherationaleforreintroducingTPVsgiventhatoffshoreprocessinghasessentiallymadeTPVsredundantasadeterrent.

• ThebroadersocialimpactofthelanguageusedbytheGovernmenttodescribeasylumseekers,particularlywithregardstotheincreaseinviolencetowardspeopleseekingasylum.

23SPNTeleconferenceReport‘SettlementPolicies–Wheretofromhere?’October2013http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/r/spn/131002-SPN.pdf


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Appendix 7: VLGMIN Settlement Forum

TheVictorianLocalGovernmentMulticulturalIssuesNetworkhosted‘TheroleofLocalGovernmentinSettlementandMulticulturalAffairs’foruminSeptember2011.

Theforumaimedtoexaminetherolesofthethreetiersofgovernmentinrelationtosettlementprovision;systemicinteragencycoordinationofsettlementservices;andtheroleoflocalgovernmentinmanagingcommunityrelationsatthemunicipallevelasissuesarisefromlocaldiversity.

KeyForumOutcomes

Thefollowingkeyfindings/issuesemergedfromthe‘TheroleofLocalGovernmentinSettlementandMulticulturalAffairs’forum:

• Settlementpolicyispredominantlytop-downandCommonwealthdominated;• ThemainsettlementprogramsareCommonwealthdesignedandfunded,andcontracted

outtoprivateproviders;• Thismodeldoesnotsupportintergovernmentalcollaborationorthewholeofgovernment

approachwhichtheCommonwealthhasalsobeenpromoting;• Victoriahaswelldevelopedpoliciespromotingandsupportingsettlement;• However,whatmakessenseatcommonwealthandstatepolicyleveldoesnotalwaysapply

effectivelyatthegrassrootslevel;• Anunevenpatchworkofbottom-upresponsesfromlocalgovernmentsandcommunity

serviceshasemergedasaresultofgapsingovernmentpolicyandfundingmodels;• Localgovernmentsandcommunitiesfeelleftoutofthepolicyloop,withlittlevoiceinpolicy

making,andareoftencaughtunawareandunpreparedforsupportingnewarrivals;• Fundingispiecemeal,andoftenshort-termfordiscretepurposes,leavinglocalproviders

stretchedtoprovidecoherentandsustainableservices;• Awholeofgovernmentapproachwouldenhancemigrantandrefugeesettlementin

Australia;• Thereseemsubstantialgapsbetweenrhetoricandreality,andalackofgenuine

coordinationandcooperationamongstthetiersofgovernment;• Whilegoodeffortsarebeingmadeatlocalandstatelevels,centralisedfundingandthe

contractingoutofcriticalsettlementservicesneedtobedecentralisedandinvolvethosewithpracticalknowledgeofhowtheseareworkingatgrassrootslevels;

• Settlementpolicyandpracticewouldmoreappropriatelybeoverseenbystategovernmentbodiesthathavegreaterknowledgeofmunicipallocationsintheirstateandcapacitytoconsultwithrelevantstakeholders;

• Settlementservicefundingshouldgotowardslocally-basedorganisationsorentitiesthatcandemonstrateanongoingpresenceinanareaandsoundlinkageswiththecommunity;

• Settlementofmigrantsandrefugeesisacomplexareathatishighlyvariableacrossregionsandfluidbecauseofhighinternalmigrationamongrecentmigrants.Toaddressthis,settlementprogramsneedbebothmoresustainableandmoreflexible,withgreaterlocalandcommunitycontrol.


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Appendix 8: International examples - local government roles in settlement

8.1 CANADA

FederationofCanadianMunicipalities(FCM)

A2011reportpublishedbytheFederationofCanadianMunicipalities24(FCM)ffoundthatnewimmigrantswereareearninglessandtakinglongertofindaffordablehousingandjobsthatmatchtheirskillsandeducationlevelsthatweretheirnon-immigrantcounterparts.In2008,two-thirdsofuniversity-educatednewcomerswereunderemployed,workinginoccupationsthatrequiredatmostacollegeeducation,comparedto40%oftheirCanadiancounterparts,andthenumberofnewcomersearninglessthan$10anhourin2008was1.8timeshigherthanforCanadian-bornworkers.Immigrantsinlargercitiesweremorelikelytobeonsocialassistancethantheircounterpartsinsmallercities.Thereportalsohighlightedthatthesettlementperiodtookmuchlongerthanthethreeyearsforwhichthefederalandprovincialgovernmentsgenerallyfundsettlementservices.

TheFCMhasurgedtheGovernmentofCanadatodevelopamorecomprehensive,cross-departmental,intergovernmentalstrategythatmeasuresandsupportsimmigrant’saccesstothebasicinfrastructureandservicestheyneedtosucceed.

Whatisbecomingevidentisthatamuchbroaderrangeofservices,beyondthoseprovidedbyfederallyorprovinciallysupportedserviceslikeorientation,languagetrainingandemployment,isneededtosupportimmigrantsintheirfirstfivetotenyearsinCanadatoensuresuccessfulsettlementandintegration,bothinnearandlongterms.

TheMunicipalRole

TheFCMhighlightedthekeyroleplayedbymunicipalgovernmentsinhelpingnewcomerssettleintoCanadianlife.Inmanyrespects,municipalgovernmentsarethenation’sfrontline,firstresponderswhenitcomestoimmigrantsettlement.

Whethertheresponsibilityisexplicitandmandatedorimplicit(suchassupportingcommunityorganizations),localgovernmentsacrossCanadaareactiveinattracting,integratingandretainingimmigrantsinrecognitionofthefactthatimmigrantsarecentraltolocaleconomicdevelopmentstrategies.

SurveysundertakenbyarangeofCanadianlocalgovernmentauthoritiesconsistentlyshowthatproximitytofamilyandfriends,thechancetoownahomeandestablishcommunities,alongwithemploymentprospects,andaffordable,efficienttransportationoptionsaretopprioritiesfornewimmigrants,placingmunicipallybasedservicesattheforefrontofimmigrants’needs.Further,whenimmigrantsdon’tsucceed,localserviceslikesheltersandfoodbanksfigureprominentlyinmeeting

24 Federation of Canadian Municipalities, ‘Starting on Solid Ground: The Municipal Role in ImmigrantSettlement’,2011


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theirneeds.TheTorontoBoardofTradeestimatesthatitcostsCanada$2.25billioninlosteconomicactivitywhenitfailstobetterintegrateimmigrantsintotheeconomy.

MunicipalitiesMustBepartofaNationalSolution

TheFCMarguesthatmunicipalitiesinCanadahavebeenleftonthesidelinesofimmigrationpolicyandfundingdecisions.Municipalitiesareneithermandatednorfundedtoprovideimmigrantsupportservices,butoutofnecessityandinrecognitionofthevaluenewimmigrantsbringtocommunities,municipalitiesareintegratingimmigrantneedsintotheirbudgetsandserviceplans.

Alreadyattheirlimitsafteryearsoftakingonincreasingresponsibilitiesforservicespreviouslyfundedbyotherordersofgovernment,municipalitiesnowhavetodigdeepertomeetthegrowingdemandofservicesessentialtotheeffectiveintegrationofimmigrants.Theseincludeaffordablehousing,publictransit,childcareandlibraryservices.

ToparrivaldestinationslikeMetroVancouverarereportingtheneedfor65,000additionalresidentialrentalunitsperyeartomeetlocalhousingdemands,whilelostproductivityduetogridlockandlengthycommutetimesinTorontoiscostingtheregionanestimated$3.3billionperyear.Meanwhile,Canada’scitiesandcommunitiesarewelcomingrecordnumbersofpermanentandtemporaryresidents—overhalfamillionayearinrecentyears.Municipalitiesarelefttomanageandoftenfundtheprovisionofadequatehousingandreliabletransittosupportthousandsofadditionalpeople,whilebeingkeptontheperipheryoftheimmigrationdebate.

Wheretheparticipationofmunicipalitiesisformallyrecognised,theintergovernmentalpartnershipsarepayingoff.RecognisingToronto’sexpertiseinmeetingthecommunity-basedneedsofnewcomers,CanadasignedatrilateralimmigrationagreementwithOntarioandtheCityofTorontoin2005,layingthegroundworkforaprotocolforconsultationandinformationsharingbetweenallordersofgovernment.

TheFCMurgedforthistrendofworkingwithcitiesandcommunitiesmustcontinueinordertoimprovesettlementoutcomes.Thefederalfocusonjobsandlanguagetrainingisneeded,butwithoutadecentplacetolive,anaffordableandreliablewaytogettoandfromwork,andcommunitiesthatembracewhatnewimmigrantshavetooffer,newcomerswillcontinuetofallbehind,andCanadawillnotachieveitsfulleconomicpotential.

RecommendationsoftheFCM

1.Putsettlementservicesonalonger-term,expandedtrack

Thefederalgovernmentshouldexpandthecurrentpackageofsettlementservicestomeetabroaderrangeofkeyneedsincludingadequateandaffordablehousingandreliablepublictransit.Federal,provincialandterritorialgovernmentsmustensurethattheirimmigrantsettlementprogramsandfundingareputonalonger-termtracktomatchfive-toten-yearsettlementtimeframesfornewcomers.TheGovernmentofCanadamustshowCanadians’progressbyimprovingdatacollectionandinformationsharingaboutimmigrantflow,settlementandintegration;ensuringadequatesettlementservicesarebeingprovidedandenablingcitiesandcommunitiestotailorsolutionstolocalneeds.


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2.Setcleartargetsforsuccessfulimmigrantsettlement

Canada’scurrentindicatorforsuccessfulsettlementistheemploymentrateamongnewimmigrants,yetthismaskstherealityfornewcomerswhocan’tfindworktomatchtheirskillsandthosewhoarepayingmorethan30%oftheirincomeonhousing,muchofwhichisinadequate,orspendinghoursadaytravellingtoandfromdistantjobs.Tobettermeasuresuccessfulintegration,thefederalgovernmentmustworkwithallordersofgovernmentandrelevantstakeholderstodeveloparangeofindicatorsthatbettermeasuretheoutcomesfornewimmigrants,includingaccesstoadequatehousing,transitandotheridentifiedqualityoflifemeasures.

3.Recognizemunicipalitiesaskeypartners

Municipalitiesarenewimmigrants’firstlineofsupport,andtheyarefindinginnovativewaystowelcomeandassistnewcomers.ThefederalgovernmentshouldbuildonitssuccessfulrelationshipswithTorontoandotherOntariomunicipalities.Itshouldalsofindwaystoengagemunicipalitiesinimmigrationpolicydevelopmenttotailorsolutionstolocalneedsandrecognizetheworkmunicipalitiesarecurrentlydoingtosupportsuccessfulimmigrantsettlement.

4.Fixtheholesinthehousingmarket

Housingaffordabilityandavailabilitypresentagrowingchallengeacrossregionsandacrossincomelevels.Canadamustconsidertaxandotherincentivestoincreasethesupplyofrentalhousing;renewexpiringfederalhousingprogramsandsubsidies;anddesignpoliciesandprogramstosupportprovincial,territorialandmunicipal10-yearhousingandhomelessnessstrategies.

5.Cutcommutetimesandimprovepublictransit

Risingcommutetimesarecostingthecountryeverysecondoftheday.NewimmigrantsaretwiceaslikelytocommutebypublictransitasCanadianbornworkers.Thefederalgovernmentmustrenewdedicatedfundingforpublictransit;settargetstostoprisingcommutetimes;andimplementtransit-supportivetaxpolicies,includingatax-deductible,employerprovidedpublictransitpass.

TorontoRegionImmigrantEmploymentCouncil(TRIEC)

TheTorontoRegionImmigrantEmploymentCouncil(TRIEC)isamulti-stakeholdercouncilthatbringsleadershiptogethertocreateandchampionsolutionstobetterintegrateskilledimmigrantsintheTorontoRegionlabourmarket.TRIEChelpsemployersandimmigrantsfindsolutions.They:

• connectcompaniestoprogramsthatcanhelpthembetterrecruitandretainimmigrants;• developanddistributelearningtoolsandcurriculum;• help immigrants build their professional connections throughmentoring and professional

immigrationnetworks.

NewBrunswickEmploymentLanguageTraining(NBELT)

TheNewBrunswickEmploymentLanguageTrainingProgramisspecificallydesignedtoaddressthekeydeterminantsofsuccessfulnewcomerintegrationintotheNewBrunswickLabourMarket.


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TheNBELTProgramoffers:• EmploymentLanguageTraining(ELT)• Informationtechnologytraining/upgrading• Canadianlabourmarketorientation,and• PriorLearningAssessment(PLA)/e-Portfoliodevelopment• Employmentpreparationassistanceandfollow-up

8.2 UNITEDSTATES

NewYorkCityMayor’sOfficeofImmigrantAffairs–‘blueprintsforlocalgovernment

Withcomprehensiveimmigrationreformonthehorizon,citiesacrosstheUnitedStatesareworkingonwaystointegrateandensurethesuccessoftheirimmigrantcommunities.

TheNewYorkCityMayor’sOfficeofImmigrantAffairs(MOIA)convenedover20citiesfromallovertheUnitedStatestodiscussbestpracticesinimmigrantintegrationinApril2013.MOIAhascreatedasetofopen-sourceBlueprintsforImmigrantIntegration.Thesharedinnovativestrategiescanbeemployedbylocalgovernmentstofostereconomic,civicandculturalvibrancybypromotingthewell-beingandintegrationofimmigrants.

TheCitiesforImmigrantIntegrationConveningandtheopen-sourceBlueprintswillbuildanetworkofcitiescommittedtoservingandenhancingimmigrantcommunities.

The‘blueprints’covertwelvekeyareas:

• CreatingaMunicipalImmigrationIntegrationAgenda• LanguageAccess• Citizenship• CivicEngagement• EconomicDevelopment• PoliceandCommunity• Education• FinancialEmpowerment• PublicLibraries• Health• FamilyandChildWelfare• PublicBenefits

CreatingaMunicipalImmigrationIntegrationAgenda

ThekeyobjectivesoftheBlueprintforimmigrantintegrationare:

• EnsureandEnhanceAccess:PromotetheuseofCityservicesbyimmigrantNewYorkers


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• BuildStrategicPartnerships:Liaisewithimmigrantcommunitiesandkeystakeholderstocreate,supportandencouragecollaborationandstrategicpartnershipsamongCityagenciesandimmigrantcommunities

• ProvideTechnicalAssistance:ProvideguidanceandexpertisetoCityagenciesandcommunitypartnersandserveasakeyresourceregardingimmigrants

• CelebrateContributions:Coordinateprogramscelebratingimmigrantcontributionsandsupportingimmigrantheritage

Theblueprintscanbeaccessedatwww.nyc.gov/integration

ChicagoMayor’sOfficeofNewAmericansmaterial

TheOfficeofNewAmericans(ONA)isdedicatedtoimprovingservicesandengagingChicago’sglobalimmigrantcommunitiesthroughenhancedcollaborationwithcommunityorganizations,academicinstitutions,andtheprivatesector.ThroughthecreationoftheONA,theCityhasaffirmedandstrengtheneditssupportforimmigrantcommunities,entrepreneurs,andbusinesses.

InJuly2011,MayorRahmEmanuelcreatedtheOfficeofNewAmericansandsettheaspirationforChicagotobecometheworld’smostimmigrant-friendlycity.Recently,theMayorconvenedanadvisorycommitteecomprisedofnearly50leadersrepresentingChicago’sbusiness,academic,civicandphilanthropiccommunities.Thegoaloftheadvisorycommitteewastoidentifychallengesuniquetoimmigrants,recommendinitiativestobeimplementedoverthenextthreeyears,anddevelopdetailedimplementationplansfortheOfficeofNewAmericansanditspartners.

TheChicagoNewAmericansPlanoutlinesasetofinitiativestowelcomeimmigrantsandmaximizethecontributiontheymaketothecity.ImprovingtheabilityofChicago’s560,000foreign-bornresidentstoaugmenttheeconomywillleadtoeconomic,socialandculturalbenefitsforallChicagoans.

ThePlansetsout27ofinitiativesunderthefollowingthemes:

Growth

Chicagocanaccelerateitseconomicgrowthoverthenextdecadebysupportingbusinessesandensuringthatitsworkforceisreadytofillemployers’needs.Thecity’simmigrantpopulationwillbeakeycomponentofbothoftheseeconomicgrowthstrategies.

TheCityCollegesofChicagoandtheCitywillpartnerwithemployerstoincreaseaccesstoEnglishasaSecondLanguageandGeneralEducationalDevelopmentprograms.

Youth

ManyimmigrantparentsarriveintheUSlookingforbetteropportunitiesforthemselvesandtheirchildren.Theseparentsmakesacrificessothattheirchildrencansucceedinschool,graduatefromcollege,andfindsatisfying,well-payingjobs.AllChicagoanshaveastakeintheeducationaloutcomesofimmigrantstudents:ifimmigrantstudentsareabletosucceed,theywillbebetterpoisedtocontributetoChicago’seconomic,social,andculturalfuture.


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TheCityandChicagoPublicSchoolswillpartnerwithcommunity-basedorganizationstotrainteachers,counsellors,andotherschooladministratorsaboutthechallengesimmigrantsfaceandtheresourcesavailabletostudents.

Communities

Likeallresidents,immigrantswanttofeelsafe,welcome,andrespectedintheircommunities.Chicagocandoabetterjobofservingtheseimmigrants–notjustbecauseitistherightthingtodo,butalsotobuildChicago’sreputationasanimmigrant-friendlycity.TheOfficeofNewAmericansbelievesthatifChicagoisseenasanimmigrant-friendlycity,moreimmigrantswillcometoliveinChicago,creatingjobsandgrowththatallresidentswillbenefitfrom.

ThefullChicagoNewAmericansPlanandotherresourcescanbeaccessedat:

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/provdrs/office_of_new_americans.html

NeighbourhoodPartnersandQuad-CityAllianceforImmigrantsandRefugees(QCAIR)

NeighbourhoodPartnersisacity-initiatedandcoordinatedpartnershipthatbuildsstrongerworkingrelationshipsamongneighbourhoods,citygovernment,serviceagencies,schools,churchesandbusinesses.Since1996theorganizationhasassembledthetalentsofvolunteercitizensandcityandagencystafftoimprovethequalityoflifeandprideinRockIslandthrougheducation,residentself-sufficiencyandenhanced,user-friendlyservices.NeighbourhoodPartnerstaskforcesbringtogetherneighbourhoodassociations,agencies,citystaffandotherdynamiccitizenstobuildonpositiveachievementsorsolvemutualcommunityproblems.

In2010,NeighbourhoodPartnerslaunchedanewtaskforcetoexplorecommunityissuesrelatedtotheinfluxofrefugeesandimmigrantsintoRockIsland.ThepurposeofthegroupwastocreativelyharnessthediverseculturalandeconomicassetsofRockIsland'srefugeesandimmigrantsfortheenrichmentofallthecommunity,whileacknowledgingthechallengesofmultiplelanguages,customsandadequatesupportsystems.Theopportunitiesandchallengeswereexploredthroughalargepublicdialogueprocesscalled"studycircles."

"ChangingFaces:Refugees&ImmigrantsinRockIsland"StudyCircles

Eight"studycircles"convenedoverfiveweeks,where129individualsmettodiscusstheirpersonalexperiencesandinteractionswithpeoplefromothercultures,theircivicconnectionstoAmericaandRockIsland,howRockIslandischanging,approachestomanagethatchange,andactionideasforindividuals,smallgroups,andinstitutions.Circlesizesrangedfrom10to19participants,withapproximatelyone-thirdoftheparticipantsrepresentingRockIsland'srefugeeandimmigrantpopulation.

FiveActionTeams,composedofCityoragencystaff,residents,immigrantsandrefugees,werecreatedtoaddresstheissuesidentified.Theteamswere:1. Refugee&ImmigrantCenter&InformationClearinghouse;2. CulturalCelebration;3. PositiveInteractionwithPolice;4. HousingAdvocacy;and5. Education/EnglishasSecondLanguage(ESL)


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CreationofQuadCityAllianceforRefugees&Immigrants

CreatedfromoneoftheActionTeamsforChangingFaces:Refugees&ImmigrantsinRockIsland,QuadCityAllianceforImmigrantsandRefugees(QCAIR)helditsfirstmeetinginFebruary2012.Itsmissionisto:‘TobuildacommunityamongtheQuadCities'refugees,immigrantsandcitizens’.

MembershipisgrantedtoanyQuadCity-basedorganizationthatseekstobuildcommunityamongtheQuadCities'refugeesandimmigrantsorprovidesservicestorefugeesandimmigrants.Membersmaybeethnicbasedcommunityorganizations,socialserviceagencies,governments,schooldistricts,churches,interestgroups,etc.

Seehttp://il-rockisland.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=550

8.3 UNITEDKINGDOM

WestMidlandsCivicLeadershipProgramme

TheCivicLeadershipProgrammeaimstonurtureBirminghamandWolverhampton'sfutureleaders.TheaimoftheprojectistoaddressthedeficitofBlackandminorityethnicindividuals(BME)inallareasandatalllevelsofcivicandpubliclife.

BuildingupontheunprecedentedsuccessofOperationBlackVote'sawardwinningShadowingSchemes-MP,Magistrates,Councillor,NationalAssemblyforWalesandParoleBoard-thisprojectaimstohelptackletheunderrepresentationofBMEindividualsinmanyareasofcivicandpubliclifeandalsodemystifythefunctionsofkeypublicinstitutions.

Programmeaimsandobjectives:

• TogaininvaluableexperienceoflifeasaPublicAppointee• Togiveparticipantstheopportunitytoexploretheirchosenareasofpubliclifeandelected

office• Toobtainavarietyoftransferableskillsandtheconfidencetousethoseskillstoconsider

becomingacivicleader• Toequipparticipantswithboththeknowledgeandtheconfidencetospeaktoothersabout

civicengagement,andhowtheymaygetinvolved.• ToimprovetherepresentationofBMEcommunitiesinareasofpubliclifethroughout

BirminghamandWolverhampton• TogivePublicAppointeestheopportunitytogaingreaterunderstandingofdifferentaspects

ofthediversecommunitiestheyseektoserve.

SuccessAhead

ThefirstsessionoftheWestMidlandsCivicLeadershipProgramfinishedinOctober2013;itsimpactis being evaluated. Outcomes from previous OBV civic leadership schemes across the UK suggestthat itwillhave impressiveresults.A2012OBVschemesimilar to theCivicLeadershipProgram inLondon saw 50% of participants taking on a leadership role within their community within sixmonthsofcompletingtheprogram.


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OBVhadasimilarresultwith itsMPShadowingScheme, launched in1999 inpartnershipwiththeDepartment forCommunitiesandLocalGovernment topromote the importanceof increasing thelowlevelsofBMErepresentationinparliamentandlocalauthorities.TheSchemehasproducedoveradozencouncillorsandMP’sassistants.

Equally important, many of these “shadows” have moved on to local constituency offices andcommunity centres around the country to play an important role as Parliamentary AmbassadorshelpingtoraiseawarenessamongstBMEcommunitiesaboutthevalueand importanceofpositiveengagement indemocratic institutions.Programs like thesearegivingemergingyoung leaders thetoolstheyneedtopromotethefundamentalbenefitsofanequalandrepresentativegoverningbodytoallcommunities.

The success ofOBV’s civic leadership programshas attractednumerous political awards includingthe Local Government Chronicle Award, the Channel 4 Political Award and the Ebony BusinessRecognitionAward.

Seehttp://citiesofmigration.ca/good_idea/operation-black-vote/#sthash.K76oJXXI.dpuf

CentreforCities

ArecentPolicyPaper25publishedbyCentreforCitieshighlightsthatimmigrationdoesnotlooksettoleavetheheadlinesintheforeseeablefutureandwillbeoneofthekeydebatesinthebuilduptotheUK2015generalelection.Thepolicypaperrevisitsthekeyargumentsaboutthebenefitsandcostsofimmigration,andhighlightsanaspectthatisrarelydiscussed:thefactthatimmigrationisprimarilyanurbanissue.

Citiesattractthemostimmigrantsandrelyonthemasworkers:theyareasignificantproportionoftheeconomicallyactivepopulation.ThefutureoftheUKeconomyreliesontheabilityofUKcitiestostaycompetitiveasglobalcentresofbusinessandinnovation.Inordertodothistheyneedtoattractglobaltalent.ItisthereforeimportantthatimmigrationpolicydoesnotlimittheeconomicgrowthofUKcities.

Policyrecommendationssetoutinthepaperinclude:

• Striking the right balance between penalising illegal immigrants and welcoming globaltalent. At a rate of about £4,000 a year, illegal immigrants cost taxpayers a lot andcontrollingthisisimportant.However,theGovernmentshouldbewaryofimposingcontrolssostrict thatcreateahostileenvironmentdiscouragingskilled legal immigrantsaswell. Inaddition, the Government should make skilled migration programmes more flexible andprioritiseforeignstudents.

• Immigration quotas for London. In the absence of changes to UK-wide policy to attractmore skilled immigrants,we support theproposalput forwardbyBoris JohnsonandTonyTraversthatLondonshouldbegivenaspecialquotaforskilledimmigration.

• FlexibilityforCoreCitiestowelcomemoreskilledimmigrants.Inthemediumtolongrun,othercities,particularly largercities suchas theCoreCitiesgroup, shouldbegivensimilar

25DmitrySivaev,ImmigrationpolicyshouldnotbecomealimitingfactorontheeconomicgrowthofUKcities.2014


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opportunitiestosetskilledimmigrationquotas,providedtheycanmakeastrongeconomiccaseforinvitingmoreskilledimmigrants.

BritishCouncil’sOurSharedFuture

OurSharedFutureisaprojectthatprovidesskillstosocialentrepreneursoftheEuroMedandMiddleEastregion.Theprojectproducesyoungentrepreneursthatcanscaleupandsustaintheirbusinessesandoffersthemanetworktoinspireeachotherandexchangeideastotriggerinnovation.

Theprojectisaboutexcellence,skillsandinnovationandhope.Entrepreneursareselectedbasedonbusinessideastomakepositivesocialimpact,andgivethemtheskillstorealisetheirgoalsthroughinnovativeonlineandofflinemeans.

Theprojectembracesnotjustthenewbusinessparadigmofsocialenterprisebutalsodiversityandinterculturaldialogue.Aswellassharingideas,theentrepreneursgettoknowandappreciatetherealitiesandculturesofthecommunitieswhereeachofthemwork.OurSharedFutureisastorythenofhowEurope,northAfricaandmiddleeastisincreasinglybecomingasinglecommunity,richinitsdiversitybutunitedinahopefulfuture.

Asharedfuture,whereyouthfulenterprisecontributesnotjusttoGDPoremploymentfiguresbuttopersonalfulfilmentandwidersocialwellbeing,isthevalueofthesocialinnovationproject.

8.4 EUROPE

UPSTREAM

UPSTREAM is a project on developing effective strategies for the mainstreaming of integrationgovernance at the EU, national and local level. Six leading European research institutes from theNetherlands,Belgium,theUK,Spain,FranceandPolandareinvolved.

Thisprojectanalyseshow,whyandtowhateffectgovernmentsattheEU,nationaland local levelmainstream their migrant integration policies. It aims to promote a learning process in terms ofpolicy coordination, practices and outcomes in the governance ofmigrant integration. It asks thecentralquestion‘Whataretheobstaclesandopportunitiesthatmainstreaminggenerates intermsofmigrantintegrationpoliciesandoutcomes?’.

Itaimsto:

• Understandwhyandwhenpoliciesaremainstreamed:What is thepolicy rationalebehindmainstreaming,andunderwhatconditionsdoesmainstreamingoccur?

• Enhanceunderstandingofandexchangelessonsonhowtomainstreampolicies:Whatdoesitmeanintermsofpolicycoordination?Whatdoesitmeanintermsofpolicypractices?

• Understandandimprovetheconsequencesofmainstreaming:Whatintegrationoutcomescanbeassociatedwithmainstreaming?Whataretheconsequencesforspecific(vulnerable)groupsandforpolicycoordination?


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Background

Mainstreaming is one of the key trends in the governance of integration that is taking placethroughoutEurope.Therationaleisthatadaptingmainstreamservicestoaddresstheneedsoftheentirediversepopulation—including,butnotlimitedto,immigrants–hasthepotentialtobuildamore inclusive society and improve integration outcomes.Mainstreamprogramsmay also garnermore political and public support than programs targeted at specific groups, and respond to thechallengesfacedbygovernmentagencieswithconstrainedfinancialresources.

In spiteof the growingattention for themainstreamingof integration governance, little is knownabouthowmainstreamingisputtopracticeandtowhateffect.Theprojectlooksatvarioussortsofobstaclesandopportunitiesthatmayoccur,intermsoftherationaleofmainstreaming,howitisputinto practice as well as its consequences in terms of integration outcomes. Is mainstreaming adeliberatepolicystrategyoraconsequenceofgovernmentretrenchmentattimesofcrisis?Doesthepractice of mainstreaming allow for a coherent policy message or does it (inadvertently) lowerattentiontointegration?Doesmainstreamingeffectivelyaddressthediversepopulationatlargeorhave specific consequences for vulnerable groups and categories, such as women, elderly, andchildren? Does mainstreaming enable equal opportunities for disadvantagedmigrants, or does itfacilitatemigrants’ civicparticipationorexclude their voices fromdecisionsabout localpolicy?Asintegration policies are increasingly addressing 2nd and 3rd generation migrants, can thesecategorieseffectivelybereachedwhenpoliciesaremainstreamed?


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ALGA2002-03StateoftheRegionsReport

ALGAServicesforAll:PromotingAccessandEquityinLocalGovernmenthttp://alga.asn.au/site/misc/alga/downloads/general_pdf/servicesForAll.pdf

AustralianBureauofStatistics2011Census

CanadianCouncilforRefugees‘BestSettlementPractices’report,1998

DepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtection(2012),SettlementDatabase–http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/delivering-assistance/settlement-reporting-facility/

Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Fact Sheet 94: English Classes for Permanent AdultMigrantsinAustralia

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DIACFactSheets:FactSheet66–HumanitarianSettlementServices

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FactSheet20.ProducedbytheNationalCommunicationsBranch,DepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship,Canberra.

FederationofCanadianMunicipalities,‘StartingonSolidGround:TheMunicipalRoleinImmigrantSettlement’,2011

GeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNationsHigh-levelDialogueonInternationalMigrationandDevelopment:"MakingMigrationWork"http://www.un.org/en/ga/68/meetings/migration/

GertrudNeuwirthin"SettlementIndicators,"INSCAN,Vol11(2),Winter1997.

Hugo.Prof.G.‘Economic,SocialandCivicContributionsofFirstandSecondGenerationHumanitarianEntrants’May2011

InternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination(CERD).

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MAV, Towards a New Multicultural Policy Framework – Building Better Partnerships with LocalGovernment,November2012

MAV,SubmissiontotheFederalParliamentaryInquiryintoMulticulturalism,May2011


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NationalSettlementPolicyNetworkBackgroundPaper‘SettlementPolicies–Wheretofromhere?’,October2013http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/r/spn/131002-SPN-bg.pdf

OECDInternationalMigrationOutlook2013

RefugeeCouncilofAustralia,RefugeeWelcomeZones–LocalCouncilsbuildingacultureofwelcomeforrefugees,December2013

ScanlonFoundationSocialCohesionSurveyshttp://www.scanlonfoundation.org.au/research.html

SCOA’sPositiononSettlementIssues’June2013http://www.scoa.org.au/new/Consultations/SCOA%20Documents/SCOA%20Key%20issues%20-%20June%202013%20-%20final.pdf

Sivaev,Dmitry.ImmigrationpolicyshouldnotbecomealimitingfactorontheeconomicgrowthofUKcities.2014

SPNTeleconferenceReport‘SettlementPolicies–Wheretofromhere?’October2013http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/r/spn/131002-SPN.pdf

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UniversalDeclarationonCulturalDiversityof2001

Victoria’s Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Policy, Victoria’s Advantage – Unity, Diversity,Opportunity(2013)

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