Youth in Transition: From Education to Employment

Mustapha BanguraEducation and Employment Project Worker

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

About SydWest Multicultural Services Inc. Some key issues facing clients Youth Education and Employment Project Strategies Project delivery model Project outcomes Conclusion and recommendations

AboutSydWest Multicultural Services Inc.

SydWest Multicultural Services Inc. has been working with newly-arrived refugee and migrants in Blacktown and surrounding areas for over 25 years. The organisation is a not-for-profit community service provider established to directly assist migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants in their settlement and at other critical times of need. The organisation delivered a diverse range of community needs including casework support for individuals and families, settlement information and referrals sessions, youth programs, community and cultural development, advocacy and disability services.

The organisation has three main divisions:

-Settlement Services Team-Families NSW Team-CALDACS All Care Team (including Aged Care and Disability Services)

Some Key Issues Facing Clients

Education IssuesLiteracy, numeracy and general knowledge gaps, Behavioural issues and concentration problemsLack of access to study spaces computers/printersTransition from IEC to schoolLack of knowledge or bias against TAFE optionsSenior students 16 – 20 years high needs

Employment Issues Orientation to Australia work environmentLack of qualifications (or lack of recognition)Limited language skillsLack of local experienceDealing with discriminationKnowledge of work rightsKnowledge of pathways to employment

Settlement Issues protracted displacement in refugee campsDisrupted schoolingAnxiety about family members left behindAdjusting to a new cultureComplex family dynamicsLack of access or knowledge of service providers

Youth Education and Employment Project Strategies

The aim of the project is to provide orientation and transitional support to youngpeople as they move from English Centres to mainstream education facilities and increasing employment opportunities through providing information and trainingactivities combined with targeted casework support.

Activities Include: Targeted casework services at SMSI and local schools in Blacktown LGA Employment workshops and training delivered in partnership with TAFE Programs at Schools Education Support Program Networking and partnerships

Clients

PROJECT DELIVERY MODELPROJECT DELIVERY MODEL

Project Activities

School Programs

The project works with local school to provide education and settlement information to students

in partnership with the schools, DET and local services.

In 2010 the program ran:

Services Tours, TAFE introduction, Cooking Classes and soccer programs at Evans High School and IEC TAFE testers, mental health and self esteem classes at Blacktown Girls H.S. with TAFE, STARTTS, DET and

Centrelink Living skills including cooking, conflict resolution, services

tours study skills and camp with Mitchell High School Community Harmony, music and dance project at

Doonside Technology

Education Support Programs

Homework Support Program held weekly with the support of 10 volunteer tutors this program receives between 15 – 25 high school students weekly

Scripting Writing Workshops with Playwriting Australia create a fun learning environment where students improve their English language skills and perform on stage

Drama and Multimedia Workshops with Blacktown Youth Services Association

Writing and Study Skills Workshops on essay and poetry writing, stress and time management

ESL HSC Exam Preparation workshops to assist senior students

Employment and Training

TAFE outreach programs training programs delivering employment workshops includingcomputer skills, resume writing, Australia workculture

Information Sessions with TAFE counsellors about pathways to employment and from TAFE to university

Partnership with COM4Unity members including WestPoint Shopping Centre where retailers spoke to young people about employment opportunities

PROJECT OUTCOMESPROJECT OUTCOMES

This project has being the reference point or point of contact for refugee and migrant young people living in Blacktown LGA to talk about their education and employment needs.

It is also a reference point for local schools to help them deal with other settlement issues that affect the performance of students at school.

Strong network with local schools, DET, and TAFE to collectively map out alternative education pathways for IEC and ESL students at the schools and to discuss, plan and implement other programs that will help students deal with other settlement issues impacting on their academic work.

Effective ongoing casework for about 68 young people and 51% of the issues were employment related, 40% are education related and 9% others. At least 15 young people who were not sure about what to do next have been engaged in apprenticeship and TAFE studies through casework.

Periodic sessions on career planning, apprenticeship/traineeship, orientation to the Australian work environment, job search, resume writing skills, job interview skills, youth’s leadership, creative writing, drama/acting, building resilience, computer skills and life skills.

Outcomes (cont’d)

For apprenticeship/traineeship programs, a ‘knock the door’ approach has been adopted where clients are assisted with their resumes and encouraged to go round in their local communities to speak and hand out their resumes to employers. About six clients have succeeded in gaining apprenticeship through this approach.

The homework program runs every Thursday between 4-6pm during school term. The key activities include tutoring and mentoring and other facilities like access to computers with internet, printer and an ideal study environment where students are assisted in their academic work and give them the opportunity to associate and make friends. There have been over 80 participants per school term with an average weekly attendance of 16-20 students from diverse backgrounds.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSCONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Despite the wave of new arrivals into the Blacktown LGA, there are still significant numbers of refugee and migrant young people who have spent at least 4 years in Australia but are still experiencing serious literacy and numeracy problems and employment difficulties that impact on their settlement process. Their stay in Australia is increasing daily, but this has not fully reflected on their ability to integrate into the Australian system especially in areas of education and employment. They still required extra support to facilitate their transition into the Australian society.

Strategies to address the education needs of refugee students should go beyond what is provided in schools through the IEC and ESL programs plus regular class work. There could be other settlement issues relating to their behaviour, cultural differences, the law and the community at large that usually impact on their performance at school. As most of these issues are intertwine, an approach that is much broader is needed to look into the various issues affecting their integration process.

Cont’d

Schools and other organisations providing services for young people should have some background information about the clients they are serving – their experiences, issues affecting them and what their immediate needs are.

Ongoing inter-agency meetings to share experiences, discuss and formulate collectively a tailored response to address these issues.

For those out of school, TAFE/University pathway programs, apprenticeship and traineeship programs, information about admission to TAFE/University, information about Australian work environment and employment related issues, and youth leadership skills are essential programs to re-engage these youths for positive attitude and help them make sound decisions for brighter future.

Employment agencies/organisations should do more in terms of linking the clients with the employers

Partnering with the relevant institutions to run sessions on employment

TARGETING FUTURE

THANK YOU!!