Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) Federal Election Policy Platform 2013

Transcription

1 Multicultural Yuth Advcacy Netwrk (MYAN) Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm 2013 The MYAN is the natinally recgnised plicy and advcacy bdy representing multicultural yuth issues. This electin plicy platfrm presents the key issues and recmmended respnses fr yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds in the cntext f the 2013 Australian federal electin. Recmmendatins are designed t address identified issues and are based n an understanding that this grup f yung peple cmmnly face additinal and mre cmplex transitins t their Australian-brn cunterparts and have particular needs in their settlement jurney. A targeted r specialist apprach t plicy and service delivery is essential t ensure their meaningful and sustained scial, cultural and ecnmic participatin in Australian sciety. Recmmendatins als highlight the imprtance f evidence-based practice based n cnsistent data cllectin and evaluatin mechanisms. Fr further infrmatin please cntact the MYAN Natinal Crdinatr, Nadine Liddy, n nadine@myan.rg.au Page 1 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013

2 EDUCATION Cntext Recmmendatins Access t apprpriate educatin is cmmnly nted as the mst significant issue in the settlement prcess. Yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds face specific disadvantage in learning English and achieving sustained engagement in educatin and training pathways They: Are ften required t learn a new language in an unfamiliar educatinal r learning envirnment Often have limited, interrupted r n frmal schling prir t their arrival in Australia. Yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds require: Targeted resurces fr EAL supprt in schls Supprts in and utside the classrm t supprt EAL learning and sustained engagement in educatin and training pathways. The MYAN welcmes the recmmendatins f the Better Schls Plan: Lading fr students with limited English skills shuld be targeted t thse students wh are mst vulnerable The current lading fr all students f Language Backgrund Other Than English (LBOTE) des nt sufficiently target English as an Additinal/ Secnd Language (EAL/ESL) students wh are vulnerable and mre likely t experience disadvantage. That the Australian Gvernment develp a natinal measure f English language prficiency t direct ladings t the mst vulnerable students. That the Australian Gvernment establishes schl accuntability mechanisms t ensure that ladings fr students with limited English skills are firmly tied t the educatinal needs f this chrt. That the Australian Gvernment, in any future prgrams that supprt yung peple in educatin engagement r transitins, fund specialist prgrams that meet the specific needs f yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds. That funding fr state educatin includes dedicated resurces fr supprt services and prgrams (e.g. peer/ mentr supprt) t supplement teachers regarding issues f pre-arrival trauma and settlement cmplexity. This includes resurces t supprt engagement with family members. That data cllatin mechanisms be develped t accurately measure schl engagement levels f newly arrived yung peple. Page 2 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013

3 Emplyment and Training Cntext Recmmendatins Yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds face additinal disadvantage in terms f emplyment, earning, and ccupatinal attainment due t: Limited English language skills Lack f understanding abut pst cmpulsry training ptins/pathways Lack f awareness abut Australian wrkplace culture and expectatins Lack f familiarity with emplyment services and Australian systems Negtiating family expectatins regarding training and career ptins Experiences f racism and discriminatin in lking fr wrk Limited r established scial capital Limited expsure t a range f career ptins particularly fr yung peple wh have spent many years living in refugee camps Lack f recgnitin f prir learning and/r training when accessing emplyment pprtunities Access ften t nly unskilled r lw paid emplyment. Yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds need targeted supprt t vercme barriers t emplyment and training that addresses their particular barriers - including building their understanding f and links with ptential emplyers, and skills in jb searching. Such targeted supprt wuld als include quarantined access t TAFE, in recgnitin that the VET sectr and TAFE system plays a vital rle in supprting this grup f yung peple t navigate training and emplyment pathways. That the Australian Gvernment develp a crdinated emplyment strategy t ensure that yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds are apprpriately and effectively targeted in any future emplyment prgrams. That the Australian Gvernment, in any future prgrams that supprt yung peple in training and emplyment pathways, fund specialist prgrams that meet the specific needs f yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds (e.g. Yuth Cnnectins, Partnership Brkers and JSAs) similar t the Recnnect Specialist Newly Arrived prgram funded thrugh FaHCSIA. That all Australian gvernment-funded yuth prviders are expected t implement cultural cmpetency reflected in incentives r ther cntractual bligatins/respnsibilities. That in any prpsed changes t TAFE funding, the Australian gvernment ensure that the TAFE system remains financially accessible t yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds. That reginal lcatin ptins be cnsidered with regard t wrk/ vcatinal pathways. Page 3 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013

4 Yuth Settlement, including Unaccmpanied Humanitarian Minrs (UHMs) Cntext Recmmendatins Yung peple cnsistently cmprise a large prprtin f Australia s Refugee and Humanitarian prgram. In the last financial year, apprximately 42% f all arrivals thrugh Australia s Humanitarian prgram were aged between 12 and 24. Yung peple have particular settlement needs and face particular barriers in accessing the supprt they require t ensure their full participatin in Australian sciety. Yung peple experience settlement in ways distinct frm adults and cmmnly face additinal and mre cmplex transitins t their Australian-brn cunterparts. UHMS are a particularly vulnerable grup, with diverse and cmplex needs. UHMs need t navigate the challenges f settlement in a new cuntry as adlescents withut the immediate supprt and care f family and/r significant thers. The majrity f the UHMs currently entering the UHM Prgram have sught prtectin after their arrival in Australia. This means that they have spent time in detentin in Australia (either cmmunity detentin r APODs) while awaiting a Prtectin visa. Adequate targeted supprt in the early stages f settlement is critical t ensuring that yung peple, bth unaccmpanied r with family, receive the supprt they need t navigate the settlement prcess and build a successful life in Australia. UHMs need additinal crdinated supprt t ensure their particular needs are addressed. The MYAN recgnises that a mre crdinated framewrk fr supprt and care fr UHMs will be achieved thrugh the current tender fr supprt services t UHMs. That a natinal framewrk t guide the supprt and care f UHMs is develped, including guidelines fr carer recruitment, respnsibilities and supprt, as well as exit/transitins plans. That a targeted apprach t supprting yung peple transitining ut f the UHM prgram at 18 years is develped. This shuld be cnsistent with the kind f supprt prvided t yung peple leaving state care, and include intensive supprt with a fcus n addressing settlement and husing needs. That an evaluatin f the Yuth Sub-Plans in the HSS prgram is cnducted, t measure their effectiveness in meeting the needs f yung peple. That the Settlement Grants Prgram (SGP): Maintains a yuth fcus in any future amendments t prgram guidelines. Receives increased funding, with scpe fr mre lng-term supprt fr yung peple. Meets the particular needs f UHMs. Page 4 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013

5 Husing and Hmelessness Cntext Recmmendatins While there are n current figures n hmelessness amng yung peple frm refugee r newly arrived backgrunds, it is recgnised that this grup face a cmplex mix f factrs that mean they are particularly vulnerable t family cnflict and hmelessness. These include: There is currently n adequate data cllectin system under the Specialist Hmelessness Services t capture the prevalence f hmelessness amng yung peple frm refugee r newly arrived backgrunds. That the Recnnect Specialist Newly Arrived prgram is expanded in high settlement areas. Family recnfiguratin and/r lack f adult supprt Unaccmpanied Minrs (yung peple under 18) arrive in Australia with n adult relative. Settlement issues e.g. separatin frm family members, cultural islatin and lneliness, lack f language and scial netwrks Overcrwded husing - yung peple may enter husing arrangements that are already strained by vercrwding. In additin t thse factrs that can precipitate hmelessness fr yung peple frm refugee r newly arrived backgrunds, they als experience barriers that prevent their equitable access t adequate husing and husing supprt. These barriers include a lack f cultural cmpetency within mainstream husing and hmelessness services. Given their vulnerability t scial exclusin and hmelessness, it is vital yung peple frm refugee r newly arrived backgrunds are explicitly recgnised and respnded t in the develpment and implementatin f any plicies r prgrams within Cmmnwealth r state/territry implementatin plans e.g. in the negtiatin f a new Natinal Husing Agreement. That cultural cmpetency accuntability measures are incrprated int funding guidelines fr specialist hmelessness agencies funded under the Natinal Affrdable Husing Agreement and the Natinal Partnership Agreement n Hmelessness. That data cllectin (e.g. the Specialist Hmelessness Services Cllectin) be imprved t ensure mre accurate assessment f accessibility f yung peple frm migrant and refugee backgrunds t Specialist Hmelessness Services. That the specific needs f yung peple frm migrant and refugee backgrunds are recgnised and respnded t in the future plicy and prgram delivery f hmelessness services. Page 5 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013

6 Mental Health Cntext Recmmendatins Yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds face a number f mental health risk factrs in additin t thse f the general ppulatin. These include experiences f racism and discriminatin, negtiating issues f belnging and identity in a crss-cultural cntext; and, fr yung peple frm refugee backgrunds, presettlement experiences f trauma r trture and/r trauma experienced thrugh perids spent in immigratin detentin in Australia. Building a yung persn s sense f scial cnnectin and inclusin in the Australian cmmunity is an imprtant cmpnent f building resilience in relatin t mental health. Lack f cultural cmpetency in mainstream yuth mental health services resulting in inadequate service utilisatin in a cntext f natinally funded yuth mental health services (e.g. headspace). Lack f data regarding access by yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds int mainstream mental health services. Lack f crdinatin between mental health and ther supprt services t supprt referral int yuth mental health services. That accuntability measures in relatin t cultural cmpetency are incrprated int funding guidelines fr yuth mental health services e.g. CAMHS and headspace. That better measurements f accessibility by yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds t yuth mental health services, including CAMHS and headspace, are develped,. That gvernment invest in initiatives that build yung peple s cnnectin with and scial inclusin int the brader Australian sciety. That funding fr state educatin includes dedicated resurces fr supprt services/ prgrams (e.g. peer/ mentr supprt) t supplement teachers regarding issues f pre-arrival trauma and settlement cmplexity. Page 6 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013

7 Racism Cntext Recmmendatins Racism and discriminatin is an ever-present reality fr yung peple frm refugee and migrant backgrunds, despite the diversity f the Australian cmmunity. Imprtance f cmmunity and schl-based prgrams t address racism and discriminatin and the significance f yuth-led mdels in this cntext. Expand the Diversity and Scial Chesin grant prgram and include a particular fcus n initiatives targeting yung peple. The experience f racism and discriminatin: Threatens persnal and cultural identity, and can have a detrimental impact n mental health, psychlgical develpment and capacity t negtiate the transitin t adulthd. Can als be a key barrier t scial inclusin, as it can diminish a yung persn s sense f cnnectin and belnging t their cmmunity and brader sciety, reinfrce the experience f marginalisatin and islatin and inhibit participatin in educatin, emplyment r recreatinal activities. That investment cntinue int the natinal Anti-Racism Strategy and public campaign led by the Australian Human Rights Cmmissin. Page 7 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013

8 Asylum seekers Cntext Recmmendatins Yung peple wh are seeking asylum in Australia, in particular thse wh are unaccmpanied (UAMs), are a vulnerable grup with cmplex and diverse needs. Many UAMs are living in cmmunity detentin under the care f supprt agencies delivering this prgram. A large number f UAMs are als living in APODs in varius lcatins arund Australia. There is currently n natinal framewrk t guide t care and supprt f UAMs. Yung peple seeking asylum cmmnly experience high levels f stress and a cmplex mix f mental and physical health issues (that ften cntinue beynd the granting f a permanent visa). That the Australian Gvernment end mandatry held detentin. That the Australian Gvernment grant rights fr thse n bridging visas t access educatin and emplyment, as well as pprtunities fr participatin in activities in the brader cmmunity. Yung asylum seekers ver the age f 18 are either living in clsed detentin (e.g. Christmas Island), in APODs r in the cmmunity n bridging visas. The detrimental impact f detentin is well dcumented and can have a devastating impact n a yung persn s physical and mental health. Under the IGOC Act, the Minister fr Immigratin has guardianship respnsibility fr UAMs. This presents a number f well dcumented cncerns. Under current Cmmnwealth plicy and legislatin, yung peple aged ver 18 n bridging visas: are nt entitled t wrk rights; have limited access t health care and English language tuitin; and are cmmnly living in unstable and vercrwded accmmdatin. The MYAN is als cncerned that Australia des nt meet its bligatins under the Cnventin n the Rights f Child (CRC) in relatin t yung peple seeking asylum. This includes the current guardianship arrangements. That the Australian Gvernment meet its bligatins under the CRC, in relatin t the care and supprt f yung peple seeking asylum. That the Australian Gvernment establish independent guardianship arrangements fr UAMs. Page 8 f 8 MYAN Australia Federal Electin Plicy Platfrm August 2013