INTERAGENCY NETWORKS WORKING ON REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER ISSUES BY STATE OR TERRITORY (Updated February 2013) State/ ACT ACT ACT ACT ACT Committee on Migration Planning and Settlement Services Refugee, Asylum Seeker & Humanitarian Coordination Committee ACT Asylum Seekers Multicultural Advisory Group in Centrelink ACT Housing Working Group Refugee Support (RSN) Settlement Services Coalition (SSC) Asylum Seeker and Refugee Forum (NASRF) Info sharing on relevant updates from DIAC. ACT coverage. Meets about 3 times a year. Sharing between OMA and agencies, opportunity to raise advocacy concerns for OMA to take up. ACT coverage. Sharing between service providers on access to services and joint advocacy to ACT government. ACT coverage. Info sharing from Centrelink on refugee/migrant issues. ACT coverage. Meets about 3 times a year. Group of the main settlement services and volunteer support groups to share info and joint advocacy re: housing for refugees and asylum seekers. ACT and Southern coverage. Main interagency network covering refugee settlement. Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle. Consultations between the Community Relations Commission and a coalition of settlement workers involved in the service provision to migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants Invitation-only interagency for community representatives to discuss policy issues relating to services for refugee and asylum seekers living in with senior DIAC staff. Ty Harrip DIAC Ty.Harrip@immi.gov.au Yvonne Solly ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs Yvonne.Solly@act.gov.au Glen Flanagan Companion House glenn.flanagan@companionhouse.org.au Richard Harman Centrelink richard.rc.harman@centrelink.gov.au Glen Flanagan Companion House glenn.flanagan@companionhouse.org.au Sue Maddrell STARTTS susan.maddrell@sswahs.nsw.gov.au Richard Acheson Community Relations Commission richard.acheson@crc.nsw.gov.au 1
Asylum Seeker Interagency (ASI) Multicultural Advisory Forum (MAF) AMEP Community Advisory Panel (ACAP) IHSS Community Advisory Panel (ICAP) MRT-RRT Community Liaison Provides a forum whereby various refugee and asylum seeker related organisations can meet, share information, identify common concerns and resolve specific problems. Forum for dialogue and information sharing which includes representatives and workers from government (Centrelink, DEEWR and FaHCSIA) and non-government settlement agencies. coverage Forum for agencies contracted to deliver AMEP. coverage. Forum for agencies contracted to deliver IHSS. coverage. Forum for dialogue and information sharing between the MRT/RRT and agencies working with asylum seekers. Final independent merits reviews of visa-related decisions. Interstate coverage. Meets bi-annually (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane). Lucy Morgan Refugee Council of Australia info@refugeecouncil.org.au Cristina Fica Smith Family cristina.fica@thesmithfamily.com.au Jane Corpuz-Brock Immigrant Women s Speakout executive_officer@speakout.org.au Mark Lack ACL markl@acl.edu.au Mark Lack ACL markl@acl.edu.au Amy Potter Sydney, Brisbane MRT/RRT amy.potter@mrt-rrt.gov.au Juliet Carnevale - Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth (03) 8600 5822 juliet.carnevale@mrt-rrt.gov.au Refugee Health Improvement (RHIN) Migrant and Refugee Employment, Education and Training Action Group (MET) Forum to discuss refugee health issues and identify strategies to improve the health of refugees in. Aims to improve access to employment, education and training for migrants and refugees in ; Monitors policy, undertakes advocacy and conducts research with a view to development of best practice models Currently re-forming after lapsing for a period. Marisa Salem Deputy Director of the Refugee Health Service Marisa.Salem@sswahs.nsw.gov.au Jane Corpuz-Brock Immigrant Women s Speakout executive_officer@speakout.org.au 2
NT NT NT Multicultural Youth Affairs (MYAN) Refugee Youth Interagency (RYI) in Auburn NT Settlement Planning committee Refugee Settlement Darwin Asylum Support and Advocacy (DASSAN) Members support multicultural youth in. Develops appropriate policies, strategies and resources that address multicultural youth issues at the local, regional and state-wide levels. Involves consultation with the youth, family and multicultural sectors, state and local government. Meets quarterly each year for 2 hours. Liaise regularly with MYAN (Multicultural Youth Advocacy ) can feed info to and from the MYAN meetings. The idea of this group is to support each other, info share and network as well as educate where necessary with sector/ policy changes. Open to anyone working with refugee/migrant youth. Young people also attend the meeting occasionally to share their opinions. Future direction strategic planning with Federal, and Local Government, IHSS and SGP providers. Focus on housing and employment. NT coverage. Current service and program updates, and critical and emerging issues. Opportunity for networking and identifying gaps in service. NT coverage. Grassroots network of people and organisations who are concerned about asylum seekers in immigration detention. Members support people in detention (visit, write letters, manage donations), organise public events and provide community education, and advocate for individuals and for asylum seekers more broadly. Fortnightly meetings. NT NT Refugee Health to advocate for services, activities and supports to promote health outcomes for refugees. Provides a forum for service providers and stakeholders to exchange Anne-Marie Taylor State Coordinator myan@yapa.org.au Mary-Ann Murphy Newly Arrived Pathways Officer Auburn Youth Centre maryann@ayc.org.au Myrna Smith DIAC myrna.smith@immi.gov.au (08) 8901 6103 Xavier Lane Melaleuca Refugee Centre xavier.lane@melaleuca.org.au (08) 8985 3311 Justine Davis dassan2010@gmail.com Le Smith General Practice NT le.smith@gpnnt.org.au 3
NT Centrelink Multicultural Advisory Forum Alliance of Multicultural Services (AMS) Agencies Supporting Housing for Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASHRAM) Queensland Access to Interpreters Working Group (QAIWG) Multicultural Community Ministerial Committee (MCMAC) information and discuss critical and emerging issues. NT coverage. Meets every 6-8 weeks. To provide information on Centrelink programs and services, including any changes to service provision. To provide a forum for stakeholders to share information and provide feedback on issues relating to Centrelink affecting people from CALD communities which includes people from refugee backgrounds. NT coverage. Aims to facilitate coordinated and integrated service mapping and planning for migrants and refugees living on the Coast. Gold Coast region. Meetings situation-driven. Convened by Ethnic Communities Council Queensland. Seeks to address barriers for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background arising from poor access to interpreters and poor cultural competence of government and community organisations in Queensland. Coordinated by Queensland Government through Department of Communities to bring key multicultural representatives together to discuss key issues impacting on communities/ sector. By ministerial appointment. Queensland coverage. SGP of SGP-funded services in Queensland. Queensland coverage. Meetings every 2-3 months. (08) 8982 1035 Multicultural Services Team Centrelink, Area North Australia 0457 526 413 Norm Steere Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast norms@mccgc.com.au (07) 5527 8011 Fiona Caniglia www.qshelter.asn.au/branch/ashram (07) 3844-9166 Lisa Toh Multicultural Policy Officer QCOSS www.qcoss.org.au lisat@qcoss.org.au (07) 3004-6901 Abigail Mak MCMAC Secretariat Abigail.Mak@communities.qld.gov.au (07) 3239 0349 Alternating chairs/coordination Meetings held at MDA mailbox@mdabne.org.au (07) 3337 5444 4
SA SA Refugee Health Clinic Community Action for a Multicultural Society (CAMS) : Employment Action for Cultural Diversity (EACD) Multicultural Advisory Committee Centrelink Police Ethnic Advisory Group (PEAG) Settlement Action (SAN) IHSS Settlement Coordinating Committee Brings key agencies and health providers together to discuss and plan for health services for newly arrived humanitarian entrants. Logan area. Meets monthly. A network of 20 multicultural community workers based in 16 organisations across Queensland. Meets bi-annually and distributes a bi-annual newsletter with updates from members To identify key issues impacting on migrant and refugee job seekers and to advocate on these issues. Queensland coverage. Brings together service providers and other stakeholders including government representatives to highlight issues, successful initiatives and best practice models. Mostly Southern Queensland coverage. Looking at and developing strategies to respond to multicultural issues especially for new and emerging communities. Queensland coverage. To work with mainstream and refugee sector agencies keeping them informed about current issues. Adelaide Metro area. Quarterly meetings. Ensure widespread awareness of IHSS and the work being done. Primarily Adelaide Metro area. Bi-monthly meetings. SA SGP Workers Maintaining a collaborative effort among Adelaide s SGP service providers. SA coverage. Bi-monthly meetings. Katharine Knoetze ACCES Services katharinek@asi.org.au (07) 3412 8222 Lalita Lakshmi 3844 9166 ext 109 lalital@eccq.com.au www.camsqld.org.au Penny Neller MDA (07) 3337 5400 PennyN@mdabne.org.au Queenie Balaba Centrelink Queenie.qr.balaba@centrelink.gov.au Jim Bellos Queensland Police Bellos.Dimitrios@police.qld.gov.au (07) 3849 0324 Australian Refugee Association (ARA) reception@ausref.net (08) 8354 2951 SA Multicultural Settlement Services admin@mrcsa.com.au (08) 8217 9500 Lutheran Community Care enquiries@lccare.org.au (08) 8269 9300 (08) 6269 9333 5
SA SA Agencies Supporting Housing for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (ASHRA) Youth Settlement Action (YSAN) Meets regularly to identify and report on issues, debrief, network and provide collegial support to those working with new arrivals in all aspects of the settlement process. SA coverage. Bi-monthly meetings alternating with Red Cross (SA) To increase participation and collaboration across the sector in the development of coordinated advocacy and action to advance the needs and interests of refugee and multicultural youth. SA coverage. Bi-monthly meetings. SA Red Cross Assisting migrants and refugees into the community through Inverbrackie meetings Meetings Bi-monthly TAS TAS 63 Service Providers 62 Service Providers of Northern Tasmanian service providers working with migrant and refugee communities. Quarterly. of Southern Tasmanian service providers working with migrant and refugee communities. Quarterly. VIC SGP/IHSS Forum of IHSS and SGP-funded services. Theme-based forums planned by network members to discuss issues and share effective strategies and approaches to addressing key settlement concerns. Victoria coverage. Bi-annual meetings VIC NASA Vic Information sharing, policy response planning, and advocacy among NGO/charity agencies providing support to asylum seekers in the Victorian community. Victoria coverage. Monthly meetings. Gary Wilson Shelter SA sheltersa@sheltersa.asn.au (08) 8223 4077 Evan Babister Multicultural Youth SA evan@mysa.com.au (08) 8212 0085 Luci Lovelock Team Leader, Migration Support Programs llovelock@redcross.org.au (08) 8100 4606 Karin Lê Migrant Resource Centre (N. TAS) karin.le@mrcltn.org.au (03) 6332 2215 Emma Mathieson Migrant Resource Centre (S. TAS) emathieson@mrchobart.org.au (03) 6221 0999 Ramesh Kumar AMES Settlement kumarr@ames.net.au 13 26 37 Rebecca Eckard (RCOA) chair Alt: Chanelle Burns (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, ASRC) research@refugeecouncil.org.au chanelle.b@asrc.org.au 6
VIC VIC VIC VIC WA WA Statewide Multicultural Youth Issues Local Settlement Planning Committees Victorian Local Government Multicultural Issues (VLGMIN) Refugee Minor Program Advisory Group Multicultural Youth Advocacy of Western Australia (MYAN) Humanitarian Entrant Interagency (HEIN) Regular theme-based forum for people working with young people of diverse backgrounds to meet and share knowledge and experience. Victoria coverage. Three per year. s of government and non-government agencies supporting refugee and migrant settlement by local government area. Professional interest group of local government staff responsible for multicultural services and policy development. Invites external agencies for information sharing. Meets bi-monthly. Information sharing among DIAC, state-based agencies, AFP, settlement agencies and NGOs, with themed presentations on key programs or issues. Victoria coverage. Quarterly meetings. Information, networking and Advocacy-based group consisting of government and non-government agencies. Focus on humanitarian/ migrant youth & family issues, education. Shares strong links with Ethnic Youth Advocate group. Monthly meetings occur at Commissioner for Children & Young People s office. Information/ networking group for broader services within sector beyond youth. Centre for Multicultural Youth info@cmy.net.au (03) 9340 3700 See list of Victorian LSPCs by geographical region in table below. Eugenia Grammatikakis (Chairperson) City of Monash Secretary (mail to): mberisic@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au Diana Orlando Department of Human Services diana.orlando@dhs.vic.gov.au Liza Beinhart - Chair liza.beinart@savethechildren.org.au Joel Richards - MYAN Australia state rep. Joel.richards@asetts.org.au Meski Ashagrie ASeTTS Meski.ashagrie@asetts.org.au AUS National Settlement Policy The National Settlement Policy is a joint initiative of RCOA and the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) to enable members to participate in planning joint advocacy on settlement issues. National coverage. Quarterly teleconferences. RCOA info@refugeecouncil.org.au (02) 9211 9333 SCOA eo@scoa.org.au (02) 8065 5225 7
AUS Asylum Policy Enables RCOA members to participate in planning joint advocacy on asylum policy issues. National coverage. Bi-monthly teleconferences. AUS International Policy Enables RCOA members to participate in planning joint advocacy on international refugee policy issues. Coordinates Australian NGO involvement in major international meetings with UNHCR. National coverage. Meets 6-7 times a year. AUS AUS AUS Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) Multicultural Youth Advocacy (MYAN) Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC) of Australia s eight specialist rehabilitation agencies that work with survivors of torture and trauma who come from overseas. The Multicultural Youth Advocacy (Australia), the MYAN, is a national policy and advocacy body that represents the rights and interests of migrant and newly arrived young people. MYAN has member organisations in each state and territory. Provides advice to the Government on matters relating to refugee and humanitarian settlement. Council members are appointed by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on the basis of their individual experience, expertise and commitment to settlement issues, in particular relating to humanitarian entrants. National coverage. Meets 3-4 times a year RCOA info@refugeecouncil.org.au (02) 9211 9333 RCOA info@refugeecouncil.org.au (02) 9211 9333 FASSTT admin@fasstt.org.au (03) 9389 8932 Nadine Liddy MYAN National Coordinator nliddy@cmy.net.au (03) 9340 3700 www.myan.org.au Chair: Bruce Baird RRAC Secretariat, DIAC rracsecretariat@immi.gov.au (02) 6198 7280 TO PROVIDE UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION OR TO ADD AN INTERAGENCY NETWORK TO THIS LIST, CONTACT THE REFUGEE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA ON INFO@REFUGEECOUNCIL.ORG.AU 8
VICTORIAN LOCAL SETTLEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEES Area Covered Committee Name Convenor Bass Coast Bass Coast Settlement Planning Committee c/o Bass Coast Shire Council PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995 Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Central Goldfields, Macedon Ranges Brimbank, Melton Casey, Cardinia Mount Alexander Ballarat, Pyrenees, Hepburn, Moorabool, Golden Plains Latrobe Colac-Otway, Corangamite Manningham, Monash Boroondara, Whitehorse, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges, Knox Geelong, Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Greater Shepparton, Moira Hume Maribynong, Moonee Valley, Bendigo Local Settlement Planning Committee c/o LCMS 120 McCrae St, Bendigo VIC 3550 P.O. Box 2323, Bendigo, Vic, 3550 Brimbank Melton Settlement Advisory Committee c/o Migrant Resource Centre North West Region 45 Main Road West, St Albans VIC 3021 Casey-Cardinia Migrant Settlement Committee c/o South Eastern Migrant Resource Centre Casey Outreach Service 60 Webb Street, Narre Warren VIC 3805 Castlemaine Settlement Planning Committee c/o Bendigo Regional Ethnic Communities Council PO Box 2323, Bendigo Mail Centre VIC 3554 Central Highlands Regional Settlement Planning Committee PO Box 198 Bakery Hill VIC 3354 Latrobe Settlement Committee c/o 28 Comans Way, Moe VIC 3825 Colac Settlement Planning Committee c/o Otway Community College 6 Murray St, Colac 3250 Eastern Region Migrant Settlement Committee c/o AMES 60 Douglas Street, Noble Park VIC 3174 Geelong Settlement Planning Committee c/o Diversitat 153 Pakington Street, Geelong West VIC 3218 Goulburn Valley Integrated Settlement Planning Committee c/o Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, Inc. PO Box 585, Shepparton VIC 3630 Hume Workers' on Multicultural Issues c/o Migrant Resource Centre North West Region Cnr Blair and Belfast Streets, Broadmeadows VIC 3048 Inner Western Region Settlement Advisory Committee c/o Migrant Resource Centre North West Region 45 Main Road West, St.Albans VIC 3021 Berni Murphy b.murphy@basscoast.vic.gov.au Ms Cora Fuentes-Mahnic c.fuentes-mahnic@lcms.org.au Ms Fodia Andrews fodia_a@mrcnorthwest.org.au Mr Bill Collopy billc@sermrc.org.au Mr Tim Watson t.watson@mountalexander.vic.gov.au Ms Effie Litras litras.effie.e@edumail.vic.gov.au Ms Lisa Price lprice@latrobe.vic.gov.au Ms Sue Buley sbuley@occ.vic.edu.au Mr Sam Navarria navarria@ames.net.au Mr Tony Jenkins tony.jenkins@diversitat.org.au Mr Chris Hazelman ecmanager@mcmedia.com.au Ms Baylet Danielle baylet@mrcnorthwest.org.au Ms Erin Hughes erin@mrcnorthwest.org.au 9
Dandenong, Greater Dandenong Mildura Moreland Banyule, Darebin, Whittlesea, Nillumbik Stonnington, Kingston, Glen Eira, Frankston, City of Melbourne, Monash, Port Phillip, Bayside Swan Hill Warrnambool, Moyne, Glenelg Migrant Settlement Committee of Greater Dandenong c/o South Eastern Migrant Resource Centre Level 1, 314 Thomas Street, Dandenong, VIC 3175 Mildura Integrated Settlement Planning Committee c/o Sunraysia Ethnic Communities Council PO Box 1213, Mildura VIC 3502 Moreland Multicultural and Settlement Services c/o Moreland City Council Locked Bag 10, Moreland VIC 3058 North Eastern Region Settlement Issues c/o Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre 251 High Street, Preston, VIC 3058 Southern Region Settlement Planning Committee c/o New Hope Migrant and Refugee Centre 18 Chester Street, Oakleigh VIC 3166 Swan Hill Employment and Settlement Services c/o Swan Hill Rural City Council PO Box 488, Swan Hill, VIC 3585 Warrnambool Migrant Resettlement Advisory Committee c/o Warrnambool City Council PO Box 198, Warrnambool, VIC 3280 Whittlesea, Nillumbik Whittlesea Multicultural Issues c/o Whittlesea Community Connections Shop 111 Epping Plaza, Epping VIC 3076 Yarra Wyndham Yarra Settlement Forum c/o North Yarra Community Health 365 Hoddle Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Wyndham Community and Education Centre Inc. 3 Princes Hwy, Werribee, VIC 3030 Ms Jenny Semple jennys@sermrc.org.au Mr Peter Byrne c/o colleent@migrantservices.com.au pdbyrne@iinet.net.au Ms Nelum Buddhadasa nbuddhadasa@moreland.vic.gov.au Ms Carlene Lamanna community@spectrumvic.org.au (03) 9496 020 May Farah mayf@newhope.asn.au Ms Julie Kean keanjm@swtafe.vic.edu.au Ms Emma Antonetti eantonetti@whittleseacommunityconnections.org.au Ms Melinie Ridge Melinie.Ridge@nych.org.au Ms Jennie Barrera jennieb@werribeecc.net enquiries@weribeecc.net Rural Metropolitan Regional Humanitarian Pilot 10