Consultation period extended

The community consultation period for this Queensland Government review has been extended to 31 May 2010. More than 20 consultations are now planned for across the state. See www.multicultural.qld.gov.au for more information.

The following workshops are scheduled for the next two weeks:

• Mackay – Friday, 26 February
• Gold Coast – Thursday, 4 March

A study designed to identify and explore the sexual health knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of the 16 - 24 year old members of the Queensland Sudanese communities is being conducted by Griffith University in partnership with Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland and the Queensland Sudanese communities. Findings from this study will provide valuable information to guide development of appropriate sexual health education, interventions and services for the young members of this community.

The full title of the study is: Exploring the sexual health knowledge, attitude and beliefs of the Sudanese communities of Queensland: What are the young community members thinking and doing?

Searching for their own identity in a changing world, young Muslims in Australia face a plethora of backyard imams and internet sheikhs. Many are turning to simplistic and conservative interpretations. The emphasis can be on small rituals rather than the complex and subtle spirituality of Islam. It's a phenomenon known in many religions.

To listen to or read the transcript of this episode of ABC Radio National's Background Briefing visit http://is.gd/7c7z9.

Courtesy of Othila's Young Women's Housing and Support service, please find attached a flyer for some housing workshops they will be holding for young women from African cultural backgrounds, 12-25 years. Topics will include:

• Types of Housing
• Rights and Responsibilities of Lessors and Tenants
• Living skills necessary for maintaining a tenancy
• Living with other people
• How to get your bond back.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the opening of an art exhibition at Waterfront Place in Brisbane City.  The exhibit is called "Pacific Storms" and showcases contemporary works by Pacific Islander artists, and a number of Australians of Pacific Islander heritage.  The exhibition was opened by rugby league legend Mel Meninga, who spoke proudly of his own cultural roots in Vanuatu.

The exhibit is free, and open weekdays until January 2, at Waterfront Place Foyer, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane City.  Don't miss out!  More information is available at www.beyondpacificart.com.au.

Coinciding with and responding to the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial at QAG and QGOMA, in Brisbane, Queensland, the other APT features a range of artworks from Australian-based artists of various cultural backgrounds and artforms: Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Australian South Sea Islander, Fijian, Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino and more.

The exhibit is available online here: http://www.cybertribe.culture2.org/theotherapt and is definitely worth a look!

From next year, four New South Wales primary schools will take part in the State's new Bilingual Schools Program, under which a range of subject areas will be conducted in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese or Indonesian.

Read more at http://is.gd/5ayys.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) in Victoria has released new information sheets for young people involved in sport.

The CMY has released two sets of 'sports tips' to help young people involved in sport. The first gives guidelines for resolving conflict on the sports field. The second is aimed at supporting migrants and refugees who are, or want to be, involved in local sport.

You can find the two information sheets at http://www.cmy.net.au/CMYeNews#sportstipsheets.

In this article at Inside Story Savitri Taylor and Brynna Rafferty-Brown argue that supporters of human rights for asylum seekers have the choice of down-playing the concerns raised by the opposition or of acknowledging the dilemmas and reminding the Australian public that there is a price to be paid if we wish to remain a liberal society.

Read the full article online at http://inside.org.au/liberalisms-asylum-dilemma/.

Source: Inside Story

IN THE MEDIA coverage of the debate about asylum seekers over the past week, the assumption behind the Coalition’s claim that Australia has become a “soft touch” has gone largely unchallenged. Is it true – as the Coalition seems to be arguing – that significantly more asylum claims are being made in Australia than in comparable countries?

In this article published by the National Times, Bruce Haigh argues that the Tamils are arriving in Australia because no one will ease their plight.

Kevin Rudd has prevented 255 Sri Lankan asylum seekers coming to Australia from Indonesia. The asylum seekers were already at sea when the Prime Minister put in an urgent call to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono requesting that the Indonesian Navy intercept the vessel and escort it back to Indonesia.

A partnership between the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Institute for Cultural Diversity has led to the development of a new E-Forum on human rights, which is located on the website www.culturaldiversity.net.au.

From ABC Online News

A Queensland Indigenous leader says being sent to jail has become a badge of honour among many young Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Indigenous people from all over Queensland are meeting in Brisbane to discuss ways to fight the high rate of reoffending within their community. They have been told by the Queensland Corrective Services Department that the number of Indigenous people in the state's jails has risen to almost a third of the total prison population.

Sam Watson, an activist and community leader, says it is a worrying trend. "Looking at particular communities across Queensland, it almost seems to be some sort of rite of passage for young people to commit offences, go into custody and then from there go into jail," he said. "For a number of years now Hollywood has been presenting this sort of image of the glorified gangster who must make his bones by killing someone.

After four years in immigration detention, Masoud was granted a temporary visa. Then he was hit with a $264,000 bill for his "accommodation" in Baxter Detention Centre. There are hundreds more like him - experiencing unimaginable trauma only to then be slugged with an enormous bill for the privilege.

Media release from the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, the Hon Kate Ellis MP

The Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, today called on the Senate to support the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities and Other Measures) Bill 2009, which will be debated in the Senate this week.

The Bill proposes a sustainable approach to restoring vital student services on campus that will benefit both domestic and international students.

“This is a balanced, practical solution to rebuild important student support services and amenities,” Ms Ellis said.

One World Many Faces - Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival 2009 - Queens Park, 10am-4pm, Sunday 9th August

Behold the colours, taste the flavours and listen to the voices of our community. Come and celebrate all the different cultures & languages that exist within our region! Diversity is one of the great strengths of our community culturally, socially and economically.

The Festival committee is proud to announce that all foodies can be catered for with over twenty food stalls including Vegetarian, Halal, Vegan and Gluten free food will be available as well as chilli chocolate and lots of tastes from our local communities.

Full story from The Australian Online .

ABORIGINES have won a 13-year battle in the Federal Court for native title rights over a massive swathe of Cape York Peninsula that includes Rio Tinto's giant bauxite mine in Weipa.

The court ruled yesterday that the Wik and Wik Way people have traditional rights -- to camp, hunt, gather, fish, protect sacred sites, conduct traditional ceremonies and "erect shelters and other structures" -- over 1150sqkm of their traditional land and waters on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula.

Rio must pay compensation to the Wik and Wik Way people in return for the right to lay gas pipelines to service its Weipa mine.

Brisbane City Council has a number of grants available.  Grants fall under the following programs:

Community Grants Program
Lord Mayor's Sustainability Grants
Environmental Grants Program
Wildlife Carer Funding Program
Cultivating Community Gardens Grant Program

The ‘It's Not All Black and White: An African Story' aims to help Brisbane people begin to get to know and support our new residents from Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan by welcoming and including African peoples in the life of Brisbane.

Reclink and Communify are hosting FREE weekly League Tag every Wednesday from 10am to 12 noon at New Farm Park.  See this flyer for details!

Story from The Australian Online

THE axing of nutrition programs in schools in remote Aboriginal communities has led to heavy criticism of the West Australian government and the prediction by one principal that school attendance will drop.

The state Health Department was unable to reveal yesterday how many schools were set to lose their nutrition programs, but a health official has told one affected school that no annual contracts funded under the four-year Australian Better Health Initiative program will be renewed in this financial year.

School nutrition programs are seen as critical to school attendance in many remote Aboriginal communities.

The axing of the programs is part of a larger series of cuts by the West Australian government to preventive health programs funded under the Australian Better Health Initiative.

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, Warren Snowdon, today encouraged organisations with expertise in smoking prevention and quitting smoking to join a $10.7 million initiative to reduce smoking amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Mr Snowdon said Indigenous rates of smoking have sat at 49 percent for a decade, and the $10.7 million will be spent on community-based projects that provide culturally-appropriate, effective anti-smoking messages and campaigns.

“This Government is committed to closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. Reducing Indigenous tobacco smoking is vital to achieving this health improvement,” Mr Snowdon said.

Nearly 27,000 people are homeless in Qld, according to a report released last week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

“Qld holds an unenviable position – having the 2^nd highest rate of homelessness (behind the NT),” said QCOSS President Karyn Walsh.“The stats show the problem is critical across the board – a 60% increase in people sleeping rough in inner-city Brisbane, a doubling of homelessness in Mackay, and a much higher than average rate of homelessness in older people,” says Karyn.The Qld Council of Social Service (QCOSS) welcomes the recently announcement of $200m by the Commonwealth and State Governments to reduce homelessness in Queensland.  This comes on top of the Queensland Government’s earlier investment which was introduced in 2006. 

Story from ABC News Online

Western Australia's Deaths in Custody Watch Committee is calling for both the State and Federal Governments to hold a public inquiry into racism in the justice system.

Chairman Marc Newhouse says committee members believe the recommendations of a coronial report into the death of Warburton elder Mr Ward do not go far enough.

Mr Ward died from heatstroke in January last year after being driven almost 600 kilometres in a prison van in 42-degree Celsius heat without air conditioning.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Human Rights Medals and Awards.  

"Since 1987, the Australian Human Rights Commission has recognised the often extraordinary contribution to Australian society of a wide variety of men and women committed to issues of human rights, social justice and equality through the annual Human Rights Medals and Awards.

Each year we receive outstanding nominations for the Human Rights Medals, Young People’s Human Rights Medal and seven award categories: Law, Community (Organisation), Community (Individual), Literature (non-fiction), Print Media, Television and Radio."

 Are you aged between 12 and 26 years with a great idea for an art project? Do you and your friends want to hire a venue for your next gig? Or to you want to print flyers to promote your upcoming exhibition but don’t know how to pay for it?

A recent media release from Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett's office states that regional art projects will receive a boost, with $550,000 available for 60 new projects, in a bid to support home-grown arts activities in regional Australia.  

To read the media release, click here, or for more information on the funding program, go to www.regionalarts.com.au. 

From ABC News Online :

A national report on Indigenous social and economic trends has shown a worsening in the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians on child abuse.

The report titled Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage has been released by Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Darwin.

The Productivity Commission's report shows Indigenous children are six times as likely to be abused than non-Indigenous children. Since 2003, this gap has widened from being four times as likely.

The Kuuku Ya'u people have won a native title claim over a remote area on Queensland's Cape York Peninsula. Go here to watch the video at ABC Online.

From ABC Online

The organisation established to oversee the Cape York welfare trials in far north Queensland says it is pleased with changes in Indigenous communities.

The four-year trial started a year ago in the communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hopevale and Mossman Gorge. The Family Responsibilities Commission refers people to support services, or in some cases, manages welfare payments.

Registrar Tammy Sovenyhazi says while it is too early to declare the trials a success, there have been improvements in several areas.  "We are seeing a lot more people coming in voluntarily seeking income management," she said. "That is increasing every other week that we go to community members.

"So that's one measure of the trust in the commission and its ability to function - people feel they can come to the commission to seek voluntary income management."

From ABC Online

The Government says it will begin extensive community consultations today to improve services for refugee settlement.

The consultation process will run from today until mid-August and focuses on services first used by refugees, such as accommodation, health services and counselling.

Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, Laurie Ferguson, says Australia is already ranked in the world's top refugee resettlement countries.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans says there will be more unauthorised people coming to Australia because of regional wars.

Senator Evans says the interception of an asylum seeker boat off Christmas Island yesterday carrying 194 people was disappointing.

Story from ABC News Online:

A new report being released today has found Indigenous Australians are 13 times more likely to end up in jail than the rest of the population.

The Australian National Council on Drugs is urging the federal and state governments to drastically change the way Indigenous people are treated in the criminal justice system.

It says the system is failing to help Indigenous offenders with drug and alcohol problems.

The report found a clear link between drug and alcohol abuse and the over-representation of Indigenous people in jail.

Feature Story from ABC News Online:

It was in a Melbourne cinema one night that Hugh Evans' plan to nip the problem of extreme poverty in the bud came to him.

The idea behind Al Gore's successful film An Inconvenient Truth was simple, but so effective that it led to a revolution of sorts: people finally started talking about climate change on a global level.

And if it worked for climate change, 2004 Young Australian of the Year Evans thought that maybe, just maybe, it could help the 1.4 billion people living in poverty around the world.

This light-bulb moment led to the birth of the Global Poverty Project (GPP).

You are invited to an Information Session for African Communities about proposing relatives under the Special Humanitarian Program. There is a session in Brisbane and a session in Toowoomba.  Please see below for the Brisbane Invitation - contact Katie Williams (details below) for the Toowoomba invitation. There are limited spaces.  Please respond by 5 July if you are attending and include which session you would like to attend.  Please feel free to publicly display these invitations and to distribute them to others.  These sessions are presented by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.  Unfortunately, DIAC is NOT providing interpreters for these sessions.

Brisbane Invitation

Yours sincerely,

Katie Williams, Community Liaison Officer
Multicultural Affairs Section, Queensland
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Ph: (07) 3136 7660
Fax: (07) 3136 7675

A team of Indigenous cricketers is set to retrace the steps of the first Australian cricket team to tour England.

The side has assembled in Brisbane for four days of training at Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence, before flying to London on Saturday.

Cricket Australia's Neil Price says the Indigenous touring party of 2009 will play at many of the venues used on the first tour in 1868.

The Sudanese Community Association Inc of Queensland will be hosting a Sudanese Cultural Day showcasing the diverse cultures of the people of the Sudan.  All are welcome to attend!

When: Saturday 20th June, 1pm

Where: MaryMac Church Hall, 616 Ipswich Road, Annerley Qld.  

For more information, contact Machiw Chut Machiw on 3033 7633.

If you work with young people there is a great new website you should know about! 

livesmart.net.au has been launched!! It’s a new multilingual living skills website for young people and their workers. The website provides living skills info in 6 languages (Arabic, Amharic, Dinka, Swahili, Karen and English) and features an interactive ‘make your own budget’ tool. The website is a resource you can use in your work with young people as they learn about housing, managing mobile phone bills, getting legal advice and staying happy and healthy. Look out for recorded interviews with young people – they’ll be added to the site by the end of the month. Check out www.livesmart.net.au

Workshop open 9am – 3pm Mondays and Thursdays, June 15 – Sept 30 2009.  Under Community Hall, Bedford Park, Love Street, Spring Hill.

Participants have the opportunity to construct stringed, percussion and wind instruments.  Also, to play music together in small and large groups. No experience necessary.  Food Provided.

For further information contact: Charles Neville   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it     0439 767 159

Attacks against international students in Australia are disturbing and should sound alarm bells for the Australian community about the life threatening extremes to which racial prejudice can extend, Race Discrimination Commissioner Tom Calma said today.

Commissioner Calma said he was appalled by reports of the cowardly and violent acts that have been perpetrated, most recently, on international students from India.

“Racism is ugly and unacceptable in any form, but when it is takes the form of violence, it not only injures innocent individuals who have the right to feel safe in Australia, it also injures the nation’s international reputation,” Commissioner Calma said.

“I urge the Australian Government, the Opposition and minor parties to work diligently to develop a national action plan to combat racism. Anti-racism strategies are an investment, not an expense,” Commissioner Calma said.

Young refugees in the area are finding a way to connect with the community through sport at Yeronga Memorial Park.
What grew out of a small basketball competition sponsored by QPASTT at Yeronga is now a free club of over 80 young and aspiring basketball players from all over Brisbane. 

Under the leadership of Yeronga resident David Yohan's PAWES Association, the group now supports two competitive teams, both of which are presently undefeated in the men’s under 18 and under 20 divisions.
PAWES founder David Yohan has experienced first hand the challenges of migrating to Australia as a refugee arriving with his Mum in the 1990's.  David volunteers to coach young refugees 6 days a week, and said that he has noticed a significant change in the attitude of the kids who participate. 

A new resource using real life stories to teach English and human rights awareness has been launched in Canberra today by Federal Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland.

President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Cathy Branson QC, said It’s Your Right! has been developed by the Commission in partnership with Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) Victoria as a teaching resource about human rights and responsibilities in Australia for adult learners.

“It’s Your Right! is a resource tailored to the needs of people who are newly arrived in Australia and who are learning English as a second language (ESL). “Newcomers to Australia often experience unfairness or discrimination in their daily lives, either at work or in seeking accommodation, for example, but are not aware of where they can go for help.  It’s Your Right! teaches English and at the same time  raises awareness of human rights and equal opportunity laws in Australia that protect people against unfair treatment and discrimination,” Ms Branson said.

We are pleased to open to the 2009 ERACISM! Youth Multimedia Competition to everyone aged 12-25.  Please see this flyer for more information, and use this Entry Form to enter!  We look forward to receiving your artworks.  Please spread the word!  

At the 2009 YPP, over a hundred young people will take over the chambers of Parliament House for three dynamic days of discussion and debate about the challenges of conflict and the possibilities of peace.

A free event, students are asked to outline their thoughts on one of three topics:

1) Global Social Justice

2) Militarism

3) Community Peace and Harmony.

The Medical Journal of Australia has published a study suggesting that Indigenous Australians who are involved in caring for the land are more likely to be healthy and happy. 

To read about this study, and its implications for future Indigenous policy development, go to ABC Science .  

From ABC Online :

Indigenous leaders of the future from across Queensland have gathered in Brisbane for a forum to hone their skills as part of National Reconciliation Week.

The group of 20 young Indigenous men and women are spending four days learning leadership skills and working with leaders from business and government.

One of the participants, Djuran Johnson from Mornington Island, says young Indigenous people need a voice.

"I believe at the moment there's not much of a voice for the young community for the Aboriginal people in remote communities and on the outskirts of cities," he said.

"I really hope we all stick together on this one and we really support each other."

From ABC Online :

A new survey shows most Australians feel they do not know anywhere near enough about Indigenous culture.

The research, commissioned by Tourism NT, indicates 80 per cent of adults admit they know little or nothing about Indigenous culture.

It also reveals that almost all parents with children under 18 want their children to learn about it.

Story from ABC online :

Former Telstra boss Sol Trujillo has taken a parting shot at Australia after his controversial reign at the telco, labelling the country racist and backward.

The American executive's four years as Telstra CEO, which earned him more than $30 million, were marked by his clashes with the Federal Government.

Mr Trujillo quietly slipped out of Australia a week-and-a-half ago, more than a month ahead of his expected June 30 exit date.

In February, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd selected just one word to respond to news that Mr Trujillo was leaving Telstra and Australia: Adios.

Recently, the ERACISM! team interviewed a number of Brisbane students, asking them for their thoughts on racism, racial stereotypes, and possible solutions to the problem of racism in Australia.  See below for their answers, or visit www.eracism.com.au

Hello Everyone,
 
We have received an overwhelming response to the Financial Management Workshop on 6th of June 09 and it is now full. But due to the popularity and demand of this workshop, we have organised a repeat session on the 11th of July, Saturday, from 10 am to 1 pm at ECCQ House, West End.
Seats are limited and filling up very quickly. Book your seat at the earliest!
Please see the attached flyer for full details and forward it through to your network.

Kind regards, 

Shilpa BanerjeeActing Project Officer
Strengthening Ethnic Community Associations (SECA) Project
Ethnic Communities Council of  Queensland
253 Boundary Street, West End, Brisbane
Phone: 07 3844 9166       Fax: 07 3846 4453
www.eccq.com.au

The following story appeared in the Courier Mail, 11 May 2009

QUEENSLAND police have been ordered to crack down on young Pacific Islanders gathering at the family friendly South Bank Parklands.

A police briefing note obtained by The Courier-Mail states Oxley District police and Pacific Islander elders are discussing "alternative activities" for the youths away from the parklands.

Police denied the young Pacific Islanders posed any specific threat to public safety but said it was not unusual for police to target any large gathering of young people, regardless of race.