Community Futures Project - Training in Cross-cultural Communication

The emphasis of this training program will be to develop the cultural awareness required for effective communication and cooperation with persons of diverse cultures, and the application of specialist workplace communication techniques to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and clients, based on respect and trust.

First training course will start 02 Feb 08 and run for five Saturdays. Participants will be paid a small fee to provide feedback on the course.

NMIT will design and deliver the course. They have an impressive understanding of the scope of the training and its potential for further study and employment pathways. Barbara Reeckman will train the first course.

We are now recruiting for four courses to be run Mar-Apr, Jun-July, Aug-Sept, Oct-Nov. Participants will need to attend 35 hours of class, plus a 20 hour community placement. Please let me know if you are interested to have trainees working on cross-cultural communication within your organization, and certainly pass on this info to potential participants. Students will be expected to have good spoken English, with less emphasis placed on literacy skills.

Training Program Outline
Program content will be accredited against two units from the Community Services Training Package with an integrated delivery. Program participants who successfully complete the program will achieve the competency (and a Statement of Attainment) in CHCCS405A Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers, and will cover elements from CHCCOM3C Utilise specialist communication skills to build strong relationships.

Further Study Opportunities
Program participants who wish to pursue further study may receive credit in related courses including:
Certificate III in Children's Services
Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs Work
Certificate IV in Disability Work
Certificate IV in Mental Health Work (Non-clinical)
Certificate IV in Youth Work
Certificate IV in Youth Work (Juvenile Justice)
Certificate IV in Community Services (Lifestyle and Leisure)
Certificate IV in Community Services (Protective Care)
Diploma of Out of School Hours Care

Training: Saturdays, possibly one course to run in the evening, one during the week, depending on availability of trainers
Time: 9am to 4pm for five weeks
Location: Neighbourhood Justice Centre, 241 Wellington Street Collingwood.

Student Support
Childcare and lunch will be provided at Collingwood Neighborhood House.
For more information please phone Kerry Wise on 0447 338 033.

CHILL OUT

Yarra Youth Services and Yarra Leisure are pleased to announce the return of 'CHILL OUT'. 'Chill Out' is a leisure program for youth aged between 12 and 17 years old.

The aim of 'Chill out' is to introduce young people to Yarra Leisure, to encourage physical activity in young people and for participants to have a positive experience using the leisure centres and become familiar with the environment and behaviour expectations.

This year, Chill out will be held Wednesday afternoons from 4pm - 6pm at Fitzroy Swimming Pool, commencing 6th February for the duration of term 1. Activities will include use of the pool, group fitness space and smith's reserve (park next door). The best news is...that it's FREE.

For more information please contact Chrissy Billings or Kathy Peterson on 9205 5756 or email billingc@yarracity.vic.gov.au, petersok@yarracity.vic.gov.au

3ZZZ seeks Swahili speaking trainees

Radio 3ZZZ 92.3 FM broadcasts across Melbourne every day, from its Fitzroy located studios.

Triple Zed, a not-for-profit community station, currently has programs in over 60 languages, including Dinka and several other languages widely spoken in Africa:

• Arabic Youth – Friday 12-1pm
• Sudanese-Arabic – Friday 12-1pm
• Ghanaian – Monday 6-7am
• Harari – Tuesday 3-4pm & Wednesday 9-10am
• Oromo – Sunday 2-3 pm
  
• Somali – Friday 10-11 pm

The radio station is seeking expressions of interest from contributors and potential trainees interested in being part of a new 3ZZZ Swahili program.

For more information contact Warren Crosbie via email at admin@3zzz.com.au or leave a message for Warren at 3ZZZ telephone 03 9415 1928.

3ZZZ expects to trial Swahili broadcasting Wednesday mornings, 7-8 am, March through to June, 2008. Training is provided free as part of the 'Starting Out' radio training project sponsored by the City of Yarra.

The 'Starting Out' project commenced in 2006, and specifically aims to train former refugees and others from so called 'emerging communities'.

Current trainees include Swahili speakers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. Mr Kinyango, chair of the African Great Lakes Association in Melbourne, has also expressed interest in learning about how to make local community radio.

Several trainees from various parts of Africa have been broadcasting in English on 3ZZZ 92.3FM attempting to cover issues important to African-Australian women in Melbourne.

Participation in Starting Out radio training at 3ZZZ is encouraged from anyone with an interest in immigration, settlement, and the welfare former refugees living in Australia. Training is free.

Warren Crosbie
BA (media studies) RMIT

Information for Energy Hardship Training Program

North Yarra Community Health is hosting this free Energy Hardship Training which is presented by Community Information Victoria Inc on behalf of Consumer Affairs Victoria.
It is relevant for all emergency relief workers or volunteers whose role brings them in contact with people having difficulties paying their gas or electricity bills. This is likely to become a growing issue in the future with energy costs predicted to increase significantly in response to carbon pricing initiatives.

It will be held on March 7th 2008 from 10am – 1pm at NYCH, Fitzroy Centre, 75 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
Topics covered will include:
· The rights and responsibilities of customers and retailers
· Understanding energy bills and ways of making payment
· Assisting people who have payment difficulties
· Useful information about concessions, grants, loans, rebates, and other available support
· Disconnection
· Complaints and useful contacts

See Below

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

FREE Energy Hardship Training Program for Emergency Relief Community Workers and Volunteers

Presented by Community Information Victoria Inc (CIVic) on behalf of Consumer Affairs Victoria

Community agencies offering emergency relief services now have access to FREE information and training programs as part of the Government’s A Fairer Victoria policy and in response to the 2005 Inquiry into Financial Hardship of Energy Consumers.

As it is now mandatory for energy retailers to have hardship policies for their domestic customers in Victoria, Community Information Victoria Inc (CIVic), on behalf of Consumer Affairs Victoria, is conducting free training programs in metropolitan and regional Victoria between February and June 2008 for staff and volunteers who work with clients facing energy hardship.

This 3-hour training session is relevant for emergency relief workers whose role brings them in contact with people having difficulties paying their gas or electricity bills.

Topics covered include:

• The rights and responsibilities of customers and retailers

• Understanding energy bills and ways of making payment

• Assisting people who have payment difficulties

• Useful information about concessions, grants, loans, rebates, and other available support

• Disconnection

• Complaints and useful contacts

Participants in the training sessions will receive a practical workbook. A statement of participation will be issued to those attending training and a light lunch will be provided.

How to register

Registration is required and can be made by completing the attached registration form and sending to: CIVic, Suite 412, Level 4, 343 Little Collins St, Melbourne, 3000

OR

Fax to: 03 96722099

OR

Email: civic@civ.org.au one week prior to the relevant training session

For further information about the upcoming training session times log on to www.civ.org.au

Contacts: Helen Besley on 03 96722002, email helen@civ.org.au or

Robyn Hosking on 03 9672 2004, email robyn@civ.org.au

Foundation House Training Modules

February to June 2008

Brunswick Venue : Foundation House, 6 Gardiner St, Brunswick

Noble Park Venue : Paddy O'Donaghue Centre, 18 –32 Buckley St, Noble Park

For more details and to register go to http://www.foundationhouse.com.au/professional.php and download the Training Calendar and Registration Form

1. PREREQUISITE COURSE: Introduction to Working with Refugees

Brunswick: Thursday February 21^st Noble Park: Friday April 18^th

Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $132 Light lunch included

Suitable for anyone working with refugee survivors of torture and trauma, and a prerequisite for those wishing to do a specialist course

For more details and to register go to http://www.foundationhouse.com.au/professional.php and download the Training Calendar and Registration Form

2. Working within Your Refugee Community

Prerequisite: none

One day course at Noble Park

Friday 27^th June

9.30pm – 4.30pm $132 for organisations; some free places available for individuals. Light lunch included.

3. Course for 'Incidental' Counsellors: Skills for Working with Refugee Survivors

Prerequisite: Introduction or equivalent.

Two-day course at Brunswick

Thursdays 6^th and 13^th March

Time: 9.30am–4.30pm

Cost: $198 Light lunch included both days

Suitable for people who are currently working with refugees in settlement, youth work, housing, employment, welfare, health, community services, or education.

4. Course for Counsellors: Skills for Working with Refugee Survivors in Counselling Practice

Prerequisite: Introduction or equivalent

Two-day course at Noble Park

Fridays 9^th and 16^th May

Time: 9.30 – 4.30pm

Cost: $198 Light lunch included both days

Suitable for people who are currently working with refugee survivors in a counselling capacity including psychologists, social workers, counsellors, domestic violence and drug and alcohol workers.

For more details and to register

go to http://www.foundationhouse.com.au/professional.php and download the Training Calendar and Registration Form

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