Yarra Settlement Forum: May 2008

Yarra Settlement Forum Blog

The Yarra Settlement Forum (YSF) was established in or around 1999 as a sub-committee of the The Yarra Ethnic Communities' Council (YECC). With the folding of the YECC in 2003 the YSF has continued as a network providing a forum for settlement providers in the CoY. Since 2001, through the Refugee and Asylum Seeker project, which was funded by CoY, the YSF has been under the shared leadership of North Yarra Community Health (NYCH) and CoY.

Purpose of the blog:

The Yarra Settlement Forum blog is intended to be the means by which members of the Yarra Settlement Forum communicate electronically, in addition to email. Anything that is related to the YSF or which members would like to inform others about, is material that is relevant to the blog.

However, it some main purposes including:

Building relationships between YSF members through enabling more frequent communication.

Notifying and keeping members informed of what is happening in the community, practically when it comes to settlement related issues.

Being a means to reflect and react about the effectiveness of the Yarra Settlement Forum, and allowing members to report back to the Forum about changes they would like to see to the YSF to make it more effective.

Minimum commitment expected:

Posting on the blog does not require a significant time commitment. However, as the blog is intended to be a collection of consistent and useful information, it is important that members see their participation in the blog as a part of their commitments to the Yarra Settlement Forum. It is expected that if members have any information that they would like to share with other members of the YSF, they do so via the blog.

It is also expected that members make every effort to make sure they are able to use the blog including liaising with their employer about the need to access the blog site, and undoing training on how to blog.

Code of Conduct:

To maintain trust and ensure the blog is used in an appropriate manner, it is important to:

Respect individuals, community members and/or service providers.

Never identify individuals, community members or services in a defamatory manner.

Make it clear in opinion pieces that the views expressed are yours alone and do not necessarily represent the views of your employer or the rest of the YSF.

Keep private issues and topics private, since discussing private issues can jeopardize personal and work relationships.

Disclose conflicts of interest.

Acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly.

Reply to emails and comments when appropriate, and do so promptly.

Consequences if policy is breached:

If you have any questions about what is appropriate to include in your blog it is important that you ask the administrator – Melinie Ridge, co-facilitator of the Yarra Settlement Forum as any breach of the policy will result in your blog being deleted an/or your membership to the blog being revoked.

How to post to the Yarra Settlement Forum Blog
Step 1:
Open internet browser and go to: www.yarrasettlementforum.blogspot.com
Step 2:
Right click on the sign in link (top right hand corner) and click open in a new window.
Step 3:
Sign in using your newly created Google account (unfortunately this is necessary).
Step 4:
Once you've logged into Blogger you'll see your Dashboard, showing your list of blogs. Click the blue “new post” icon to create a new post.
Step 5:
Next, you’ll see the page for creating a new post. Start by giving your post a title (optional), then enter the post itself
Step 6:
When you're done, click the "Preview" link to make sure it's ready to go
Step 7:
Once you're satisfied with your post, click the "Publish" button. This will publish your new post

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Refugee Week Celebrations - Click on image to enlarge

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Take Action! Lobby the UN to Provide Humanitarian Relief in Sudan Now

Tuesday 27th May, 2008 - Fitzroy Learning Network supported the Melbourne based Sudanese community group, Dinka Ngok Abyei Community Association of Australia, who have lost many family and friends in the past weeks from Abyei, the oil rich point of contention between Northern and Southern Sudan.

They are outraged and shocked at the lack of response from UN forces regarding the latest series of violent attacks in Abyei. Dressed in black, to symbolise their family's deaths over oil, they took to the city streets en-masse and presented to parliament their requests to demilitarise the area and deploy UN forces into Abyei immediately.

"STOP EXTREMIST GOVT. KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE IN SUDANPROVIDE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF NOW

This week we have lost sons & daughters, sisters & brothers, mothers & fathers, husbands & wives. Our families"

Please see http://www.fitzroylearningnetwork.org.au/sudan.html for more details.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Yarra Settlement Forum 27/05/08

Agenda for 27 May 2008

Fitzroy Town Hall - Cnr of Napier and Moore Street ( Enter from Moore st)

11-1pm

1. Wlcome and Apologies

2. Acknowledgement of Counrty

3. New Business
Guest Speaker Mary Danckert - Youth Support and Development Manager
Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues www.cmyi.net.au

****lunch****

4.Business
a. Refugee Week Celebration June 25
b. Information Sharing

Next Meeting
June 24 - Guest Speaker: Joe Morris - Yarra Drug and Health Forum

YSF Meeting Attendance 22/04/08

Yarra Settlement Forum

Tuesday 22 April

Fitzroy Town Hall

Present
Name	Organisation & Email
Maggie Abdelmalak	North Yarra Community health
Nelum Buddhadasa	City of Yarra
Vicky Fisher	Ames Settlement FisherV@amesnet.au
Sasha Findlay	Red Cross sfindlay@redcross.org.au
Heather Stock	Fitzroy Learning Network
Steve O’Malley	MFB
Colette Bacash	New Hope Migrant Resource Centre
Kerry Wise	JSS
Michael Abdilla	DIAC
Warren Crosbie	3ZZZ
Anne Joiner	Collingwood English Language school
Meghan Fitzgerald	Fitzroy Legal Service
Belinda Lo	Fitzroy Legal Service
Joe Morris	Yarra Drug and Health Forum
Colleen Duggen	Fitzroy Learning Network
Denise Williams	FKA Children’s Services
Kate Smith	BSL
Kerrie Mannina	Fitzroy Learning Network
Apologies
Abby and Judy	Smith Family
Tim Watson	City of Yarra
Maria Palomares	Centrelink
Mary Walsh	Collingwood English Language school
Janet Williams-Smith	BSL
Chrisouls Kanaris	New Hope MRC

Fitzroy Legal Service Presentation - YSF 22/05/08

WORKING WITH CALD COMMUNITIES & DEALING WITH THE LAW

Introduction

Some Common Issues Arising

The Role of Non Legal & Legal Workers

A Closer Look at Some Specific Areas of Law

Family

Centrelink

Infringement & Driving Offences

Contracts

Criminal Matters

Migration

Introduction

Legal Practice (Duty Lawyer NJC, Criminal & Family Lawyer, Lawyer dealing with Infringement matters, & Drug Outreach Lawyer)

Social Action Team (Advocacy, Legal Projects & Community Legal Education)

Free Legal Night Service (Monday to Friday 6 to 9.30 PM)

Free Access to Interpreters

Some Common Issues

Language, culture, experiences
High levels of regulation in society
Role of various authorities
Bureaucratic expectations
Expectations of fairness
Discrimination & racism
Confidentiality and reputation (issues with accessing assistance)
Ignorance of the law not an excuse

The Role of Non Legal & Legal Workers

Preventative roles (community legal education)

Flexible limits on roles

Outer limit is prohibition on non lawyers providing legal advice, and risks for lawyers crossing ethical boundaries

A great deal of legal work can involve

Accessing and sharing information
Making appropriate and timely referrals

Accessing and sharing information

Sources of law & information about the law
Sources of free legal information or advice
Sources of free specialist legal advice

Making timely & appropriate referrals

Identifying crystallizing moment when lawyer required
Not always clear
Looking for elements of reliance/ vulnerability, potential for loss/ detriment, complexity of response required
Examples: criminal & civil matters

Family Law

Inclusive of: marriage, separation & divorce, property settlement, family arrangements regarding children, child support payments (Family Law Act)
Linked to issues of family violence (Family Violence Act), or contact with protective services (Children Youth and Families Act)

Some Examples

Woman has been married in Ethiopia and is divorced in a traditional fashion
She has no contact with ex spouse since living in refugee camp
Now wants to get divorced under Australian law

Woman has daughter of thirteen and is concerned the child’s father may take her back home to be married without her knowledge

Family enters Australia and includes extra sibling as a child of the marriage who is the mother’s child only
Birth dates altered to reflect this arrangement in a simplified fashion
Relationship breaks down and ex husband becomes frustrated paying child support for the said child

Woman living with children and husband and subjected to violence, intimidation or the like
She does not believe she can leave the relationship for reasons of housing/ financial/ residency status

How would you approach these?

Centrelink

Example

Woman is receiving single mother’s benefit and doing some casual work

She does not read English & has limited English language

Her ten year old daughter fills out her forms and has made some reports of earnings

Over the course of time she is overpaid

She has a social worker but finds her difficult to contact

She has never had access to an interpreter

What should have happened

Client should have been able to speak to Centrelink in her own language by calling 13 1202

Her office should have been able to organize free of charge translation of all documents

She shuld have been able to access Centrelink information online in her own language

What did happen

Client had legal assistance to appeal the initial decision in the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and to defend criminal charges of fraud
Though her evidence was accepted she was found guilty and received a criminal conviction as well as repayment orders
She is now finding it very difficult to find employment though she has received nursing training and done English language studies

Infringement & Driving Offences

Common charges include: drive without license, drive unregistered vehicle, drive whilst disqualified/ suspended, traffic offences (Road Safety Act), failure to show identification & infringement offences
At initial stages may be discretion & opportunity to make representations
Later important to facilitate legal advice if possible

Contracts

Basic principles: offer, acceptance, intention to create legal relations, consideration
Fair Trading Act offers consumer protection against unfairness: e.g. punitive terms, unconscionable conduct, misrepresentation
Power differentials can be significant

Criminal Matters

Right to an interpreter at interview
Right to make telephone calls
Right to silence
Right to freedom of movement unless placed under arrest
Right to be released from custody within a reasonable time if being questioned & to be granted bail
Referrals
RILC
ASRC
Springvale Monash LS
Whittlesea CLC

Migration Referrals

RILC
ASRC
Springvale Monash Legal Service
Whittlesea Community Legal Centre

Conclusion

Issues of language, culture & experience can make interaction with the law significantly more complex & create the need for more intensive ongoing support
Services the not for profit legal sector can offer include legal education, provision of written resources, generalist & specialized legal advice, referrals
Particularly useful contact points Victoria Legal Aid & the Federation of Community Legal Centres

Friday, May 9, 2008

DIAC Community Relations Funding Announced

Community Relations funding is available to help incorporated non-profit organisations address issues of cultural, racial and religious intolerance. Projects should target all people living in a community or local government area and promote respect, fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone.

In 2008, $1.5 million has been made available for Community Relations funding activities including $100 000 to assist smaller organisations. Under this new arrangement, amounts of up to $5000 will be available for smaller and less complex projects. Major projects will be allocated funding of between $5000 and $50 000.

Objectives of the Community Relations funding
The objectives of the Australian Government’s Community Relations funding include the promotion of:

· the importance of all Australians respecting one another regardless of cultural, racial or religious difference

· the fair treatment of all Australians, encouraging people to recognise that our interactions should be accepting of, and responsive to people’s backgrounds, circumstances, needs and preferences

· opportunities for people to participate in Australian society and to understand the rights and responsibilities that we share as part of that society

· a sense of belonging for everyone by helping communities work towards a peaceful, progressive and prosperous future

· understanding and acceptance by the broader community of Australia’s changing demographics.

How to apply
There are separate guidelines for small grants and for larger grants with a two-stage process used for this funding. Organisations are required to submit an Expression of Interest and those projects that are short-listed are invited to submit a supplementary application form. See: Community Relations Projects Expression of Interest form <http://www.harmony.gov.au/grants/_pdf/projects-eoi-form.doc> (3.9MB Word file).

Expressions of Interest should be lodged through the following email address:
communityrelationsfunding@immi.gov.au. The deadline for submitting completed applications and expressions of interest is 6.00pm Friday 23 May 2008.

For further information see the website: http://www.harmony.gov.au/grants/index.htm
or telephone: 1800 782 002 or email: communityrelationsfunding@immi.gov.au.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Youth radio: SYN 90.7 FM

Student Radio is thriving in Melbourne, and some of it is multicultural!

SYN (Student Youth Network) 90.7 FM syn.org.au
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/SYN/20627322080

I've asked if any SYN volunteers might be interested in DJing for the Refugee Week Celebrations, Fitzroy Wednesday 25 June, and I've given them my mobile and Maggie's landline.

Prospective disc-spinners will probably want to know more about when the music might be required, who'll be in the audience, what equipment will be set up, and how their work will need to fit in with other entertainers and speakers, etc.

Yarra Settlement Forum