Yarra Settlement Forum: October 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

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

English for Bilingual Workers

Faculty of Further Education

English for Bilingual Health Workers

Do you have some experience and /or interest in working in the health sector?
Do you want to use your bilingual skills?

English for Bilingual Health Workers is an accredited intermediate English language course that will help you develop your language skills, whilst gaining skills and knowledge relevant to working in the health sector. The course will be based on the ESL Frameworks curriculum. Students who satisfactorily complete all modules will be awarded Certificate III in ESL Employment, and relevant training package units.

The aim of this specialised course is to improve students’ reading, writing, listening and speaking skills to assist them in finding employment in the health sector using their bilingual and bicultural skills, and/or to undertake further study.

Bilingual health workers may find employment in community health centres, hospitals, health promotion organisations, or women’s health centres, in roles such as administration worker, client access worker, or health educator.

Course content
· English language study at intermediate level
· Introduction to the health sector
· Workplace skills relevant to the health sector
· Exploring employment and further study options leading to work in the health sector

How you will learn
· Individual and group tasks
· Computer training, including Internet
· Guest speakers from the health sector
· Visits to health sector organisations
· Research and presentation projects
· Work placements
When: Commencing February 2009, date to be confirmed
How long: 20 hours a week x 36 weeks
Where: NMIT Collingwood Campus
20 Otter St, Collingwood
Cost: approx $248 - to be confirmed
(support with fees may be available)
For further information phone: Rachel Wilson on 9269 1081 email: rachelwilson@nmit.vic.edu.au
or Anne Giddens on 9269 8320

English for Bilingual Health Workers
Information Session and Assessment

If you would like to find out more about this course you will need to attend an Information Session. You will also need to have an assessment of your English language skills to ensure that this course is right for you.

An Information Session will be held at the NMIT Collingwood Campus on:

Thursday 11th December 2008
10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.

The Information Session will be held in Building A, Room A213 (enter from Otter St).

If you would like to attend this session, please contact Rachel Wilson or Anne Giddens to let us know you are coming.

When: Commencing February 2009, date to be confirmed
How long: 20 hours a week x 36 weeks
Where: NMIT Collingwood Campus
20 Otter St, Collingwood
Cost: approx $248 - to be confirmed
(support with fees may be available)
For further information phone: Rachel Wilson on 9269 1081 email: rachelwilson@nmit.vic.edu.au
or Anne Giddens on 9269 8320

Monday, October 13, 2008

Understanding Money Flyer

Understanding Money Training

The Office of Women’s Policy has provided funding for Berry Street’s Sudanese Family Strengthening Project to deliver FREE ‘Understanding Money’ financial literacy training to men and women who live in the Northern Metropolitan Region.

What is it? This is about understanding your money and making informed choices and decisions about it. As we know, our money can affect our everyday lives, our family relationships and our health and wellbeing.

We hope that this training will help to improve your understanding of your money and your financial situation.

Details: This is three day training-

Monday 3^rd November, Thursday 6^th November, Friday 7^th November

Time: 9.30am- 2.30pm

Place: Fitzroy Library, 128 Moor Street, Fitzroy

Car: On street parking (restricted)

Tram: 112 (along Brunswick Street)/ 86 (Along Smith Street)

Bus: 200, 201, 207

Child Care: Will be provided free of charge. When you respond to say that you are coming to the training, we will ask about childcare and tell you the details. It is very close to the library.

Note: Lunch and morning tea will be provided with this training. Let us know if you have special food needs.

Respond: Please contact the Sudanese Family Support Workers by the 24^th October as numbers are restricted.

Contact Details:

William Abur

wabur@berrystreet.org.au

0437 251 843

Nafisa Ali Mohamed

nmohamed@berrystreet.org.au

0427 833 990

Good News: Everyone that takes part in the three day training will receive a FREE monthly Metcard ticket- thanks to Women’s Health in the North and Traveller’s Aid

Everyone who participates in the training will receive a Completion Certificate

SGP IHSS Forum 31 October 08

Date for your Diary:

SGP/IHSS Forum

Topic:

Mental Health

The Forum will provide an opportunity to explore the following issues:

· The impact of mental health issues in client communities?

· How the subject of mental health can be addressed with communities?

· What are the communities’ perceptions of counselling and mental health services are?

· What services are available and how our clients can access those services?

· How can the referral process be improved?

· What are the issues and challenges that your organisation encounters in working with refugee communities?

Mental Health practitioners will give a presentation and a panel of community members (from the Iraqi, Burmese, Afghani and Sudanese communities) will share issues from their community.

Forum Date: 31 October 2008

Time: 9:30 am - 1:00pm

Where: Multicultural Hub
506-510 Elizabeth Street Melbourne VIC 3000

Space is limited to 60, to secure your attendance please RSVP to barici@ames.net.au by 21 October 2008.

Yarra Settlement Forum