Multicultural Youth Issues Network NSW (MYINN) Planning Day MINUTES 9am - 12:00pm, 21 September 2010 Level 4, 146 Marsden Street, Parramatta

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1 Multicultural Youth Issues Network NSW (MYINN) Planning Day MINUTES 9am - 12:00pm, 21 September 2010 Level 4, 146 Marsden Street, Parramatta Chairperson: Catherine Johnson, Coordinator Youth Project, SydWest Multicultural Services Inc. Co-chairperson: Anne-Marie Taylor, MYINN State Coordinator Planning Session Facilitator: Nadine Liddy, MYAN Australia National Coordinator Attendees: Name Anne-Marie Taylor Anisha Singh Bruce Cherry Catherine Johnson Clare Blakemore Caitlin Stone Gina Whitfield Helen Sowey Ivy Chen Judith Ridge Kusavianto Wardhana Lina Ishu Nadine Liddy Sally Crawshaw Toby O Brian Organisation YAPA Auburn Community Development Network Inc. Hepatitis NSW SydWest Multicultural Services Inc. Youth Accommodation Association Youth Accommodation Association ACL Drug & Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC) Anglicare SWS Young Carers Program Blacktown City Council Parramatta Young Christian Worker STARTTS MYAN Australia Red Cross Salvation Army FYRST Agenda Items 1. Welcome and introductions The three facilitators Anne-Marie Taylor, MYINN State Coordinator, Nadine Liddy, MYAN Australia National Coordinator and Catherine Johnson, Coordinator Youth Project, SydWest Multicultural Services welcomed everyone present to the MYINN Planning Day Meeting. 2. Apologies Name Angela Lee Clare Darling Deena Yako Organisation Ashfield Local Area Command Multicultural Health Western Sydney Cluster, Sydney West Area Health Service Fairfield Migrant Resource Centre 1

2 Jennifer Gifford Katrina Brown Lauren Chapman Neneth Costa Zena Najjar Multicultural Community Council of Illawarra Hurstville City Council Strathfield Council NSW Fair Trading MTC Work Solutions 3. Minutes from last meeting Minutes from last meeting were accepted. 4. Matters Arising Information Share Individual Information Share Templates are to be sent through to the State Coordinator rather than to the whole Network. MYINN Name Change The MYINN accepted the name change to the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN) NSW. 5. MYAN Australia Update The National Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (NMYAN) - under the auspices of the Centre for Multicultural Youth - has been funded for the 2 years ending July 2011 under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Diverse Australia program. A key component of this funding is capacity building work with multicultural youth networks in each state and territory. The NMYAN identified NSW as a priority state and, in consultation with a range of stakeholders, determined that funding be made available for the appointment of a part-time State Coordinator of the Multicultural Youth Issues Network of NSW (MYINN). YAPA was considered the most appropriate agency to auspice this Project, for a period of 12 months. The MYINN is a network of services committed to multiculturalism and improving the opportunities and outcomes for CALD, Refugee & Newly Arrived Young People. The MYINN is auspiced by YAPA. The role of the MYINN is to: Coordinate information and action on issues affecting multicultural young people and their families state wide; Provide input and respond to government and other policies and practices affecting multicultural young people; Lobby and advocate for multicultural youth issues to the youth and migrant sectors, young people, the general community and the government sector and; Support and resource multicultural young people and services working with multicultural youth, e.g. via training, workshops and forums. 2

3 Nadine also reported that the MYAN Australia had recently produced and Election Platform and Briefing Paper for the Federal Election in August 2010 as well as five Policy Statements about Racism, Mental Health, Housing, Employment and Education. 6. The purpose of planning day and desired outcomes and the role and function of the Network The following was discussed in response to this agenda item: How can the role of each worker fit in with the work of the MYAN NSW Resources for young people and partnership when working with CALD young people The growing multicultural client base and the need to share information To explore further the advocacy component of community development roles of the MYINN members in these types of roles That more information needs to be collected about multicultural young people Use the experience gained through on the ground programs to contribute to the policy That MYINN members need to share resources and seek partnerships That meetings need to be structured to reflect the need for more partnership and advocacy When asked six people present had policy/ advocacy components to their role The importance of flexibility around priorities and focus of the work of the MYINN were stressed by those present. The group decided that a process for feeding case studies into the policy work was important to establish. 8. Possible Priorities Areas Mental Health Education Family and intergeneration conflict The MYNN members present agreed to focus on the three issues of mental health, education and family and intergenerational conflict. In addition, the issue of homelessness of CALD young people was also perceived as an important one and that more work needs to be done in NSW, including an information profile of what s happening in NSW 9. Approach/ actions to priority areas ACTION 1: The MYINN to develop three position papers on mental health, education and family and intergenerational conflict. 3

4 ACTION 2: Each member present will make the following contribution to the position papers: Bruce Mental Health and Education Research Information Gina Mental Health Counsellors at ACL, Education how the AEMP and how the IEC cannot access AEMP education pathways for pre-literate people Lina Case studies, research with young people, approach to working with young people, consultations with youth group Ivy Case studies Anisha talk to local services in Auburn and raise the issue and see if anyone will contribute case studies and research RYWN - Education Paper Catherine case studies and feedback from consultations, with specific focus on education and intergenerational conflict and provide names of mental health resource from Victoria YCW- Education information for refugees- recommendations for mental health - beyondblue Clare housing and homelessness, Kate will bring case studies and housing and the other issues- consultation with young people Toby the psychosocial indicators research papers Judith research from DET on Western Sydney ACTION 3: It was agreed that a forum on Mental Health and multicultural young people will be held in November 2010 and that the State Coordinator should make further contact with: Headspace Transcultural Mental Health Trauma STARTTS YAA - Mental health and young people IEC ACTION 4: The State Coordinator will also look into organising policy and advocacy training for interested MYINN members. 10. Forums and Events for NSW version of Unpacking the Suitcase 4

5 The State Coordinator also reported that a submission to the Community Relations Commission event funding grants was made on behalf of MYINN in September to run a one day event in February 2011 modelled on the Unpacking the Suitcase conference held in Victoria in November Forum about Priority Issue It was agreed that the next meeting will be a Mental Health Forum to be held on the 30 th November 2010 from 9:30am to 12:30pm. 11. Information Share The Information Share Template was circulated and additional flyers about activities and programs were distributed. Meeting concluded: 12pm 5