Diaspora in Action Conference 26-27 Sept, 2016 Dr Melika Yassin Sheikh-Eldin Manager, International and Community Development Social Participation Unit AMES Australia

AMES Australia- Full participation for all in a cohesive and diverse society For the past 60 years AMES Australia has worked to support refugees and newly arrived migrants to settle successfully by: working with local, state and federal governments, business and communities to provide individual pathways for our clients to achieve full participation gathering evidence and sharing our experience in the development of innovative language learning, settlement and employment programs.

Resettlement Resettlement is a process of change, transition and adjustment To better understand the settlement experiences of refugee and humanitarian entrants and the capacity of host communities to support new arrivals, AMES has developed a consultation process in order to incorporate feedback into its policies and services that build social and economic opportunities.

Meaningful integration through economic participation Identifying Barriers to Employment Pre-arrival experiences Limited or disrupted education and work opportunities Length of time in camps; trauma, violence, loss, grief, family separation Post-arrival factors Lack of fluency in language of resettlement country Previous qualifications/experiences not recognized Lack of familiarity with the local labor market, work culture and practices Lack of Networks Competing pressures from complex settlement needs Attitudes and practices of employers Reluctance to hire people who do not have prior local work experience Concern that new arrivals will not ‘fit in’ & will require a high level of support Discrimination on racial, cultural or religious grounds

Establishing Effective programs for employment Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants come from different backgrounds ranging from skilled professionals, trades people and those with limited work skills relevant to the Australian labour market . Programs that provide an integrated multi-dimensional approach rather than linear, single focused solutions Programs which are customised for different groups of new arrivals to address specific barriers faced by each group Programs have to be delivered in creative ways to facilitate settlement and employment for refugees Programs that provide opportunities to experience Australian work place culture and demonstrates capabilities

Initiatives to enhance successful resettlement through Diaspora Engagement Examples: Community Guides Program Employment and support for settling communities Skilled Professional Migrants Program (SPMP)  Introduction to Australian workplace culture/networks Employment and training through social enterprises  Catering and Cleaning businesses Brokered employment programs Includes relocating to rural/regional areas

Some examples where diaspora have supported newly arrived and those seeking to migrate Community Guides - Bilingual/multilingual men and women with recent refugee experience trained to: Support the settlement of new arrivals Provide cultural and linguistic support to build bonding capital. Bridge new arrivals to the broader Australian community Create sustainable employment outcomes for individuals in target groups Capitalise on positive externalities

Community Guides 8

Skilled Professional Migrant Program – SPMP facilitates: employment opportunities into relevant professional fields for skilled professionals and para-professionals, with good English and recognised overseas qualifications. It provides practical work experience, an understanding of the Australian workplace culture and builds confidence.

Skilled Professional Migrants Program Work experience and mentoring in Australian workplaces

Sorghum Sisters social enterprise It provides highly contextualised hands-on training opportunities through a catering social enterprise. AMES Australia recognised the need to provide economic inclusion opportunities through social participation.

Employment and training through social enterprises Sorghum Sisters Catering

Luv A Duck This is a program to settle Karen-Burmese refugees at Nhill, in western Victoria -it is emerging as a model not only for refugee settlement but also for the revival of struggling rural towns. About 250 Karen refugees have been settled in Nhill, attracted by jobs being offered by local poultry producer Luv-a-Duck.

Brokered employment programs Luv-A-Duck: employment in country Victoria 14

Setting up as business partners 1515

Working Beyond the Boundaries This is a community garden project - a working model for a sustainable community garden and education facility in an established, historic, botanic garden.

Success is attributed to trust and trustworthiness

The Werribe Garden Improving skills through the Internship program

Community Proposal Pilot (CPP) This is a private sponsorship program which provides opportunity for family reunion and humanitarian migration. The CPP depends on the strength of the diaspora in supporting those arriving on this program.

Conclusion The most important factors for successful settlement are: Inclusiveness empowerment Access Equity Capacity building Having a voice and the key approach to achieve them is through meaningful Employment

I invite you to watch a video The Werribee Garden I invite you to watch a video “Nanthu”. Nanthu is part of the Karen diaspora and she works hard to bridge the Karen community into the mainstream Australian community. As a Community Leader with the Australian Karen Organisation she supports and provides information on resettlement to those resettled refugees and those who are still in refugee camps on the Thai- Burma border.

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