Report to

the Premier

on the

Implementation

of the

Multicultural

Queensland

Policy

1998-1999

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier

As part of the implementation of the Multicultural

Queensland Policy the Premier has assigned

Parliamentary Secretary Gordon Nuttall MP

special responsibility for multicultural affairs.

Parliamentary Secretary

Gordon Nuttall MP

Telephone (07) 3227 7234

Facsimile (07) 3225 1681

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Executive Director

Uri Themal

Telephone (07) 3224 5330

Policy

Steve Maguire

Telephone (07) 3224 5411

Community Relations

Warren McMillan

Telephone (07) 3224 5379

Training

Jiri Martinek

Telephone (07) 3224 5455

Grants and Register

of Multicultural Advisers

Ita Szymanska

Telephone (07) 3224 5319

General Enquiries

Telephone (07) 3224 5690

1800 679 763

(For callers outside Brisbane)

Facsimile (07) 3224 5691

Key contacts

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Table of contents

3 Foreword

4 Introduction – Multicultural Queensland Policy

5 Multicultural Affairs Queensland

6 Multicultural Affairs Queensland

– the year in review

16 Multicultural initiatives – responses from

Queensland Government agencies

17 – Access

29 – Participation

36 – Cohesion

39 Community views

40 – Access

42 – Participation

44 – Cohesion

46 Future directions

51 Appendix A

The Charter of Public Service

in a Culturally Diverse Society

52 Appendix B

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

– Funding allocation 1998-99

56 Appendix C

Ethnic schools funded in 1998-99

57 Appendix D

Recent reports and publications

58 Appendix E

Agencies contributing to this report

59 Appendix F

Organisation delivering community literacy programs

to migrant communities in 1998-1999

60 Appendix G

Consultations

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

Level 1, 61 Mary Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 _ PO Box 185, Brisbane Albert Street Qld 4002 _

Phone: (07) 3224 5690 _ Facsimile: (07) 3224 5691 _

September 1999

The Honourable Peter Beattie MLA

Premier

Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Dear Premier

It is with pleasure that I submit this first progress report on the implementation of the

Multicultural Queensland Policy.

Since the launch of the policy in August 1999, Multicultural Affairs Queensland has instigated

a number of strategies to begin its implementation – that is, putting policy into practice. Queensland

Government agencies are now required to report on their performance in implementing the policy

in their annual reports. Multicultural Affairs Queensland has also undertaken extensive promotion

of the policy across the public sector and established implementation mechanisms such as the

Interdepartmental Committee on Multicultural Affairs.

Partnerships are essential to making multiculturalism work for all Queenslanders. Aside from

the partnership developed across the Queensland public sector, Multicultural Affairs Queensland

has strengthened its relations with Commonwealth and local government agencies as well as with

community and private sector organisations.

The policy stresses the importance of positive community relations to the future development

of Queensland. Multicultural Affairs Queensland has successfully managed an innovative approach

to community relations which engages communities at the local level, through the Local Area

Multicultural Partnership Program. In addition, the views of the community have been sought

on this and other issues of concern and these are reported upon in detail.

The report sets out future directions for policy implementation and this section of the report

takes account of the Government’s commitments under the policy.

Uri Themal OAM

Executive Director

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Foreword

I am pleased to receive the first report on the implementation of the

Multicultural Queensland Policy compiled by Multicultural Affairs

Queensland in my Department. This report covers the financial year

1998-99.

The Government has placed a high priority on multicultural affairs

and has demonstrated this commitment by adopting the Multicultural

Queensland Policy within weeks of taking office. In addition the

Government has increased Multicultural Affairs Queensland’s grants

programs from $100,000 to $1.15 million in this financial year, increasing to $2.15 million

in 1999-00.

This report details many worthwhile initiatives undertaken to ensure the key principles of access,

participation and cohesion are implemented across government. However, while much has been

achieved, there is still considerable work to be done.

During the year the Government made considerable efforts to listen to the community.

Community Cabinet meetings were held in 14 locations throughout Queensland and I am

delighted to report that Parliamentary Secretary Gordon Nuttall and I received 85 delegations

from ethnic communities.

Members of ethnic communities also strongly contributed to Regional Communities Forums

and Multicultural Affairs Queensland’s own statewide consultation.

Having listened to the community, the Government is determined to address, as far as it is able,

the issues of concern. This report details the results of community consultations and sets out

future directions for government in meeting the issues raised.

I welcome the progress made to date and I expect all government agencies to rigorously pursue

the full implementation of the policy so that Queensland continues to develop as an inclusive,

cohesive and harmonious society that welcomes and values the diversity of its people.

Peter Beattie MLA

Premier

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Values & principles

Multiculturalism supports the development of an

inclusive society, one that welcomes and values the

contributions of all its members and works to ensure

that they can make that contribution without facing

any prejudice or discrimination.

The Multicultural Queensland Policy adopts these

values which are fundamental to good citizenship and

good governance in a culturally diverse society. Central

to the Policy are the principles of:

. Access;

. Participation;

. Cohesion.

Access

Access as a principle involves ensuring all Queenslanders

enjoy equitable access to services and programs. The

Multicultural Queensland Policy incorporates the Charter

of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society as an access

and equity guide for Queensland Government agencies.

The purpose of the Charter is to guide agencies in the way

that they plan and deliver services. (See Appendix A for a

copy of the Charter).

The Multicultural Queensland Policy contains key

implementation strategies. The Service Delivery Strategy

aims at ensuring that all Queensland Government services

are inclusive and appropriate to Queensland’s cultural

diversity.

Participation

Participation is about ensuring that all Queenslanders enjoy

equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities to participate

in, contribute to and benefit from all aspects of life in

Queensland.

To support this principle, the Multicultural Queensland

Policy includes a Cultural Diversity Support Strategy.

Through this strategy, the Queensland Government has

provided resources to support the organisational

development of community-based organisations. The

funding aims to assist organisations to become more

effective and better able to participate in community life.

Another major strategy identified in the policy is to include

people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

in decision making and shaping the directions of that

decision making. The key instrument designed to ensure

this happens across Queensland Government agencies is

the Register of Multicultural Advisers. This register is

maintained by Multicultural Affairs Queensland and is

linked to the Government’s central register of people who

are available for consideration for appointment to

Government boards and committees.

It is a requirement that all agencies putting forward

nominations for appointments to such boards must consult

with Multicultural Affairs Queensland.

Cohesion

This principle notes the importance of all Queenslanders

sharing responsibility for the continuing development of

Queensland as a cohesive and harmonious society.

Funding is available for local governments and community

groups to promote positive community relations

and to facilitate participation of diverse groups in the

consultation and planning that government undertakes

to improve its services.

In addition, assistance is provided to community

organisations to undertake projects with a particular

emphasis placed on programs and events that promote an

understanding and acceptance of multiculturalism.

This strategy directly supports the values of building

a cohesive society.

Introduction –

Multicultural Queensland Policy

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ) is a unit

within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It

has the responsibility for coordinating policy

development and planning under the Multicultural

Queensland Policy across the Queensland Public Sector.

Since the launch of the Multicultural Queensland Policy,

MAQ has been involved in a variety of policy

implementation tasks. In summary, MAQ undertakes

the following policy coordination roles:

. briefs the Premier and other Ministers

on multicultural issues;

. undertakes policy coordination activities across

all Queensland Government agencies through

the Interdepartmental Committee on

Multicultural Affairs;

. provides advice to public sector agencies

regarding strategic planning and inclusive

service delivery models;

. provides advice on Cabinet Submissions;

. develops cross-agency partnership projects;

. provides cross-cultural training to Queensland

public sector agencies;

. maintains intergovernmental relations

on multicultural issues;

. undertakes general policy promotional activities

and disseminates information to the public

and community sectors;

. develops policy resources and databases;

. undertakes consultation on key policy issues;

. funds and fosters community partnerships

and community projects.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

Premier Peter Beattie at the launch of the Queensland

Government Language Services Policy with Parliamentary

Secretary Gordon Nuttall (left) and Uri Themal, Executive

Director, Multicultural Affairs Queensland (right).

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

A new policy

The Premier officially launched the Multicultural

Queensland Policy at a forum on 31 August 1998 which

was attended by more than 300 community leaders.

An extensive promotional campaign was initiated to

inform government agencies about their responsibilities

under the policy. This included:

. meetings with Chief Executive Officers

and presentations to senior executives;

. presentations to Regional Managers’ Forums

throughout the State;

. distribution of hundreds of copies of the policy

throughout Queensland Government agencies;

. articles in MAQ’s publication Diversity Matters.

Developing supporting policies

The Queensland Government Language Services Policy

was developed by MAQ and endorsed by the

Queensland Government in November 1998. It requires

all government agencies to plan communication

strategies to take diversity into account and to use and pay

for professional interpreters when clients have

difficulty communicating in English.

In addition to the Queensland Government Language

Services Policy, an Interpreter Card was published to

assist clients with little or no English to gain access to

interpreters when seeking services from Queensland

Government agencies.

Driving the policy –

whole-of-government

coordination

To ensure a whole-of-government focus on multiculturalism

and to address policy issues in a coordinated way, an

Interdepartmental Committee on Multicultural Affairs

(IDC) was established. The IDC which is chaired by the

Director-General of the Department of the Premier and

Cabinet met for the first time on 28 September 1998. The

IDC’s membership is drawn from across the public sector

and there are currently 28 departments and agencies

represented on the IDC.

The IDC established a number of specialist working groups

to enhance policy coordination. These groups include:

. Working Group on Funding Priorities

and Reporting

The Working Group on Funding Priorities and

Reporting developed a resource to assist agencies

plan, implement and report on their own strategies

under the Multicultural Queensland Policy. The

resource will be circulated to all agencies and will be

accompanied by an information and training strategy.

The Working Group completed work under its

Terms of Reference and was dissolved in June 1999.

. Working Group on Immigration

A draft Queensland Government Position Statement

on Immigration has been developed by the Working

Group on Immigration. In developing the paper,

the Working Group consulted widely across

government. Consultations will be undertaken

with key community organisations prior to it

being formally considered by the Government.

. Working Group on Community Relations

The Working Group on Community Relations

has developed a draft plan to promote positive

community relations across Queensland. The plan

will be subject to community consultation before

being considered by the Government.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

. Working Group on the Australian South

Sea Islander Community

In June 1999 the IDC formed a Working Group

on the Australian South Sea Islander Community

to address the special issues and needs of the

community. The Working Group is responsible

for developing and coordinating strategies which:

. ensure that government service providers are

aware of the community, its history and current

circumstance;

. improve the community’s access to government

agencies at local levels;

. develop integrated approaches to address the

community’s needs;

. promote cooperation between Commonwealth,

State and Local Government agencies in meeting

the community’s needs more effectively;

. monitor progress in government agency responses

to the needs of the community.

. Working Group on Multicultural

Queensland Policy Implementation

The IDC formed this Working Group to progress

the ongoing implementation of the Multicultural

Queensland Policy by various State Government

agencies. The Working Group will develop strategies

to:

. reflect critically on the experience with policy

implementation in the departments and develop

an action methodology;

. identify other departments engaged in similar

activities and invite their input;

. document the Working Group activity and make

it available as “work-in-progress” reports to invite

comment from other departments and establish

communication networks;

. design a “good practice” development program.

Other coordination activities

MAQ is represented on committees concerned with the

management of service delivery issues, legislative reform,

planning for whole-of-government activities and other key

issues which impact on the development of the Multicultural

Queensland Policy.

Significant committee work has involved a review of antiracism

strategies and legislative reforms, as well as input to

whole-of-government projects and planning on various

issues.

Community consultations

From March to June 1999, MAQ conducted community

consultation meetings at regional centres across the State.

Members of ethnic communities were invited to join in small

group discussions to raise issues relating to multiculturalism

and cultural diversity in the community, and also to suggest

ways and means these issues could be best addressed. In

most cases, local councils were actively involved in planning

and facilitating the consultation meetings.

Four common areas were highlighted to foster focused

discussion:

. access to services;

. issues of racism and multiculturalism;

. better use of the skills of people of diverse

backgrounds;

. priorities for MAQ’s grants funding.

Issues relating to accessible and equitable services,

employment, health, education, and translating and

interpreting services were raised repeatedly at the

consultation meetings.

These and other issues raised at the consultation meetings

were collated by MAQ and forwarded to the respective line

departments and agencies for reference and follow-up.

Participants were provided with a list of all issues raised.

MAQ also undertook to inform all participants about how

the issues were dealt with.

A more detailed account of the consultations is provided in

the following sections of this report.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

New reporting requirements for

Queensland Government agencies

Under the Multicultural Queensland Policy, there are two

major reporting requirements affecting Queensland

Government agencies, namely:

. this report – the Report to the Premier

on the Implementation of the Multicultural

Queensland Policy;

. agencies’ own annual reports.

MAQ has been given the responsibility to prepare this

annual report to the Premier, examining progress in policy

implementation and highlighting emerging needs.

All government agencies are now required to implement

the principles and strategies of the Multicultural Queensland

Policy and report on their progress in their annual reports.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Register of Multicultural Advisers

(ROMA) – participating in

government decision making

As noted above, Queensland Government agencies are

required to consult the Register of Multicultural Advisers

when vacancies arise on statutory authorities and other key

Government advisory bodies.

The Register of Multicultural Advisers is maintained and

managed by MAQ. Its database of people suitable to be

considered for significant appointments to boards and

advisory bodies is expanding.

There has been an increased use of the Register by

government agencies since the launch of the Multicultural

Queensland Policy.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Cross-cultural training – skilling

the Queensland Public Service

MAQ provides cross-cultural training at no cost to

Queensland Government agencies. This training helps

agencies to implement the Multicultural Queensland Policy

by designing, developing and delivering culturally inclusive

services.

MAQ aims to ensure that Queensland public sector

employees develop and enhance the skills they need to work

in Queensland’s culturally diverse society.

Between August 1998 and June 1999, MAQ provided

46 courses to 1,321 participants. The following courses

were provided:

. Customer Service in a Culturally Diverse

Community (generic);

. Team-based Customer Service in a Culturally

Diverse Community;

. How to Work with Interpreters;

. Enforcing Laws and Serving Customers

in a Culturally Diverse Community;

. School-based Youth Health Nurse Program –

Cross-cultural Skills;

. Providing Education and Training Services

(Administration and Support) to Culturally Diverse

Customers;

. Cross-cultural Training for People in Education

(Teachers);

. Cross-cultural Training for Vocational Education

(TAFE Teachers);

. Providing Excellence to International Students

(University Sector);

. Cross-cultural Issues for Health Professionals;

. Managing Cultural Diversity in Mental Health.

In addition, MAQ provided several information sessions

on cross-cultural training.

Qualitative evaluation of MAQ’s cross-cultural training

shows a very high satisfaction level and a considerable

increase in participant knowledge and skills.

Intergovernmental relations

Major policy development is often affected by what is

happening at the Commonwealth, State and Local

Government levels, and in some cases, influenced by

international events and trends. Thus MAQ works across

all levels of government.

For MAQ, intergovernmental relations involves work

on key policy issues affecting Queensland through forums

such as:

. ministerial councils, and senior officials committees;

. joint communications and projects between

Commonwealth, State and Local Government

agencies;

. intergovernmental committees and working parties.

MAQ also meets with overseas delegations and dignitaries

as part of the protocol established within the Department

of the Premier and Cabinet.

Ministerial Council of Immigration

and Multicultural Affairs

This Ministerial Council is chaired by the Minister for

Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. All States and

Territories are represented, along with the Australian Local

Government Association.

When the Ministerial Council met in Hobart in April 1999,

the Premier was represented by his Parliamentary Secretary,

Mr Gordon Nuttall. At that meeting, Queensland suggested

that overseas-trained doctors currently in Australia be

included in the Commonwealth Government’s strategy to

increase doctors in rural areas of Australia.

This issue is now being pursued at the national level. The

Queensland Minister for Health has also announced a

proposal which includes the employment of overseastrained

doctors for Queensland’s regional and remote areas.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Other major issues discussed at the meeting included:

. consultation on the 1999-00 Migration

and Humanitarian Programs;

. the report and recommendations of the

Working Party on Skilled Migration;

. review of student visa program;

. revised role and functions of State and Territory

Settlement Planning Committees;

. regulation of the translating and interpreting

industry;

. funding for National Accreditation Authority

for Translators and Interpreters;

. funding for continuation of the Commonwealth/

State research program for 1999-00;

. impacts of the two-year waiting period for social

security benefits on government services, particularly

accommodation and support services.

Standing Committee of Immigration

and Multicultural Affairs

The Standing Committee of Immigration and Multicultural

Affairs is made up of senior officers from Commonwealth,

State and Territory Governments. The Committee members

undertake the significant support work for the Ministerial

Council of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

The Standing Committee of Immigration and Multicultural

Affairs met in Brisbane on 18 November 1998 and in

Hobart on 15 April 1999.

Working Party on Skilled Migration

MAQ and the Department of State Development

represent Queensland on the Working Party on Skilled

Migration which was established in 1998 in response to a

resolution passed by the Ministerial Council of Immigration

and Multicultural Affairs.

The Working Party was established to investigate the

development of long-term skilled migration options which

look at increasing the number of skilled migrants to States/

Territories and regional areas, with particular reference to

the impact of growth rates generated by such migration on

infrastructure, employment and sustainable economic

development.

Queensland supports the business and skilled migration

program. The program potentially provides Queensland

with improved export links; assists in the establishment of

business and employment growth opportunities, especially

outside South East Queensland; assists with the

manufacturing of goods; assists, in part, to meet rural

community needs; and brings to Queensland needed

expertise and skills.

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

has advised that within the first 36 months of arrival,

business migrants to Queensland achieve the following:

. 86 per cent are engaged in business, of which

75 per cent are new;

. 65 per cent are involved in export businesses;

. on average $732,000 is transferred to Australia

per business migrant;

. on average five jobs are generated per new business;

. on average $349,000 is invested per business

migrant;

. 27 per cent have an annual turnover of $1 million

or more.

MAQ coordinated a whole-of-government position paper

on skilled migration which was tabled at the Working Party

meeting hosted by Queensland on 18 November 1998 and

subsequently used to inform Commonwealth immigration

policies.

The Working Party submitted its report to the Ministerial

Council of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on

15-16 April 1999.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council

The Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council advises the

Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on the

settlement of humanitarian entrants. Members are selected

on the basis of their expertise, rather than their State or

Territory of residence. Until recently, no representatives

from Queensland sat on the council.

However, following representations, the Reverend Eileen

Thomson, from Toowoomba, was appointed to the Refugee

Resettlement Advisory Council on 18 May 1999, thereby

providing a channel for Queensland’s input to issues

affecting refugees.

Australian Population Immigration

and Multicultural Research Program

Advisory Committee

MAQ is involved as a member of the Advisory Committee

and provides financial support to the Australian Population

Immigration and Multicultural Research Program. The

committee oversees major research projects on immigration

and multicultural affairs. Queensland hosted a meeting of

the Advisory Committee on 18 November 1998. Projects

funded in 1998-99 included:

. Australian People, second edition;

. assessment of clients needs for English as a Second

Language services and their perspectives of these

services;

. immigrants demand for, utilisation of and level

of satisfaction with support services;

. changing pattern of immigrant’s labour force

experience;

. level of satisfaction reported by recent immigrants;

. housing needs and preferences of immigrants;

. analysis of the changing pattern of immigrants

health and use of medical services;

. internal migration in Australia 1991-96: overview,

and the overseas-born.

Queensland Migrant Settlement Planning

Committee

The National Integrated Settlement Strategy is a planning

framework, which aims to link and improve the services

available to migrants and refugees in Australia. In

Queensland an intergovernmental committee called the

Queensland Migrant Settlement Planning Committee has

been established to manage this framework.

The committee comprises representatives from all levels of

government and from community organisations.

Through one of the working groups of the committee,

MAQ developed the report Client Service in a Culturally

Diverse Society. This report aims to guide government

agencies in implementing access and equity principles in

government-funded services.

Olympic Games

MAQ is a member of the Queensland Olympic Council,

which is a State body established to provide support and

advice to the Sydney Organising Committee for the

Olympic Games.

MAQ is also a member of the Queensland Paralympic

Committee.

Cross-agency partnerships

Productive diversity – our economic advantage

Productive diversity is about doing things to maximise the

economic advantage of our cultural diversity. Queensland

is one of the leading states in regard to trade and investment

and, as such, is well placed to make better use of our

culturally diverse and linguistically skilled population.

In 1998 the Premier hosted a Trade and Tourism Summit

which highlighted the importance of developing trade and

investment opportunities in traditional and new markets

and promoting Queensland as an attractive place in which

to conduct business. The Summit affirmed the important

role skilled and business migrants play in developing export

business, forging business links and partnerships and

ultimately jobs growth for Queensland.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

The Summit led to a cross-agency partnership between

MAQ and the Department of State Development.

Through this collaboration, a major International Business

Diversity Summit was held in May 1999 to highlight the

opportunities provided by cultural diversity (see page 29).

University of Queensland – research partners

In 1998-99, MAQ funded the Australian Centre for

Tropical Health and Nutrition and the Healthy Ageing Unit

of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (both

part of the University of Queensland) to undertake

a research project.

The study will determine the major issues facing older

people in ethnic communities, focusing on people who

immigrated to Australia in the 1940s and 50s, and whose

country of birth is no longer a significant source of migrants

to Australia. The project is expected to be completed by

September 1999 and will inform policy development in

this area.

Supporting peak bodies

In 1998-99 the Ethnic Communities Council of

Queensland received a special three-year grant of $100,000

per annum to assist the organisation in consolidating its

role as a peak ethnic community organisation in the state.

This funding will assist the Ethnic Communities Council

of Queensland to become more proactive in the areas of

community consultation, advocacy on behalf of ethnic

communities and representation of the views of ethnic

communities to government agencies across Queensland.

Logan City Council

In 1998-99 Logan City Council was provided with special

one-off 12-month funding to support the structure and

operations of the Logan Multicultural Neighbourhood

Centre. Funding is directed at identifying community needs,

implementing service planning strategies and working with

other community organisations to provide complementary

service options for migrants in the Logan City Council Local

Government area.

Building cohesive communities

Leadership

In order to work towards a truly multicultural society, MAQ

undertakes work to support community leadership.

Importantly, as a first step in this direction, MAQ is

represented on the State Reconciliation Council and fully

supports other reconciliation activities. In addition, MAQ

funds the State Reconciliation Council to employ a

community worker to promote and foster reconciliation

between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and

ethnic communities.

MAQ’s leadership forum, Interchange, is designed to

provide information and training to ethnic community

leaders so that they can better serve their community and

also perform their role more effectively. In 1998-99 forums

were held on new directions in ethnic and multicultural

affairs and on the Olympics.

As multiculturalism is based on the premise that everyone

should have an overriding commitment to Australia and to

its interests, another part of this leadership work is MAQ’s

involvement in citizenship ceremonies. Other significant

work in this area includes participation as member of the

Australia Day Council.

MAQ had also established and continues to support the

activities of the Interfaith Multicultural Forum, a group of

religious community leaders.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Awards – recognising achievements

Formally recognising significant achievements made by

individuals and organisations in the field of multiculturalism

clearly reaffirms the Queensland Government’s

commitment to the values of multiculturalism.

The Multicultural Service Awards ceremony is an annual

event managed by MAQ. Through this event the

Government acknowledges the contribution of ten

individuals and an organisation who, in a voluntary capacity,

consistently, and over a substantial period of time, have:

. promoted the development of multiculturalism

and improved community relations in Queensland;

. provided substantial assistance in the settlement

process of individuals and groups who have migrated

to Australia from overseas;

. significantly and consistently contributed to the

support of harmony and the reduction of prejudice

and discrimination in the community.

The 1998 Multicultural Service Awards were presented by

the Premier at Parliament House. At the awards, the Premier

announced a Schools Category to be inaugurated for the

1999 Queensland Multicultural Service Awards.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Winners of the 1998 Queensland Multicultural Service Award.

Clockwise from back row: Brian Crawford (representing the

Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre), Parliamentary Secretary

Gordon Nuttall, Peter Huang, Daniel David, Uri Themal,

Premier Peter Beattie, Lawrence Rosenblum, Dr Vilaseri Tuicolo,

George Kotzas, Margaret Blackman, Jeannie Mok, Shifa Mustapha,

Margaret Raymond and Barbara Damska.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Funding community building

MAQ is responsible for administering a major funding

program under the Cultural Diversity Support Strategy. This

strategy provided $1m in 1998-99. The funding from the

initiative is being allocated through the following programs:

The Local Government Association of Queensland was also

funded under the first round of the program to employ a

community relations coordinator. This position, which was

filled in March 1999, will support the network of LAMP

workers in Councils and work at a strategic level to integrate

multicultural perspective into local government policy

development.

Under the second round of partnerships it is proposed that

another eight councils be funded to join the program.

Multicultural Assistance Program (MAP)

Funding of $470,000 was provided through grants under

MAP in 1998-99.

Under MAP, five community organisations have been

funded to employ workers for three years to strengthen

community participation in government planning and

consultation and to support policy advocacy on

multicultural issues. The organisations funded were the

Australians for Reconciliation, Ethnic Communities Council

Logan, Multicultural Development Association, Townsville

Multicultural Support Group and the Youth Affairs

Network of Queensland.

Funding was also provided to more than

30 community projects promoting multiculturalism in

1998-99. Funded activities ranged from multicultural

festivals, exhibitions, conferences, cross-cultural training,

workshops and the like. (See Appendix B for further details

of the projects funded).

Funding for Ethnic Schools

Funding of $130,000 was provided in 1998-99 to match

Commonwealth funding in this area (details of these grants

are included under the Community languages program

section of this report, at page 56). (See Appendix C for

details of the ethnic schools which were funded).

In addition to the grants under the Cultural Diversity

Support Strategy, the following funds were also made

available:

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Ipswich City Council LAMP worker Jackie Hauff (centre)

with MAQ Executive Director Uri Themal (left) and

Ipswich Mayor John Nugent (right) at the city’s LAMP

project launch. (Photo: Lyle Radford)

Local Area Multicultural Partnership (LAMP)

Program

LAMP grants totalling $400,000 were administered

in 1998-99.

LAMP is a partnership strategy between the State and Local

Governments to promote multiculturalism at the local level.

Under the first round of LAMP six councils were funded

for three years to develop and implement strategies that

promote positive community relations across the whole

community and improve access to services for diverse groups

within the community. The councils were Brisbane,

Caboolture, Cairns, Hervey Bay, Ipswich and Mackay. At

the time this report was being prepared, all Councils had

appointed workers who had commenced working on the

initiative. (See Appendix B for details of the programs

funded).

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

International Year of Older Persons (IYOP)

Under IYOP, MAQ administered a special grants program

targeting issues of ageing in a multicultural society. MAQ

provided $150,000 to community groups undertaking

20 IYOP-related projects, including festivals and

celebrations, research, booklets and publications, workshops

and other activities. (See Appendix B for details).

Sponsorships

In 1998-99 MAQ allocated $52,000 towards sponsorships

of community events. (See Appendix B for details).

Conferences

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils

of Australia held its annual conference in Brisbane on

20-22 November 1998. MAQ provided $40,000 to support

the conference. The conference was addressed by the Prime

Minister and the Premier and more than 400 delegates

attended the event.

Policy papers and publications

Inquiries and reviews

MAQ is responsible for coordinating Queensland responses

to major national inquiries and reviews regarding

multicultural issues.

MAQ developed a whole-of-government submission to the

National Multicultural Advisory Council regarding the

issues paper – “Multicultural Australia: the way forward”.

The issues paper was used as a means to evaluate the

principles and national policies underpinning

multiculturalism and to propose changes where needed.

After examining the submissions received, the National

Multicultural Advisory Council summarised the findings

and proposed recommendations in their report Australian

Multiculturalism for a New Century: Towards Inclusiveness.

MAQ developed Queensland’s response to the

recommendations.

MAQ also responded to inquiries and reviews in the areas

of citizenship, unemployment, national public sector

training, ageing, refugees, domestic violence and

immigration, among others.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland

the year in review

Dotting the eyes – Parliamentary Secretary Gordon Nuttall

at the opening of the new MAQ office in the city.

Reports and publications – public documents

Since the launch of the Multicultural Queensland Policy,

additional complementary resources have been developed

and released. (See Appendix D for details of the resources

developed by MAQ).

Some of these resources can be found on MAQ’s website.

Moving to the CBD

In August 1998, MAQ was relocated from Yungaba

(Kangaroo Point) to the offices of the Department of the

Premier and Cabinet in the CBD. This decision to relocate

MAQ has both practical and symbolic importance. Firstly,

it signifies the high priority the Government places on

multicultural affairs. Secondly, locating MAQ in the centre

of government activity recognises the fact that

multiculturalism is core government business and assists

MAQ to play its role within the central activity of

government.

However, the move does not signify a break from the

traditional association between Yungaba and

multiculturalism. Yungaba has an association with migration

dating back more than 100 years and the site has special

significance for Queensland’s ethnic communities. Yungaba

continues to be a focus of multicultural activity as it is home

to more than 20 community organisations and the Bilateral

International Business Centre.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

All Queensland Government agencies are required to

report on and implement the Multicultural Queensland

Policy and its supporting Queensland Government

Language Services Policy. This section of the report

captures the major initiatives of agencies in this regard.

See Appendix E for a list of the agencies which provided

information for this report.

Importantly, some agencies were starting to adapt the

Multicultural Queensland Policy and Language Services

Policy to their needs.

At the time this report was being prepared Queensland

Health and Arts Queensland were formulating agencyspecific

multicultural policies. Queensland Health, the

Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the

Department of Emergency Services and the Department

of Communication, Information, Local Government

and Planning were developing an agency-specific

language service policy.

The following information demonstrates how the three

principles of the Multicultural Queensland Policy –

access, participation and cohesion – are implemented

by agencies.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Access

Employment programs

The Department of Employment, Training and

Industrial Relations manages the following community

employment programs which have been developed under

the Government’s Breaking the Unemployment Cycle

initiative:

Public Sector Apprenticeship and Traineeship

Initiative

The Public Sector Apprenticeship and Traineeship Initiative

will create an additional 6,000 traineeships and 500

apprenticeships over three years within public sector

agencies and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Community Councils. The program targets school leavers

and unemployed people in order to create additional

employment and training opportunities.

The Jobs Policy Council established a target of 5 per cent,

as a minimum intake, for employing people from a non-

English speaking background. Agencies are encouraged to

exceed this target wherever possible. A participation rate

of 4 per cent of people from a non-English speaking

background was achieved in 1998-1999.

Queensland Transport has reported that people from non-

English speaking backgrounds represent 9.6 per cent of

the total intake of trainees within the department.

Community Jobs Plan

The Community Jobs Plan provides funding for agencies

to assist long term unemployed people and people “at risk”

of being long-term unemployed to gain the skills to enter

the workforce.

Unemployed people do not need to be registered with a

Job Network provider or be receiving assistance from

Centrelink or the Department of Social Security and are

eligible within the first two years of arrival. People from

non-English speaking backgrounds are included as an “atrisk”

group.

The Community Jobs Plan funds organisations

to provide full-time employment, for three to

six months, on public works, community and environmental

projects. Strategies are being developed to encourage

eligible agencies to apply for the Community Jobs Plan to

cater for clients of non-English speaking backgrounds.

Community Employment Assistance Program

The Community Employment Assistance Program enables

eligible organisations to provide employment assistance that

may include literacy and numeracy assistance, living skills,

vocational training, job search and job placement assistance.

Five service providers have been funded under the

Community Employment Assistance Program to undertake

programs helping migrants and people of non-English

speaking backgrounds improve their skills

to seek employment:

. Wynnum Manly Employment and Training

– Breaking the Unemployment Cycle

This project aims to assist a minimum of

40 participants with assistance tailored to the needs

of the individual, including life skills, vocational

training and job search/placement assistance.

The project will target participants who are longterm

unemployed, including people who are matureaged,

disabled, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

and from a non-English speaking background

. Ipswich YUPI Program Inc – Inala Migrant

Job Search Program

The project aims to provide migrants from a non-

English speaking background with the skills to assist

them into employment, including resume writing,

job search techniques, arranging interviews and

accessing vacancies via the Internet.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

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Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

. Annerley District Community Centre –

Migrant Employment Information Referral

and Advocacy Service

The project is primarily to provide long-term

unemployed and migrants at risk of long-term

unemployment with the necessary skills to access

employment, negotiate with training organisations

regarding future training and liaise with industry

for direct placement of participants into

employment.

. Centacare Cairns – Migrant Access

The project aims to improve the employment

prospects of unemployed migrants in the Cairns area

by providing assistance, including a detailed skills and

literacy numeracy assessment, a life skills program,

and extensive job search and placement assistance.

. Migrant Resource Centre Townsville –

Thuringowa – Learning Through Working

The project aims to assist unemployed people from

a culturally and linguistically diverse background

to gain entry or re-entry into the workforce.

The assistance provided by the organisation includes

skills assessment, literacy and numeracy assistance,

living skills training, work experience and job search

and placement support.

Industrial relations services –

outworker inspections

The majority of outworkers in the clothing industry are of

non-English speaking background, predominantly

Vietnamese, Chinese and Cambodian. A compliance and

educative program targeting outworker underpayment and

child labour issues in the clothing industry was conducted

by Industrial Inspectors in Queensland during November

and December 1998.

The aim of the program was to ensure that the outworkers

had access to the relevant award and legislative provisions.

Inspectors often reported widespread non-observance of

award and legislative provisions covering outworkers in both

State and Federal jurisdictions in Queensland. Prosecutions

have been undertaken as test cases on the available evidence,

with more to follow should they succeed.

An educative program has been developed with a view to

running seminars that may be promoted through

Vietnamese community groups, using interpreters when

required.

A Code of Practice, aimed at ensuring contracts which

supply government agencies with clothing are provided by

contractors and subcontractors who observe all legal

requirements in relation to their workers, is being developed

by the Department of Employment, Training and

Industrial Relations and the Department of Public

Works.

Orientation program for overseastrained

teachers

Education Queensland provides work-shadowing

programs for overseas-trained teacher applicants from

culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Support

networks for overseas-trained teacher applicants are

established to address issues including recruitment and

selection, communication and language difficulties and

behaviour management.

The initiative involves collaboration with the Board of

Teacher Registration and tertiary institutions regarding

overseas-trained teachers’ qualifications and recognition of

prior learning and promotion of the Under the Skin:

Combating Racism in Schools professional development

package.

The initiative facilitates access to employment opportunities

and promotes the valuing of diversity of cultures in schools.

Vocational education and training

Vocational education and training includes traineeships,

apprenticeships and accredited certificate and diploma

courses conducted by TAFE Institutes (the public training

provider) and private training providers.

Registered Training Organisations tender to conduct

training within their scope of registration. A core standard

of the registration process requires organisations to

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

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Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

demonstrate their commitment to access and equity

principles and processes.

Funded training programs, including programs to assist

those who need preparation prior to enrolment in a course,

available to people from ethnic communities include –

. The Vocational Language, Literacy and Numeracy

Program provides additional English language,

literacy or numeracy training for trainees, apprentices

and other vocational students to succeed in their

training. Training organisations apply for support

once a need has been identified.

. The Access to Employment Outcomes Program was

tendered in April 1999 to provide vocational training

including Certificate I & II Vocational and workskills

training. Eligible students include people from

a non-English speaking background who have been

out of the workforce for six months. Programs are

to incorporate English language support. The tender

will run from July to March 2000.

. The Regional Priorities Language, Literacy and

Numeracy Program responds to unmet need in the

provision of English language, literacy and numeracy

programs. Community needs are identified by the

Queensland Adult English Language, Literacy and

Numeracy Regional Networks in Maryborough,

Townsville, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Mount

Gravatt and Lutwyche. The networks include an

ethnic community representative. Many programs

were tailored to meet the needs of ethnic

communities, particularly in Goodna, Gold Coast,

Logan, Townsville, Leichhardt and Cairns.

. The Community Literacy Program develops literacy

and numeracy skill for disadvantaged groups in the

community. These programs are designed for adults

who are unable or unwilling to access more formal

training provided through Institutes of TAFE and

private providers. In 1998-99, 28 grant recipients

specified providing programs for the migrant

community. (The recipients are listed in

Appendix F).

. English language, literacy and numeracy programs

were provided by all Queensland Institutes of TAFE.

Programs included volunteer tutor training

programs, one-to-one tuition where appropriate,

group classes, evening classes, flexible learning

centres and distance learning.

. Interpreter training accredited by the National

Accreditation Authority for Translators and

Interpreters was conducted by Southbank TAFE

on site and in distance mode.

Identifying community training

needs

The Community Training Identification Project is managed

by the Department of Employment, Training and

Industrial Relations and funded by the Australian National

Training Authority to facilitate the development of training

plans with specific equity groups. Outcomes include access

to training and employment opportunities tailored to

community needs and greater responsiveness from training

organisations to address the needs of equity groups.

In 1998 the Community Training Identification Project

worked with people from the former Yugoslavia

(Gold Coast), Samoans (Ipswich), and Australian South

Sea Islanders (North and Central).

In 1999, four community training plans are being developed

with ethnic communities:

. North Queensland and Gold Coast regions are

focusing on migrants from non-English speaking

backgrounds who have completed the Adult Migrant

English Program but are still having difficulty

entering into VET or employment;

. Far North Queensland region is focusing

on the needs of the Hmong community;

. Australian South Sea Islanders are the focus

of the Wide Bay region.

Other training plan development activities in 1999 are based

on the Laidley, Deception Bay and Logan local areas and

will include the needs of ethnic communities.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

ACCESS

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Helping women access training and

employment

The Department of Employment, Training and

Industrial Relations’ Stepping Stones Project investigated

the difficulties that women in South East Queensland have

in obtaining good information about employment and

training opportunities, and developed an information

resource kit. The research included women from a non-

English speaking background and identified that child care

and transport are still major barriers for this group in

entering the workforce. The resource kit will be trialed with

clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

across Queensland.

Skills recognition

Skill recognition allows people who have not completed

formal training, such as an apprenticeship, or who have

completed training overseas, to have their skills fully

recognised in Queensland and Australia. Skills recognition

is delivered statewide from the Department of

Employment, Training and Industrial Relations’ offices

in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Maryborough,

Lutwyche, Mt Gravatt and Toowoomba.

The department finalised 372 applications for assessment

of overseas qualifications in 1998-99. Applicants were also

provided with information regarding career and

employment opportunities, referral to professional bodies

for registration or licensing and information on retraining

or bridging programs.

The department assessed 514 applications through

Recognition of Work or Training or Trade Recognition

Assessments. This is a way of gaining formal qualifications

in Queensland in a particular trade under the Vocational

Education, Training and Employment Act 1991. From this

process, 59 people identified themselves as overseas-trained.

Anti-discrimination training

In May and June of 1999, staff at the Queensland

Anti-Discrimination Commission conducted 27 sessions

(25 of which were in Brisbane) for 500 staff of the

Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the first

time the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission has

trained an entire government department on the legislation.

The Commission was approached by the Department of

the Premier and Cabinet to conduct the two-hour sessions

as part of a “refresher course”, to ensure that the

Government’s policy for elimination of discrimination and

sexual harassment in the workforce is understood. The

training formed part of the department’s Managing for

Diversity Strategy.

Anti-racism policy

The Equal Employment Unit of the Queensland Police

Service developed an anti-racism policy which was released

on 30 March 1999 and has been included in the Human

Resource Management Manual of the Police Service.

This policy sets a benchmark in Australian Policing

Standards and Human Resource Practices and focuses on

eliminating racism in the workplace and in the delivery of

services to the community. The policy has been put onto

the intranet of the Police Service for the information of all

employees. A training and marketing initiative is being

planned to increase the awareness of the policy within the

Police Service and in the community.

Multilingual staff – database

and training

The Department of Natural Resources has developed

strategies including staff awareness training and the

compilation of data about staff with second language skills.

It is expected that the scope of the strategies being

introduced to address the policy will increase in 1999-00.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

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Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Racing Industry Training Centre

The Racing Industry Training Centre within the

Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing is responsible

for accredited vocational education and training across the

three codes of racing. It has developed an international

course aimed at providing training for overseas students in

racing and breeding in Australia.

The Centre currently has 50 Japanese students. Cultural

understanding and awareness programs are currently being

undertaken. These include four sessions annually for:

. home stay parents;

. members of the racing industry, including trainers

who have students on placement; and

. teachers and instructors in the course.

Main Roads

The Department of Main Roads has established a database

of employees with interpreting and translating skills. The

department is also developing appropriate communication

strategies which are aimed at people who have limited

English language skills. The Commonwealth’s Translating

and Interpreting Service is to be promoted by phone stickers

which will prompt staff to use interpreters where

appropriate.

Community Languages Program

The Community Languages Program is coordinated by

Education Queensland in close liaison with the Ethnic

Schools Association of Queensland. The program supports

more than 60 languages other than English spoken in

Australian society. Education Queensland supports ethnic

schools in developing curriculum and assisting with

assessment and evaluation reports as well as budget and

audit requirements.

A significant outcome of the Ethnic Schools Program has

been the development of a Strategic Plan for Ethnic Schools

1998-00 which is due for review in November 1999. (See

Appendix C for details of MAQ’s funding of ethnic schools).

English as a Second Language

Program

The English as a Second Language Program aims to

improve the educational opportunities and outcomes for

students from language backgrounds other than English

by developing their English language competence and

facilitating their participation in mainstream education

activities.

The Program operates according to the Commonwealth

guidelines for schools, under an agreement between

Education Queensland and the Commonwealth

Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs.

Commonwealth funding is supplemented by additional state

funds of $1.4 million.

The Program is delivered primarily by specialist teachers

across the State. Advice and support are provided to schools

in response to the educational and language needs of

students from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.

Accessing housing services

People from non-English speaking backgrounds form one

of the priority groups for two programs administered by

Community Housing within the Department of Housing.

Activities have included:

. funding of $1.2m to Inner Northern Community

Housing to purchase and upgrade five to six units

of accommodation. The priority target group for

this housing project is people from non-English

speaking backgrounds;

. providing non-recurrent funds of $9,139 to

Metropolitan Association Towards Community

Housing to pay four rent subsidies for 26 weeks

for refugees. This means that four refugee

households will have access to affordable housing

for 26 weeks each.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

ACCESS

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Community Housing has also approved non-recurrent

funds of $1,900 for Mangrove Housing Association to

begin the development of information about the

Community Rent Scheme in languages other than English.

This will contribute towards improving knowledge of the

availability of the Community Rent Scheme and should

improve access to such services.

Community Care Program – Child

Care Access and Equity Strategy

The Child Care Access and Equity Strategy aims to improve

the sector’s responsiveness to children with special needs,

including children from culturally and linguistically diverse

backgrounds. The strategy is coordinated through the

Office of Child Care, within the Department of Families,

Youth and Community Care. Under the Strategy,

one-off grants are provided annually to services or

organisations to undertake projects with an access and equity

focus. The organisations funded which have ethnic

communities as a target group in 1998-99 were:

. Housing Action Group Maryborough which

received $30,000 to undertake the Supported

Accommodation Assistance Program Child Care

Access and Equity project. This project will develop

strategies and resources that enhance the inclusion

of children and families in crisis in child care services;

. Wavell Heights Uniting Church Parish which

received $33,550 to further expand the library and

enhance inclusion of all children in child care services

throughout Queensland;

. Kath Dickson Family Centre Association which

received $22,452 to develop, pilot and document

best practice strategies and resources across a range

of services to enhance the inclusion of all families

in child care services.

Successful access and equity projects are promoted as models

of best practice, aimed at encouraging further access and

equity projects in mainstream child care. Promotion is

undertaken statewide within and outside the child care

sector.

Other significant activities in 1998-99 were –

. New resources to support communication between

families from culturally and linguistically diverse

backgrounds were developed by Diversity in Child

Care Queensland, through its Statewide Training

and Resourcing Program. The resources are designed

to provide information which assists these families

during the enrolment process. The resources are

available on the Internet in a range of languages to

support families in sharing relevant information, and

in understanding their rights and responsibilities.

. Training was provided by the Queensland Program

of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma

to child care service staff. This training has been

provided as an extension to the Refugee Families

in Child Care Training Kit to assist services in

providing support to families and children who

have experienced torture and trauma.

Supporting community-based

services

The Department of Families, Youth and Community

Care, through the Community and Individual Support

Program, funds community-based services which provide

assistance to the community through community

development, preventative strategies, community education,

information and referral.

Three services, which specifically target culturally and

linguistically diverse groups in Queensland, are funded

under the program. These services are:

. CO.AS.IT – Italian Australian Welfare Association,

. Logan City Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre,

and

. the Vietnamese Community in Australia

(Queensland Chapter).

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

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Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

The Department also funds the Immigrant Women’s

Support Service. This service is a statewide dedicated service

for women who are homeless or experiencing domestic

violence and who have a culturally or linguistically diverse

background. The service provides information, referral,

advocacy and outreach support to women and children in

crisis.

Disability Program

Although the Disability Program within the Department

of Families, Youth and Community Care does not have

a specific allocation for funding to people from a culturally

and linguistically diverse background, many of its services

are provided to this target group through established

programs and projects.

The Registration of Need and Adult Lifestyle Support

Funding application seeks information regarding languages

other than English spoken in an applicant’s home

environment as an indicator of need. This information is

valuable in planning appropriate service responses.

Young people accessing information

and services

In April 1999 funds of $30,000 per annum over three years

were approved by the Minister for Families, Youth and

Community Care and Minister for Disability Services for

the continuation of the Non-English Speaking Background

Youth Issues Network Project conducted by the Youth

Affairs Network of Queensland .

Matching funds of $30,000 for the project are provided by

MAQ.

This initiative provides funds to the Youth Affairs Network

of Queensland as the state peak youth organisation, to

employ a coordinator to address youth issues and improve

access to youth services for young people with diverse

cultural backgrounds.

Outcomes of the initiative include:

. enhanced access to programs and services by young

people through improved information dissemination;

. enhanced collaboration in service delivery to non-

English speaking background young people with

diverse cultural backgrounds;

. an increase in the number of training opportunities

on cross-cultural issues for youth sector workers.

The Office of Youth Affairs is currently developing

Youth Info Sheets, which will include Cultural Diversity

of Queensland’s Young People.

The Department has translated Community Service Order

– Information to parents and guardians into Vietnamese.

Health services – access framework

Queensland Health has included in its Mission Statement

for the 1999-2004 Corporate Plan the need to achieve its

mission by “Implementing the Principles of the Charter of

Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society”.

Service Agreements between Corporate Office and Health

Service Districts throughout Queensland now cite the

implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy and

the Queensland Government Language Services Policy as

corporate directions. The Service Agreements require

districts to report on the following actions:

. the development of a strategy for implementation

of the Multicultural Queensland Policy and

the Queensland Language Services Policy;

. the number of staff attending cross-cultural

awareness training;

. the number of staff who are skilled to provide mental

health services to people from diverse cultural

backgrounds.

In addition, the Service Agreement requires Health Service

Districts to attain or maintain accreditation and patient

satisfaction assessment systems which include attention to

multicultural issues. Progress in relation to all of these

requirements will be monitored by Corporate Office.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

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Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Service Agreements with non-government health-related

service providers now include the requirement that

organisations operate in accordance with the Charter

of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society.

New transcultural mental health

projects

The Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre has

been established since December 1995. However, there

have been some significant enhancements in the program

since August 1998. These include the development of a

Transcultural Mental Health Promotion and Prevention

Plan under which Queensland Health has approved an

allocation of $110,000 for the following transcultural

projects:

. parenting support for young fathers from culturally

and linguistically diverse backgrounds;

. shared-care mental health program for people from

culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

displaying the early signs and symptoms of mental

disorder who live in South Brisbane;

. anxiety prevention project to modify the FRIENDS

anxiety prevention program for children and young

people into a more culturally appropriate universal

program that meets the diverse needs of culturally

diverse participants;

. a research project on young people from culturally

and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have

experienced depression or anxiety disorders;

. the permanent inclusion of the Clinical Consultation

Service, a specialist advisory service on cross-cultural

care and a consultation service by a panel of bilingual

or bicultural health or mental health professionals;

. the Mental Health Needs assessment project for

Hmong and Filipino communities in Innisfail.

Hospitals – modelling multicultural

service delivery

In 1999 the Princess Alexandra Hospital established

a Multicultural Services Steering Committee consisting

of representatives from Clinical and Corporate Divisions

of the Hospital. A consumer representative has also been

included. A project officer has been seconded to develop

a service delivery strategy.

Activities have included:

. developing a business case for employment of

a combined Vietnamese interpreter/health

promotion officer;

. survey of staff language proficiency and interpreter

accreditation;

. redeveloping the Princess Alexandra Hospital

Language Service Guide;

. trial of dual handset phones in Emergency,

Outpatients and Pre-surgical areas;

. redesign of Multicultural Awareness Course

into small modules;

. inclusion of cross-cultural care issues into

Clinical Pathways.

The Prince Charles Hospital Health Service District

appointed a cross-cultural resource officer in April 1998 to

implement a workplace practice model developed in a

project entitled Cultural Diversity in Hospital.

Since August 1998 the project has:

. included hands-free speaker phones (to facilitate

telephone interpreting) in all patient areas in the

major redevelopment plans of the hospital;

. educated staff in the interpreter booking process

and use of interpreters;

. introduced a computerised reporting system

identifying clients who are booked for admission

by country of birth;

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responses from Queensland

Government agencies

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Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

. conducted six half-day workshops covering cultural

diversity issues for people of non-English speaking

background, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

people and the Deaf community;

. run cross-cultural in-service sessions for staff.

Refugee health services – picking up

the gaps

The QEII Hospital and Health Services District has taken

up the responsibility for health service education, health

assessment and linkage to health services for newly arrived

refugees in supported accommodation. This was previously

funded by the Commonwealth through the Brisbane Inner

South Division of General Practice. Arrangements have also

been made for coordinated oral health assessments and

urgent interventions for newly arrived refugees.

Australian South Sea Islander

health liaison

The Home and Community Care Program has funded a

worker for the Australian South Sea Islander Community

for two years in a community organisation. In November

1998 the Mackay Health Service District absorbed this

position within its service structure. The role of the worker

is to develop links with the community and health services,

inform the community about health services and assist

eligible Australian South Sea Islanders to access appropriate

services. Basing the position at the Mackay Community

Health Service strengthens its links with other District

Health Services.

Statewide training for health

The State Queensland Health Training Plan now includes

cross-cultural training as one of its priorities. Queensland

Health has also developed three related guides for health

workers to improve their understanding and knowledge of

ethnic communities in Queensland and their capacity to

provide cross-culturally sensitive health care. The guides

are:

. Cultural Diversity: A Guide for Health Professionals;

. Guidelines to Practice: Providing care to patients from

culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;

. Checklists for Cultural Assessment.

These guides have been distributed to Queensland Health’s

services throughout the State. Some areas have conducted

professional development sessions based on the guides. The

Royal Women’s Hospital used adult learning methods in

small group situations to introduce the resources and

develop appropriate uses for them.

Furthermore, the Transcultural Mental Health Centre

within Queensland Health has initiated the development

of two new modules (Assessment and Diagnosis and

Treatment) for the Managing Cultural Diversity in Mental

Health professional development program. The Centre is

also coordinating a program to foster interpreter

accreditation for bilingual mental health staff.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

ACCESS

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Funding and support for

community arts and cultural

projects

Arts Queensland is formulating a multicultural arts policy

and employs a full-time Cultural Diversity Consultant to

ensure that the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally

Diverse Society is implemented within Arts Queensland and

the arts industry.

Arts Queensland administers the Multicultural

Communities Arts Program, which is jointly funded

by MAQ and Arts Queensland with an annual contribution

of $20,000 from each agency. This program assists

community groups and organisations to develop and express

cultural identity in contemporary or traditional artforms.

In 1998-99 16 applications were approved.

The following initiatives are also relevant to access:

. the application pro-forma for funding programs

was developed with the help of focus groups

including artists from differing cultural backgrounds;

. interpreters and translating services are used to assist

clients having difficulties communicating in English

and for translating of funding applications;

. Arts Queensland maintains a database of artists,

arts workers and organisations/groups from diverse

backgrounds to facilitate effective and efficient

communication with clients, and equitable access

to services and programs;

. annual information sessions are held throughout

the State about programs of assistance and details

of these sessions are sent to ethnic community

organisations;

. the Arts and Museums Development Program

assessment process includes a review of applications

by the Cultural Diversity Consultative Committee.

In 1998-99 30 applications of a culturally diverse nature

were funded under the Arts and Museums Development

Program representing 33.3 per cent of the successful

applications.

In 1999 the Regional Arts Development Fund Program

will be reviewed to respond to changing interests and

demands in Queensland regarding regional arts and cultural

development. One of the main aims of the review will be

to revise publication of the Program Procedure Manual,

which is distributed to committee members in regional

Queensland. The manual provides information on issues

that impact on regional arts and cultural development and

on decision-making processes such as social justice issues

(cultural diversity, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander,

disabilities, youth), new technologies and public art.

Culturally sensitive incident

management

A Language Services Policy and Procedure document is

being developed by the Department of Emergency

Services. The document aims to provide a comprehensive

approach to the delivery of emergency services to

Queensland’s ethnic communities.

The Language Services Policy and Procedure document

will focus on the following areas of emergency service

delivery:

. pre-incident strategies in relation to prevention,

access to services, public education;

. emergency 000 situations;

. culturally sensitive incident management.

The department has also designed a translation and

interpretation kit to allow firefighters to communicate

quickly and effectively with non-English speaking witnesses

on scene at structural fires. The kit incorporates a simple

flow chart that has been translated into 23 languages.

It will enable firefighters to gain vital information from non-

English speaking witnesses about the fire scene, such as if

anyone is trapped inside the structure and where they mostly

likely would be found.

The translation and interpretation kit will greatly assist

firefighters in their service delivery and further serve to

enhance the safety of the Queensland community.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

ACCESS

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Other strategies undertaken by the department include:

. the distribution of safety brochures in multiple

languages by the Queensland Fire and Rescue

Authority and the Queensland Ambulance Service;

. the promotion of services in ethnic media;

. Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority forums

in selected ethnic communities to provide advice

on how to access services and other general public

safety issues.

Knowledge of the law

You, the Law and Society information package is a booklet

developed by the Queensland Police Service for

community groups, Ethnic Communities Councils,

consulates, tourist organisations and the Commonwealth

Government Community Refugee Settlement Scheme.

This resource provides recent arrivals to the country with

updated, easy-to-understand information on the law and

their rights. It contains 20 topics detailing relevant

community and Police-related issues, including personal

safety, issuing of driver’s licences and crime prevention. The

booklet has been published in English and three other

languages (to be increased to four), and has accompanying

multilingual videos.

The Department of Primary Industries has developed

brochures in Vietnamese which provide information on laws

and regulations on fishing in Queensland waters, signage

is in Vietnamese as well as English. Officers of the

Queensland Boating and Fishing Patrol attend cross-cultural

training courses to ensure they have the skills to deal with a

diverse client group.

Police working with interpreters

Officers from the Cultural Advisory Unit have undertaken

a review of the engagement of interpreters throughout the

Police Service, in line with the Queensland Government

Language Services Policy. Outcomes of the review included

improved knowledge by Police Service personnel of the

issues surrounding the use of interpreters, hence leading

to better services to the community.

Information developed about working with interpreters,

including references to legislation and operational

procedures and scenario-based information, is published

through the electronic Police Service Intranet, giving

24-hour, on-line assistance to operational Police Officers

and all other personnel within the Service.

Police Cross Cultural Liaison

Officers

Cross Cultural Liaison Officers are appointed to improve

relations between the Queensland Police Service and

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and ethnic

communities. Cross Cultural Liaison Officers also help

communities access Police services. There are sixteen full

time and 15 part-time officers in the Police Service, of whom

nine are of non-English speaking (including Indigenous)

backgrounds.

A review of the roles and functions of the Cross Cultural

Liaison Officers has been undertaken by the Service. As

a result, the guide for Cross Cultural Liaison Officers will

be updated.

Police Liaison Officers

Police Liaison Officers are unsworn officers who have a

role to foster communication and cooperation between

culturally specific communities and the Police Service. These

officers can be easily recognised by the yellow epaulettes

on their Police uniforms and yellow chequered hatbands.

Torres Strait Islander Police Liaison Officers wear green/

blue epaulettes. They do not have the power of arrest and

are required to assist Police with incidents involving

members of their own communities.

The Officers were first introduced in 1989 and now number

118, including two Vietnamese and a Samoan Police Liaison

Officer.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

ACCESS

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Maori language and cultural

program

Funded by the Department of Families, Youth and

Community Care, the Te Kohanga Ote Whenua Hou

Association provides this program at the John Oxley Youth

Detention Centre.

The program is designed for Maori, Polynesian and New

Zealand-born young people and is educative in format and

structure. The various modules of the program include

language, visual art and dance.

Personal growth of the young participants is nurtured

through setting achievable tasks within a cultural context.

The program offers a support network which extends

beyond the young person’s family. The organisation

providing the service is committed to meeting the needs of

participants, supporting their initiatives and providing

resources. The delivery of these services extends to assisting

the reintegration of the young people on their release from

detention.

Courts

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General

provides interpreters in court for defendants in criminal

matters and parties to domestic violence disputes. Telephone

interpreting is also provided at counters of courthouse

registries.

The department also produces Domestic Violence

Factsheets in 14 languages. The factsheets provide

information on domestic violence and the court process,

on the effects of orders and on options. The factsheets are

available from courthouses, community organisations and

the department’s website.

Support for victims of violence

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General has

provided funding to the Immigrant Women’s Support

Service to develop a pilot community outreach and support

program for immigrant and refugee women from Filipino,

Thai, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Arabic-speaking communities.

The Witness Interpreter and Victim Support Service,

administered by the Office of the Director of

Prosecutions, assists witnesses providing evidence in court

matters and victims of crime. Witnesses are provided with

interpreters for pre-conference and trial evidence.

Brochures in six languages are available for victims of crime.

Legal aid

Legal Aid Queensland’s Strategic Plan 1998-01 includes

an access to services objective. This objective aims to increase

community awareness of its services, review existing services,

use technology to increase innovation and enhance services

to women, children and remote and rural communities.

To help people access legal aid services, Legal Aid

Queensland funds the following initiatives:

. the Bilingual Information Service provides legal

information and referral to Vietnamese and Spanishspeaking

communities. The service assists in civil,

criminal and family law matters. As a part of Legal

Aid’s Client Service Centre, the bilingual staff also

conduct community education activities. Information

about the service is included on Brisbane InfoKiosk;

. factsheets in seven languages other than English

are available from Legal Aid Offices.

In addition, the Factory Information Project, located in

Brisbane, is supported by staff from Legal Aid’s Bilingual

Information Service and Women’s Legal Aid. This outreach

service assists women who are overseas-born and who work

in factories in the Brisbane region.

Also, Legal Aid’s Inala office supports a part-time

Vietnamese-speaking solicitor to provide legal information

and advice to members of the Vietnamese community.

Correctional services

The Department of Corrective Services provides

interpreting services to offenders on an “as required” basis.

Written information outlining the correctional system and

prisoners’ management is provided in five languages other

than English at the point of reception and induction into

the custodial system.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

ACCESS

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

PARTICIPATION

Participation

Maximising business and trade

opportunities

The first Queensland International Business Diversity

Summit organised by the Department of State

Development and MAQ was held in Brisbane on

7 May 1999. The Summit brought together 170

representatives from the multicultural business community,

international business organisations, mainstream business,

universities and the State Government. The Summit

was chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier,

Mr Gordon Nuttall.

Following presentations by the Premier and other speakers,

the audience divided into three workshop sessions which

focused on important sectors for Queensland namely Food

and Agribusiness, Environmental Management, and

Building and Construction.

The Summit developed recommendations to better harness

the skills, expertise and networks of the multicultural

business community in increasing Queensland’s trade and

investment. The recommendations focus on encouraging

better utilisation of the expertise available in multicultural

communities, raising awareness of its potential value to

business and making the relevant information easily

accessible. Summit participants also provided advice on

activities designed to expand the profile of Queensland

products in key overseas markets. In addition, private sector

participants clearly signalled that they wished to continue

the process begun at the Summit.

Yungaba Bilateral International

Business Centre

On 17 February 1999 the Minister for State Development

opened the Bilateral International Business Centre at

Yungaba, Kangaroo Point. The Centre is home to

representatives of 10 of Queensland’s most valued trading

partners. This is only a first step for the Centre, the

Department of State Development will work with all the

State’s bilateral chambers of commerce, business councils

and private sector organisations to provide Queensland

industry with a coordinated and centralised location for

bilateral trade facilitation and information services.

Deputy Premier Jim Elder launched the new bilateral

International Business Centre at Yungaba.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Queensland Olympic 2000 task

force

The Queensland Olympic 2000 Task Force, chaired by the

Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing, is a “lead

agency” for the Queensland State Government, established

to identify opportunities and maximise the benefits to the

State from the staging of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and

Paralympic Games. The Task Force has identified

opportunities for Queensland in the tourism, business,

sport, major events and the arts industries/sectors.

The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games

met with multicultural community leaders through MAQ’s

Interchange Program in Brisbane on 24 May 1999. Arts

Queensland, MAQ and the Task Force distributed

information to all ethnic communities in the State to

encourage their participation in Olympic cultural activity

associated with the Olympic Torch Relay, Brisbane Olympic

Football (soccer) Tournament and the Olympic Arts

Festivals based in Sydney.

The Task Force is also working with Arts Queensland to

ensure the State’s involvement in the Sydney 2000 Olympic

Arts Festivals and associated events program.

Participation in heritage projects

Ethnic community history has been a priority of the

Queensland Community History Grants Program since that

program’s inception in 1994. This program, administered

through the Environmental Protection Agency, provides

all Queenslanders with equitable access to heritage grants

and participation in community history.

Projects funded from previous grants and completed

in 1998-99 included:

. a book published on the contribution of the Italian

community to the development of St Patrick’s

Church, Ingham;

. Brisbane Synagogue Restoration,

The Brisbane Hebrew Congregation;

. Portrait of a Parish, Catholic Parish,

St Patrick’s, Ingham;

. Hou Wang Miau, Friends of Hou Wang Miau

(Atherton Chinese Temple);

. Palma Rosa Conservation Plan, English Speaking

Union Inc.

In the 1998-99 Queensland community heritage grants

program, successful applicants included:

. South Sea Islander Cultural Mapping in Livingstone

Shire, Livingstone Shire Council;

. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church Conservation

Study, Parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Church;

. Thursday Island Cemetery Consultation, Torres

Shire Council. (The cemetery includes ethnic burials

and headstones, for example, Japanese pearlers).

The Mackay Tourism and Development Bureau Ltd was

provided $64,000 funding through the Centenary of

Federation Funds to develop a cultural tourism project

celebrating the South Sea Islander people’s contribution

to the development of Mackay and the sugar industry over

the past 100 years. The project involves:

. developing a historical display containing artefacts

and photographs representing the South Sea Islander

community origins;

. producing a video capturing anecdotal evidence

of their history;

. developing a venue where traditional crafts

are produced and sold;

. staging a festival in 2001 to coincide with the

anniversary of the 25 August 1994 recognition

of the South Sea Islander people in Australia

as a distinct multicultural group, to celebrate and

showcase their achievements to the general public.

The Joskeleigh Community Association received $14,700

through the Centenary of Federation Fund to establish a

museum to detail the history and display artefacts of South

Sea Islanders of the Capricornia region and their

contribution to the community of Joskeleigh and the

Capricorn coast.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

PARTICIPATION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Participation in the arts

The Marketing Cultural Diversity Research Project was an

initiative designed to give culturally diverse producers and

consumers equitable access to and participation in

Queensland’s cultural industries. This 1997 project led to

the development of further initiatives including:

. the establishment of culturally diverse marketing

networks to identify strategies and projects to

address the marketing needs of the network

participants;

. a pilot project to increase participation rates at the

Queensland Museum by developing and building

long-term relationships with the Chinese community.

These two projects, implemented in 1998-99, will continue

in 1999-00 along with strategies and programs developed

by the Queensland Museum which aim to foster a close

relationship between the Chinese community and the

museum.

Arts Queensland has also initiated research and

development of local, national and international markets

for arts and cultural products and also supports international

cultural exchanges. Arts Queensland, together with the

Department of State Development, brought to

Queensland the Kyonggi Samul Nori percussion group and

dignitaries of the Kyonggi Cultural Foundation from South

Korea. Queensland and Kyonggi Province have a sisterstate

agreement signed in 1997 which has resulted in several

cultural exchange programs.

The Logan City Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre was

provided $50,000 funding through the Centenary of

Federation Funds for a community art project. The project

will be designed by local cultural groups, allowing all Logan

residents and visitors to have the opportunity to see the

uniqueness of the city’s and Australia’s cultural patterns.

The design will be interpreted by an artist (different artists

will work with different groups) and made into individual

mosaic rugs suitable for placement within concrete

footpaths around Logan Central.

The Queensland State Government’s Art Built-in policy,

which came into effect on 1 July 1999, is aligned with the

principles of the Multicultural Queensland Policy. It ensures

that building planners address cultural issues through

undertaking an Integrated Cultural Opportunities

Assessment report to identify and consult with multicultural

groups in the community.

With assistance under the Public Art Agency’s Collaborative

Design Fund, artist Sam Di Mauro consulted with local

residents who had contributed oral histories to the

development of images and wording associated with the

Johnstone Shire Cultural Association’s River Reflections

public art project. Local artists from diverse backgrounds

including Italian, Hmong, South Sea Islanders and

Aborigines were engaged.

Queensland Framework for Ageing

1999-04 – consultations

In 1999, the Office of Ageing held 23 consultation

meetings throughout Queensland to inform the

development of the Queensland Framework for Ageing

1999-04. People from diverse ethnic backgrounds attended

most of these meetings and about 25 people attended a

consultation meeting in South Brisbane to specifically

discuss the perspective and issues of older people with

diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The Office of

Ageing will consider the issues raised at these consultation

meetings as it prepares the publication in late 1999.

The State Government’s current five-year plan to respond

to the needs of older Queenslanders, Everyone’s Future:

Queensland’s Forward Plan on Ageing, addresses the needs

of older people from ethnic communities.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

PARTICIPATION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Multicultural Seniors Program

– Gold Coast

As part of the Older People’s Action Program, the Office

of Ageing funds a Multicultural Seniors Program at

Southport on the Gold Coast. The Program is an on-going

initiative of the Office of Ageing.

The aim of the program is to increase opportunities for

independence and community participation for Queensland

Seniors who are socially isolated or at risk of becoming

socially isolated. Nine local projects throughout Queensland

are funded to:

. assess and implement opportunities for enhancing

the community involvement and independence

of older people;

. provide flexible and creative programs to meet

the identified needs of well older people;

. establish networks and self-help initiatives

which support older people and strengthen

their communities.

Premier’s Awards for Queensland

Seniors

The Premier’s Awards for Queensland Seniors is an annual

event which recognises the outstanding voluntary

community contributions of older people in Queensland.

The Office of Ageing administers the event on behalf of

the Premier. An important component of the Premier’s

Awards is its distribution and media strategy. The distribution

and media strategy for the Premier’s Awards specifically

targets people from non-English speaking backgrounds by

disseminating information about the Awards to their

organisations and media outlets.

In addition, three of the eight people who make up the

Premier’s Awards Selection Committee are from non-

English speaking backgrounds. Specific strategies are used

to encourage nominations for the Premier’s Awards and, as

a result, there has been a significant increase in the number

of nominations received from, and Awards given to, people

from non-English speaking backgrounds. In 1999 35 out

of 174 nominations came from people from non-English

speaking backgrounds.

International Year of Older Persons

– state steering committee

An International Year of Older Person committee was

established in May 1998 by the Department of Families,

Youth and Community Care to assist in ensuring broad

community participation during the year. The Ethnic

Communities Council of Queensland is represented on this

committee.

Disability Program – consultations

The Disability Program’s planned consultation strategy and

the five-year Strategic Plan for Disability Services will involve

participation of people from culturally and linguistically

diverse backgrounds.

Domestic Violence Prevention Week

Each year the Department of Families, Youth and

Community Care, in collaboration with the Queensland

Domestic Violence Council, coordinates Domestic Violence

Prevention Week to raise community awareness about

domestic violence in Queensland. It provides an

opportunity for the community to demonstrate its concern

about domestic violence and to get involved in its

prevention.

The week has two major community awareness

components:

. a media and education campaign involving paid

and community advertising and the distribution

of specific resources;

. activities and events focusing on domestic violence

conducted by community organisations across

Queensland with the assistance of one-off grants

from the department.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

PARTICIPATION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Multicultural strategies used for work involving Domestic

Violence Prevention Week include:

. distribution of resources and information

on the week to agencies which work with people

from diverse cultures;

. the production of a poster and z-card brochures

in languages other than English;

. the use of pictures on all the resources, to express

concepts of domestic violence, in order to improve

accessibility to people from non-English speaking

backgrounds;

. domestic violence help-cards in eight languages

other than English.

The Queensland Domestic Violence Prevention Awards,

presented during the week, recognise initiatives that

contribute towards the prevention of domestic violence.

One of the selection criteria used to determine winners of

the awards is “Inclusiveness – the degree of involvement of

people from diverse backgrounds including culture,

language, age, gender and disability”.

Young people participating

Activities undertaken by the Office of Youth Affairs,

within the Department of Families, Youth and

Community Care incorporate the principles of the

Multicultural Queensland Policy. Some recent initiatives

include:

. a Youth Allowance Forum which was held in June

1999. It was organised jointly by Youth Affairs

Network of Queensland and Office of Youth Affairs

and included specific consideration of issues relevant

to young people of culturally and linguistically

diverse communities;

. the Youth Participation Strategy seeks to involve

young people (including young people with

culturally diverse backgrounds) in government

decision making. As part of the strategy a website

is being developed which will promote the use

of appropriate technology which translates the

website information into the user’s own language;

. the new Youth Up Front Award sponsored by the

department as part of Year 2000 Young Australian

of the Year Award will recognise young people who

contribute to understanding and greater

participation of young people from different cultural

backgrounds.

Supported Assistance

Accommodation Program –

Ministerial advisory arrangement

A Ministerial advisory forum has been established as a

consultation mechanism which provides advice on policy

and practice to Government. It includes representatives

from services supporting culturally diverse and non-English

speaking background people who are homeless.

Women’s round table meeting

The Office of Women’s Policy, within the Department

of Equity and Fair Trading, coordinated the Queensland

Women’s Round Table Meeting on 1 and 2 June 1999 at

Parliament House. Representatives from 55 nongovernment

organisations and services across Queensland

participated. There was strong representation by

multicultural women’s organisation at the meeting. The

Office of Women’s Policy will forward the issues and

recommendations arising from the Round Table to

appropriate government departments for their information

and consideration.

Queensland Police/ethnic youth

partnership

This National Police Ethnic Advisory Bureau initiative has

resulted in the formation of the Queensland Police/Ethnic

Youth Partnership which decided that the most effective

way forward was to trial a community development process

in one location at Inala. It was also agreed that reporting

and evaluation mechanisms should be employed as part of

the trial initiative so similar processes could be implemented

in other regions across Queensland.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

PARTICIPATION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

The development of the partnership will renew commitment

and enhance relations between Police and ethnic youth.

However, it was decided to extend the trial initiative to

include all young people, not just those from culturally and

linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Strategic partnerships for Police

The Queensland Police Service has developed a Strategic

Directions Document after statewide consultations with

ethnic communities. This document has recently been

updated to align with the Multicultural Queensland Policy

and outlines strategies on how to meet the needs of our

culturally diverse society.

The Strategic Direction Working Group, with members

from the Police Ethnic Advisory Group, monitors the

implementation of the strategies and provides advice and

suggestions to ensure services provided by the Queensland

Police Service are equitable. It also ensures that strategic

partnerships are developed to engage members of the

community.

Police Ethnic Advisory Group

The Police Ethnic Advisory Group was established in 1991

as an advisory body to the Queensland Police Service on

issues relating to cultural diversity and maintaining

harmonious Police community relations. The group is

currently chaired by the Queensland Anti-discrimination

Commission and has membership from the community

sector, Police and other service providers.

Multicultural health liaison

volunteers

The Townsville Health Services District has formed and

trained volunteers from ethnic communities to assist staff

and patients from these communities in health care

situations. The role includes visiting patients, families or

carers in hospital, providing relevant cultural information

to staff and assisting staff explaining health service

arrangements to patients and their families and carers.

Health research partnerships

The Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre, in

partnership with Red Cross Research, is undertaking an

action research project to determine ways to work more

effectively with refugees from the greater Horn of Africa

including the development of a living skills program for

new-arrivals.

Health consultations

As part of a review of maternity services the Royal Women’s

Hospital ensured participation by women consumers from

ethnic groups in a large-scale appraisal of community

services.

The Mater Mothers’ Hospital has also consulted ethnic

groups represented in the hospital’s patient population in

developing a Women’s Health Strategic Plan.

The Prince Charles Hospital Health Service District

coordinates a Community Advisory Group for advice and

guidance on their Cultural Diversity in Hospital project.

Vocational education and training

committees

The Queensland Adult English Language, Literacy and

Numeracy Council was reconstituted in March 1999.

Ethnic communities are encouraged to identify local unmet

needs for English-language training so that these can be

addressed in the planning process.

An Ethnic Issues in Vocational Education and Training

Advisory Committee was established in November 1998,

in order to increase access and participation in vocational

education and training by people from ethnic communities.

Nominees to this committee were found using MAQ’s

met three times and provided information about ways of

determining and responding to needs of ethnic communities

as well as gaining information to distribute to their networks

about how vocational education and training could be

accessed.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

PARTICIPATION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

The Adult Community Education Advisory Committee was

established in May 1999. The Committee includes members

who have expertise in service provision for people from

ethnic communities and will assist in the development of

Queensland’s Adult Community Education Policy. Adult

Community Education includes informal and formal

training opportunities delivered by many agencies and offers

settings that may appeal to people who need additional

support and ancillary services.

The right to vote

As part of the Joint Roll Arrangement between the

Commonwealth and the State, the Australian Electoral

Commission produces roll-related brochures and

promotional materials utilising languages other than

English. Information and awareness campaigns run for

elections target people from non-English speaking

background.

On a day-to-day basis the Queensland Electoral

Commission has client contact with the Queensland

community through its electoral information service. Since

its establishment in June 1992, the Commission has used

professional interpreter services, in circumstances where

clients have had difficulty communicating in English, as an

integral part of this service.

Main Roads

The Department of Main Roads has developed

community profiles for each of its 14 districts. The profiles,

which enable staff to better identify stakeholders, include

information about the cultural diversity of the local

population. Staff are also trained on multicultural issues as

part of departmental training on consultation.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

PARTICIPATION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Cohesion

Living in harmony project

The Queensland Police Service initiated the development

of two 20-minute videos highlighting the role of the

Cultural Advisory Unit, Regional Cross Cultural Liaison

Officers and interaction with the Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander people and ethnic communities through

Police Liaison Officers. One of the videos has an Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander focus while the other has an ethnic

focus.

The production of the videos was funded by a grant from

the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

The project aims to demonstrate the advantages of good

working relationships between Police and the community

for use in public relations, marketing, recruitment and

training. The production will articulate the positive aspects

of cultural and community policing in an informative and

entertaining manner and will prompt viewers to think about

the importance of community policing and its role within

Police services.

Road to reconciliation

The Department of Public Works and the Department

of Transport have reached agreement to introduce a new

corporate QG number plate which incorporates a

reconciliation message as a way to create awareness of the

Government’s commitment to this important issue.

International Human Rights Day

The Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland

initiated a partnership approach to celebrations of the 50th

Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

and International Human Rights Day. A people’s breakfast,

attended by some 400 people, was hosted in King George

Square in partnership with MAQ, Brisbane City Council,

the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Policy and Development, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Commission and Australians for Reconciliation.

Government and non-government organisations set up

information stalls in the Square. During the breakfast and

for the remainder of the day crowds in the Square were

entertained by groups and individuals with a multicultural

theme.

Building cohesion through

our children and young people

The Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland is

funding a Racism in Schools project during 1999.

The project was initiated by the Commission in response

to concerns about increasing numbers of incidents of

apparently race-related harassment and abuse occurring

between students in the school environment. This project

aims to produce positive outcomes, with strategies that can

be reproduced by other schools in positively managing

diversity and engaging with their communities.

The project is being conducted on behalf of the Commission

by a multidisciplinary team headed by the University of

Queensland.

The project has the full support of the State, Catholic and

independent education sectors and schools at primary and

secondary level from all three sectors are participating.

Schools were selected on the basis of their expressed interest,

their geographic location, their demographics and the

strategies they currently have in place.

The project is being advised by a reference group which

includes key stakeholders.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

COHESION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Under the Skin – combating racism

in Queensland schools

The Under the Skin program is a professional development

package developed by Education Queensland which seeks

to explore issues surrounding racism. It targets teachers,

administration teams and other departmental staff in

developing strategies to combat racism.

This initiative supports the Multicultural Queensland Policy

through:

. valuing cultural diversity and promoting a culturally

inclusive approach at the policy, operational and

curriculum level of the department;

. assisting in the development of whole-school

approaches that combat racism.

In 1998-99 30 workshops involving 40 schools were held

throughout the State.

Visitor Hospitality Program

Following the allocation of $250,000 from the Premier,

Tourism Queensland developed and implemented a Visitor

Hospitality Program. The program involves the

development of radio, television and press advertisements

encouraging Queenslanders to make visitors feel welcome

with the slogan “G’day enjoy your stay”. Tourism

Queensland is currently expanding the campaign to ensure

its influence is maintained throughout the State.

Cultural Tourism Strategy

Tourism Queensland, in conjunction with other relevant

government agencies continues to implement a Cultural

Tourism Strategy which was developed to promote

Queensland’s cultural variety to domestic and international

visitors. The strategy is designed to broaden the marketing

of Queensland to showcase regional tourism product,

including Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures.

Cultural Tourism fosters cultural vitality and identity at a

local level, promoting active participation of both residents

and visitors in addition to promoting regional and local

tourism.

International Visitor Consumer

Education Strategy

Tourism Queensland is also developing an international

visitor consumer education strategy targeting visitors in their

country of origin, in flight and on arrival. As part of this

process, the agency is producing draft consumer education

brochures and posters in English and multilingual versions.

This material will be distributed at airports, key hotels,

embassies and visitor information centres.

Local Government Community

Relations Project

This project was a cooperative venture jointly funded by

the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland and

MAQ and implemented in 1998.

It was based on the success of the pilot Community

Relations Project (1996-97) implemented by MAQ in

collaboration with Ipswich and Gold Coast City Councils

and with the assistance of a consortium which included the

Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland.

A project worker was engaged on a part time basis to work

with Brisbane and Hervey Bay City Councils. A Steering

Committee of key stakeholders oversaw the project.

The project focused on developing frameworks for the

ongoing management of community relations by the local

governments. It established planning groups and the

development of local community relations plans.

The project outcomes are now being expanded through

the Local Area Multicultural Partnership Program. The

Anti-Discrimination Commission continues its role in this

program as a member of the project reference committee.

Celebrating our cultural diversity

The QEII Hospital Health Service District Open Day

focussed on celebrating cultural diversity. Local community

groups were invited to participate in providing

entertainment and food stalls. It was also an opportunity

to provide information about multicultural health programs.

Cultural diversity guides for health professionals were also

launched at the event.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

COHESION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Recognising the contribution of

ethnic communities to building

Queensland

Under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 the Queensland

Heritage Council enters places in the Heritage Register on

its own nomination, or after receiving applications from

members of the public.

The Cultural Heritage Unit, within the Environmental

Protection Agency, retains a separate inventory of heritage

places which are evidence of the contribution of ethnic

communities to the development of Queensland. The

following places were added to that inventory in 1998-99:

. the former Assmanshausen Winery, Sandy Creek,

Warwick was constructed in 1870 and is important

as a role model for the establishment of vineyards

and wineries on the Darling Downs. The place

illustrates the important contribution of early

German immigrants to the evolution and

development of Queensland. The finely-finished

house illustrates the success of the winery and the

desire of its immigrant owners to establish

themselves in their adopted country;

. Chinatown in Atherton, is important in

demonstrating the evolution of Queensland history

in that the Chinese were pioneers of agriculture in

North Queensland and as such played an important

role in the opening up of the Atherton area for

settlement. It is a major Chinese settlement site

in tropical Queensland and has never been built over.

Such a concentrated site of Chinese occupation is

rare in Australia, making Chinatown an important

archaeological site. It has potential to yield

information that will contribute to an understanding

of Queensland’s history by demonstrating the

formation of, and life within, a large Chinese

settlement in Australia;

. the former Quarantine Station, Pallarenda, was

constructed in 1915-16 under an Employment

Enhancement Scheme and is one of few surviving

early Quarantine Stations in Australia and the only

substantially intact example in North Queensland.

The site demonstrates government and community

attempts to eradicate and treat tropical disease and

effect racial segregation at the turn of the century;

. Paronella Park, Mena Creek, was designed and

constructed by Jose Paronella in the early 1930s

as a “commercial pleasure garden” and “Spanishstyle

castillo” inspired by the Moorish architecture

and gardens of Spain. Paronella Park is unique in

Queensland and is a rare and unusual example of

an early tourist attraction.

The Cultural Heritage Unit’s contribution to the Regional

Forest Project documentation of cultural values was utilised

in 1998-99 for historical research on displaced persons and

their work in the forest industry in the post World War

Two era.

Multicultural initiatives

responses from Queensland

Government agencies

COHESION

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

The Multicultural Queensland Policy requires MAQ

to report to the Premier on highlights in implementing

the policy and emerging issues in the portfolio.

Community input was sought by MAQ on the success

of government agency’s implementation of the policy

and, more broadly, current and emerging community

issues. This input was obtained from the following

sources:

. delegations to Community Cabinet meetings

received by the Premier and the Parliamentary

Secretary to the Premier, Mr Gordon Nuttall,

between August 1998 and June 1999;

. issues raised in meetings of a Community

Monitoring Group on the Multicultural

Queensland Policy which was established

and is chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary;

. a major statewide consultation strategy

undertaken by MAQ;

. Regional Communities Conference Reports

published by the Department of Communication,

Information, Local Government and Planning;

. consultations conducted by the Office of Ageing

with older people from diverse ethnic

backgrounds.

(See Appendix G for full details of the locations and dates

of these consultations).

Issues raised by the community at the consultation

meetings touched on a wide range of public services.

Most of the issues raised were based on the participants’

first hand experiences, though in some cases there were

also anecdotal reports. These issues are grouped under

the three core principles of access, participation, and

cohesion.

Community views

Premier Peter Beattie chats with community leaders

following the launch of the Multicultural Queensland Policy

in August 1998 at the German Club in Brisbane.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Community views

ACCESS

Access

Information management

The lack of, or insufficient information about, government

services available in the community was raised at almost all

meetings. Community members expressed a strong need

for more information from government agencies about their

services and functions, preferably in formats that are

culturally appropriate to people of diverse linguistic and

cultural backgrounds. More extensive use of translated

materials has been repeatedly suggested by many

participants as a means to assist people, especially newlyarrived

migrants and refugees, who are not proficient in

English.

Criticisms were made about the perceived “bureaucratic

run-around” when accessing public services. People were

often upset by the constant referring and transferring among

different departments and agencies. The use of voice

messages to handle enquiries was also considered by many

participants as impersonal, not user-friendly and for those

with language difficulties, difficult to follow.

Many community members expressed the need for

application forms (including grant application forms) and

other government information to be written in plain

English.

In the Mackay Regional Communities Conference it was

suggested that an information office be established to direct

community enquiries on cultural matters to the appropriate

government department.

Language services

The majority of the participants have identified proficiency

in English as the most important barrier for people of non-

English speaking backgrounds to access public services. The

need for suitable and convenient interpreting services was

repeatedly raised.

Participants were generally critical of the interpreting

services provided by the Commonwealth’s Translating and

Interpreting Service. The main problem identified was the

lack of local interpreting services whereby speedy assistance

could be arranged when required. In Cairns, the need for

an interpreting service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander languages in Far North Queensland was also raised.

Inclusive service delivery

Another major factor hindering access to service was the

perceived lack of sensitivity, cross-cultural knowledge and

cross-cultural skill among public service staff, particularly

those working at the front counter.

All major service providers were mentioned under this

concern in the three spheres of government. Many

participants supported the need for all pubic servants to

undertake training in cross-cultural awareness and skills.

In Mount Isa, participants went a step further to suggest

that such training should be made compulsory for all public

officers.

Geographical distance and lack of transport facilities were

two major obstacles to access public services for people living

in regional and rural areas. Some participants felt that there

were not enough government offices situated in regional

and remote places to provide essential services.

Members of new and emerging communities (including

the Hmong, Cook Islander, Japanese, Papua New Guinean

and Samoan communities) faced additional problems in

accessing public services as there was less recognition of,

and less support for, these smaller communities.

Access to broadcasting services of the Special Broadcasting

Service was requested by participants in Mackay and

Hervey Bay.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Community views

ACCESS

The need for better communication between government

departments and the community was raised on many

occasions. It was generally mentioned that government

departments need to be more sensitive to the needs and

issues of communities of diverse cultural backgrounds. The

need to improve liaison between the Police and the

community was often mentioned. It was also suggested that

more multicultural workers should be funded to provide

ethno-specific services to ethnic communities.

The need for the Government to employ more people of

diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds to deliver

services in our multicultural community was also raised.

In general many participants expressed the need for ethnospecific

services for people of diverse backgrounds who may

require special assistance in their settlement processes.

Special migrant liaison workers have been proposed for

migrant communities, especially in youth and health care

areas.

The special needs of various services for young people and

older people of diverse backgrounds were raised at most

consultation meetings. These include general needs such

as housing, employment, health and education as well as

specific problems in relation to alcoholism, drug addiction

and sexual and physical abuse.

Immigration issues and settlement assistance for refugees

and asylum seekers were raised at a number of meetings. In

addition, many participants commented on the two-year

waiting period for Commonwealth Government pensions

and benefits. The waiting period was considered too long

and has caused extreme hardship for some newly-arrived

migrant families.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Community views

PARTICIPATION

Participation

Discussions on how the community could actively

participate in all aspects of life in Queensland were focused

on two main areas:

. how people of diverse cultural and linguistic

backgrounds could improve their employment

opportunities through better use of their talents

and skills;

. the need for more funding for community projects

and programs.

Better use of people’s talents

and skills

The relatively high unemployment rates among members

of ethnic communities was a common concern expressed

by many participants. Lack of job information, skills in

applying for jobs and proficiency in English were suggested

as major causes.

Many participants reported that job opportunities for people

from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds were low,

especially in regional and rural areas where local economies

were declining. There was criticism about the level of

assistance to help newly-arrived migrants and refugees find

jobs.

Employers were also considered to be generally insensitive

to the needs of workers of diverse cultural backgrounds

and not able to fully utilise the workers’ cultural and

language skills.

The issue of recognition of overseas qualifications was raised

at all of the consultation meetings. The majority of

participants considered that current information and

assistance were not enough to enable overseas professionals

to have their qualifications recognised in Australia. Many

participants suggested that the Government should provide

more language and on-the-job training to people from

diverse backgrounds so that they could re-enter the field of

work in which they were originally trained.

It was suggested that job opportunities in tourism and art

may also be created by making use of migrants’ cultural

and language skills. Assistance should be considered for

businesses that employ people of diverse backgrounds and

the State Government should lead the move by employing

more such people in the public service.

Many migrants and refugees of diverse backgrounds might

have taken up voluntary work when they first arrived. It

was suggested that funding should be provided to upgrade

their skills and enhance their chance to secure formal

employment. In the Ipswich and Hervey Bay meetings and

in the consultation conducted by the Office of Ageing,

proper recognition of contributions by volunteers in the

form of payment or reimbursement was proposed.

A suggestion was made that the Register of Multicultural

Advisers (ROMA) administered by MAQ be expanded to

include a database of people of diverse backgrounds who

have special talents and skills so that their services and

contributions could be effectively employed when such

opportunities arose. At one consultation, it was also

suggested that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

and members of ethnic communities be appointed to key

positions in community organisations.

The consultation conducted by the Office of Ageing

identified the need for special assistance to help older people

utilise their retirement time and embrace new challenges.

It was suggested that the Government should set an example

by employing mature age workers so that they may continue

to participate actively in the community.

Better transport services and security for aged people in

public places and at home were also raised as important

issues relating to participation. Many older people were

tied up by family commitments and would need to be

formally invited to take part in community activities. Better

provision of health care services and ethno-specific respite

care with bilingual workers were suggested.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Community views

PARTICIPATION

Funding and support for

community projects and programs

Whilst many participants highly commended the Local Area

Multicultural Partnership (LAMP) Program and

Multicultural Assistance Program grants administered by

MAQ, improvements and an expansion in the scope and

funding criteria of the programs were also suggested.

Many participants suggested that the LAMP program

should be expanded to more local councils where

community development work was a top priority.

The need for funding bodies to recognise the additional

costs of projects and activities undertaken in regional

Queensland was raised on several occasions. Participants

felt that funding bodies should take into account the cost

of travel and the need to bring in resources from outside

the region. In addition, some participants would like to

see regional representatives on grants selection panels to

ensure a greater understanding of the needs of the regions.

Funding for regional community organisations and smaller

groups was an issue repeatedly raised at the consultation

meetings. In Mackay, community representatives also

suggested that funding should concentrate on programs

that will make people independent of government systems.

Some participants suggested that funding be directed to

projects designed to promote an understanding of

multiculturalism and cultural diversity aimed particularly

at the specific needs of young people, older persons and

people with disability. Many participants expressed

frustration over the difficulty in obtaining recurrent funding,

especially to employ workers and for administrative

expenses.

Training or workshops on how to address funding criteria

were suggested at most of the meetings MAQ conducted.

Representatives of ethnic community organisations have

also raised the need for assistance in establishing their own

offices. In most cases, a multicultural centre or a community

centre with shared office premises was proposed.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Community views

COHESION

Cohesion

Most participants supported the notion that

multiculturalism was about the managing of a social

framework that includes all Australians regardless of their

cultural origins, languages or religions. Some participants

emphasised the need to be able to preserve one’s own

culture and traditions while living in harmony with people

from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

There was a range of views on how multiculturalism could

be effectively implemented. Some of the strategies to

improve the community’s understanding of

multiculturalism were:

. the provision of increased cross-cultural training

and awareness programs;

. partnership work with local government to facilitate

better understanding of multicultural principles;

. organisation of multicultural festivals and events;

. more exchange activities between Australia

and other countries.

There were strong representations from most participants

that racism and discrimination were still prevalent in the

workplace and at school. People of diverse backgrounds

had experienced discrimination in employment, education,

housing, immigration and other public services. Many

young people of ethnic communities have experienced

racism and some were confused about their cultural identity.

Discrimination and prejudice against Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander people were also raised. Most participants

agreed that the community should be educated to respect

the traditional owners of the land.

The need to educate the community, particularly young

people in school, on the correct understanding of

multiculturalism and cultural diversity was suggested as the

fundamental measure to combat racism and prejudice.

Multiculturalism should also be promoted through

multicultural festivals and community-based projects and

functions involving people from different backgrounds. The

Woodford Festival, the Ingham Italian Festival and the

Wine, Food and Arts Festival in Childers were quoted as

some successful examples.

Some participants stated that the community tended to

ignore racism and discrimination issues rather than to deal

with them. At one meeting, participants suggested that

more power should be given to appropriate agencies

involved in the enforcement of anti-discrimination and racial

vilification laws.

The role played by the media was commented on by many

participants as a very important factor in the promotion of

multiculturalism in the community. Participants stated that

the media tend to portray negative images of members of

ethnic communities and present news reports from a

prejudiced angle. It was suggested that the media should

present multiculturalism from a positive and impartial

perspective.

The need for local community relations workers to help

develop and improve community harmony and cohesion

was mentioned at the consultation meetings. The LAMP

program commenced this year by MAQ has been widely

accepted as an effective means to improve community

development and community relations within local

communities. It was also suggested that funding for workerbased

projects of MAQ’s grants program should also be

expanded to benefit more local agencies.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Community views

COHESION

Australian South Sea Islander

community

Australian South Sea Islanders are descendants of

indentured labourers brought to Australia last century to

work in agriculture. In 1994 the Federal Government

formally recognised the Australian South Sea Islander

community as a unique ethnic community with its own

distinct culture and needs.

The community’s issues are reported separately in this report

because of the unique nature of the group and because

many of the issues raised are particular to the community.

The issues raised by Australian South Sea Islander

representatives at various consultation meetings mainly

focused on the need for formal recognition of the

community by the State Government and also on difficulties

in accessing public services.

Representatives of the community reported that there was

still a gross lack of knowledge and understanding of the

history, identity and culture of Australian South Sea

Islanders within government departments and in the

community. It was suggested that the State Government

should formally recognise the unique identity and needs of

Australian South Sea Islanders and formulate specific

strategies across the Government to deal with issues of the

community.

Community development and increased funding for

programs and projects within the community were raised

as two important needs of the Australian South Sea Islander

community. Training for volunteers and committee workers

was also suggested as a way to enhance skills to develop

their own community.

It was suggested that potential contributions of the

Australian South Sea Islander community to cultural

tourism such as the lagoons project in Mackay should be

recognised and further developed by the Government.

Other proposals included a cultural centre or cultural garden

and a historic church and hall.

Difficulties in accessing certain public services, especially

employment, health, Police and housing were raised on

several occasions. Collective housing for Australian South

Sea Islanders was suggested in the Rockhampton Regional

Communities Conference in Rockhampton. It was

proposed that the State Government should provide funds

for local builders to train young Australian South Sea

Islanders to build their own houses.

Some Australian South Sea Islander representatives also

expressed concern about the possibility of losing their

culture as the community aged. It was suggested the

respective government agencies should consider strategies

to support cultural expression within the community.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Future directions

The outcomes of consultations with the community

provide the basis for setting future directions under

the Multicultural Queensland Policy. The following

10 areas will be addressed in the next 12 months.

Overall policy implementation

Although significant outcomes have been achieved in the

first year, greater effort is required to effectively implement

the policy across government. Agencies need to integrate

the policy into their strategic planning. The following

activities will facilitate this:

. MAQ will publish and distribute Guidelines

for Agency Planning and Reporting;

. MAQ will conduct workshops on the policy

for public sector agencies;

. the Interdepartmental Committee on Multicultural

Affairs will document and promote best practice

implementation plans.

MAQ will also play a key role in monitoring the

implementation of the policy. This will be done by:

. conducting community consultations and ongoing

community liaison activities aimed at gauging the

impact of the policy on communities;

. encouraging agencies to undertake evaluations

of their implementation activities;

. analysing agencies contributions to this report

and providing advice and assistance to agencies

on issues arising.

Increased grants funding

A consistent message from the community was the need

for increased funding levels to support multicultural

activities.

Following the successful outcomes of the first round of

funding from the Cultural Diversity Support Strategy,

funding has been increased from $1.15m to $2.15m in

1999-00. The following grants administered by MAQ will

be increased:

. Local Area Multicultural Partnership grants

will increase from $400,000 to $920,000;

. Multicultural Assistance Program grants

will increase from $245,000 to $430,000;

. funding of the Research Program

will increase from $25,000 to $100,000;

. funding of the Ethnic Schools Program will increase

from $130,000 to $150,000 to match the

Commonwealth’s contribution.

In addition, $200,000 will again be provided to fund

community-based workers for peak ethnic organisations.

$200,000 has also been allocated to new initiatives on

employment, access to funding programs and the Australian

South Sea Islander community, details are provided in the

following sections of this chapter.

$150,000 has again been allocated for the International

Year of Older Persons grants program for 1999-00.

Improved access to grants

It is clear from community consultations that many

members of ethnic communities find it difficult to access

grants funding. The number of grant applications from

ethnic community organisations to major grants programs

is well below what would be expected, according to

demographic indicators.

In addition, an analysis of applications to MAQ’s grants

program has shown that a significant percentage of

applications are of poor quality.

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Future directions

To improve the number and quality of grant applications

to all relevant grant programs MAQ will:

. allocate $100,000 to fund a Community Access

Officer over a two-year period to work directly with

communities to improve access to grants programs.

The worker, who will be based in a community

organisation and have a statewide responsibility,

will provide information, training and direct

assistance with funding applications;

. conduct skills workshops for community

organisations considering applying for grants under

MAQ’s programs. Workshops are planned for

14 centres across Queensland to coincide with

MAQ’s 1999-00 grants round;

. work with other grants programs to assist them

to become more accessible to ethnic communities.

Support for community advocacy

Ethnic communities have raised the need for resources to

enable more effective advocacy. Under the Cultural

Diversity Support Strategy MAQ has funded an advocacy

role for four peak community organisations – Multicultural

Development Association, Ethnic Communities Council

of Logan, Youth Affairs Network Queensland and

Townsville Multicultural Support Group.

Workers for these positions had commenced duty at the

time this report was being prepared.

Special funds of $100,000 were also made available to the

Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland to continue

to fund a worker whose responsibilities include an advocacy

role.

Grants and regional needs

Communities in regional Queensland feel remote from the

grants process and consider that regional issues need more

attention. To address this issue, MAQ will:

. include a regional representative on grants panels;

. amend the criteria for future grants rounds to

recognise the additional costs sometimes associated

with projects and events undertaken in regional

areas;

. better utilise regional offices of the Department

of the Premier and Cabinet as information points

for the grants program.

Service delivery

One of the most consistent messages coming from the

community consultations was that people found

government offices unwelcoming because staff are not

always sensitive to cultural difference.

Also, lack of proficiency in English was identified as the

most important barrier for people of non English speaking

background accessing government services. While there has

been an increased use of interpreters by Queensland

Government agencies, there are still reports of lack of

knowledge of, or refusal to provide, interpreters.

To address these issues the following initiatives will be

undertaken:

. MAQ will provide cross-cultural skills training and

working with interpreters training for “front line”

staff in government agencies;

. workers funded under the Cultural Diversity Support

Strategy will be responsible for assisting ethnic

communities to access government services;

. work will be undertaken with key government

agencies to fully implement the Queensland

Government Language Services Policy;

. MAQ will continue to distribute Interpreter Cards

to people who have difficulty communicating in

English;

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Repor

t to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

. Queensland will enter into a Memorandum of

Understanding with the Commonwealth on the

supply of interpreter services. The memorandum

will set minimum standards which will be improved

over time;

. the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Directory will

be published on the Internet to enable government

agencies to more easily provide relevant information

to ethnic communities;

. English language training provided through TAFE

Institutes and private providers will be supplemented

by training funded by the Department of

Employment, Training and Industrial Relations.

Promotion of multiculturalism

Communities continue to report that prejudice and racism

are part of their daily lives, particularly in schools and the

workplace. More work is needed to promote

multiculturalism, improve community relations and reduce

prejudice and racism.

To address this issue the following measures will be

implemented:

. the Premier has indicated that the Government will

consider the introduction of racial vilification laws

for Queensland;

. MAQ will lead the development of a whole-ofgovernment

Community Relations Plan which will

promote a broader acceptance of cultural diversity

and better relations between all groups in the

community;

. MAQ will expand its funding to develop and support

multicultural festivals, celebrations and events at the

local level. These activities encourage communities

to work together to develop and stage an event

which can then be enjoyed by the whole community;

. the LAMP Program (see page 14) will be expanded

to include an additional eight local governments;

. Education Queensland will continue to run the

Under the Skin program (see page 37) designed

to combat racism in schools;

. the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland

will conclude its Racism in Schools Inquiry in 1999

and launch, for the 2000 school year, a report

designed to equip schools with workable strategies

to promote harmony, respect, understanding and

fairness between school members and with people

in the community;

. the Queensland School Curriculum Council

will continue to work on equity issues, including

curriculum development which is inclusive of

cultural and linguistic diversity. MAQ will work

with the Council on informing the design and

development of curriculum materials.

Employment

Unemployment was a major concern at all community

consultations. This is borne out by unemployment levels

which are significantly higher for people from non-English

speaking backgrounds. While some ethnic communities

have unemployment rates lower than people born in

Australia, others have unemployment rates which are

considerably higher. For this reason programs will need to

take account of the need to target particular groups.

Employment creation is the first priority of the Government

and a range of programs have been established to reduce

unemployment. These programs are inclusive of the needs

of people from ethnic communities. However, initiatives

aimed at the particular needs of ethnic communities will be

undertaken. These include:

. funding under the Community Employment

Assistance Program (see pages 19-20);

. joint work will be undertaken by MAQ and the Jobs

Taskforce within the Department of Employment,

Training and Industrial Relations to identify and

address particular issues for people in ethnic

communities who are long-term unemployed;

Future directions

Multicultural Affairs Queensland – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Report to the Premier on the Implementation of the Multicultural Queensland Policy 1998 – 1999

Future directions

. MAQ and the Office of the Public Service

Commissioner will investigate the feasibility of

establishing a work experience program for longterm

unemployed people from ethnic communities;

. MAQ will republish a resource guide designed

to assist jobseekers.

Productive diversity

Members of ethnic communities have a strong desire to

help to build Queensland’s economy and believe that they

have a special contribution to make through the use of

cultural and linguistic skills, knowledge of international

markets and networks in other countries.

To facilitate the contribution of ethnic communities the

following strategies/initiatives will be undertaken:

. the Department of State Development will

establish a high level task force to carry forward the

recommendations of the Queensland International

Business Diversity Summit held in May 1999. The

Summit identified strategies to harness the contacts

and market expertise of the ethnic business

community. Further workshops will be held

in Brisbane and Cairns.

. the Queensland Minister for Health has announced

a proposal which includes the employment of

overseas-trained doctors in order to increase the

number of doctors in Queensland’s regional and

remote areas.

Australian South Sea Islander

community

The particular needs of the Australian South Sea Islander

community will be addressed by the following initiatives:

. a document will be developed, in consultation with

the community, which recognises the community

as a distinct cultural group and also recognises the

community’s contribution to Queensland since

their arrival more than 130 years ago;

. the newly formed Working Group on the Australian

South Sea Islander Community will develop and

coordinate strategies to improve the community’s

access to government agencies at local levels;

. MAQ will fund a community development initiative

by providing funds of $100,000 over two years;

. LAMP workers are required, as part of their Service

Agreements with MAQ, to specifically target issues

affecting Australian South Sea Islanders. The current

six workers employed under the LAMP initiative

will be joined by eight more in 1999-00;

. special initiatives and projects will be commenced

or continued through the Departments of

Employment, Training and Industrial Relations,

Housing, Families, Youth and Community Care,

as well as the Environmental Protection Agency,

Education Queensland and Queenslan