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This position will assist with the ongoing development and implementation of the Cultural Hub at Advance Diversity Services. The Cultural Hub supports migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to develop their creative arts skills and knowledge for business development and employment pathways.
Activities and Tasks:
- Organising training based on the needs expressed by Cultural Hub members
- Working with Cultural Hub members and ADS staff to coordinate events/activity bookings and trainings
- Maintaining an up-to-date database of Cultural Hub members
- Liaising with stakeholders (e.g. other community organisations and government departments) to coordinate Cultural Hub bookings for events/activities
- Preparation and distribution of promotional materials relating to Cultural Hub
Working with newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants
Working with newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants can be a very rewarding experience but it can also have its challenges. Some general tips for working with our newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants clients are:
- Be aware of cultural practices and levels of English language proficiency;
- Be aware some of our clients may have arrived in Australia with past traumatic experiences which may affect their ability to trust and form bonds with other people
- each person is unique and has their own personality;
- treat everyone with courtesy and respect;
- use clear, simple language;
- always be prepared to have a chat with our clients. It’s the best way to build rapport and trust.
For further information please contact Anthony Scerri on (02) 9597 5455 or email info@advancediversity.org.au
Position reference no: 2019JA009
Part Time – 21 hours per week
Immediate Start – fixed term up to 30 June 2020
We are currently seeking to employ a part-time Multicultural Sector Support Development Officer (MSSDO) for a fixed term contract with immediate start through to 30 June 2020.
The MSSDO is to improve access and cultural responsiveness of available Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to meet the needs of CALD target population, by undertaking the following core activities:
- Increase awareness, knowledge and understanding of CHSP among CALD target population groups and other relevant stakeholders
- Identify the current and future needs of CALD target groups including developing appropriate strategies
- Support local CHSP and aged care services to develop culturally and linguistically competent practices
- Strengthen the capacity of the CHSP service system by developing policies and activities to respond to the specific needs of the CALD target population.
- Develop sustainable partnerships between CALD communities and CHSP services.
This position requires a strong background in communication skills and community development skills including developing and delivering information session and training, development of resources, consultation and research.
All applicants must obtain a job information package and submit a written application addressing each of the following selection criteria.
Essential:
- Tertiary qualifications in Social Science, Community Services or relevant discipline.
- Min. of two-year experience in community development, developing and delivering training, developing resources, group facilitation, demographic research and report writing.
- An understanding of and commitment to working with people from a CALD background.
- Sound knowledge of community services and the ability to navigate the CHSP services system.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Highly developed communication skills.
- Good time management and administrative skills.
- Demonstrated computer literacy.
- A current National Police/Criminal Check.
Desirable:
- Experience working with the CALD communities, particularly with the CHSP target group.
- Cert IV Training & Assessment.
- A current driver’s license and a reliable vehicle with comprehensive insurance for work.
Conditions:
- Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Service Industry (SCHCADS) Award, NSW and salary packaging.
For an information package please email employment@advancediversity.org.au
You must quote the job reference in the subject line of your email.
Applicants who fail to address and/ or submit all components of the application will not be considered for the position.
For further information please contact Antoinette Chow on (02) 9597 5455.
Closing date for applications: Friday, 10 May 2019.
Advance Diversity Services’ is deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy in Christchurch last Friday.
Our board members and staff express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families who have lost loved ones, or whose loved ones have been injured.
We stand with the people of New Zealand in the face of this horrific terror attack.
We also join with Muslim communities around the world in grieving.
This week is Harmony Week (March 17 to 23) —
We must also foster harmony and peace to help build safe and vibrant neighbourhoods and nations. Please join us to ensure this tragedy unites rather than divides us.
On December 2, our Thai women’s group enjoyed a basic accessory-making workshop at Advance Diversity Services while learning about the importance of recognising and responding to domestic and family violence. Kanyarat Tresise facilitated the information session with the help of volunteers, Tedheporn Antico and Khanung Ciserain.
Who came up with the idea of blending the making of accessories with raising DV awareness, and what was the thinking behind it?
In the Settlement Services Program (SSP) we like to provide useful and relevant information in a fun way. The reference group members suggested we run a session on domestic and family violence (DV) and family law information. Most female Thai migrants are on spouse visas, and cross-cultural family relationships, DV, divorce and other legal issues are common concerns for Thai women who feel stigmatised when DV occurs and relationships break down. Thai women also love practical and creative activities that they can apply to their daily life as a hobby or as a pre-employment skill. Combining these two sessions provided a soft entry to difficult conversations.
What accessories did the group make?
The women made necklaces, earrings and bracelets using beads – and the results were lovely (as these photos show).
What was the feedback?
Everyone was so happy and requested more jewellery making workshops! They had lots of fun and made new friends, and they found the Thai teacher Tedhiporn Antico and her assistant Khanug attentive and helpful. They were especially impressed that Tedhiporn provided all the materials and they were able to take home the jewellery for free.
Any closing comments?
Thanks so much to Thai teacher Tedhiporn Antico and her assistant Khanug for providing the materials and the wonderful session. We look forward to another session soon.
– If you need help please call the Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463.
To empower our Thai new arrivals with interview and styling skills, our Thai community worker, Kanyarat Tresise, organised a workshop with Michelle Bonner at Dress for Success in Marrickville on November 15. The informative and practical session was a success – and this Q&A with Kanyarat reveals why.
What was the highlight of the Dress for Success session?
The tips for preparing for an interview were great. For example: research the job and the organisation; ask for information about the interview (i.e. how many people on the panel etc.); check transport to make sure you’ll be on time; and when you’re a candidate in the waiting room, you should always sit in a composed way to impress.
What did Michelle Bonner say, show or provide to the women in terms of dressing/styling?
While Michele Bonner helped me organise the session, however, she was not present on the day. Susan Dunn (pictured fourth from right) presented on interview skills.
What was one practical tip that participants will take on board when they are next going for an interview?
The standout tip: The candidate should feel comfortable in their clothing and the style of the clothes should be modest and conservative – not revealing. Be on the safe side and keep it formal for any role for which you have an interview.
Tell us more about the photo: Were participants dressed by Dress for Success to appear in the shot?
I’m standing next to Susan Dunn who presented on interview skills (she is fourth from the left). There were three Thai participants and the woman beside each of them is their own individual stylist. The women were able to take home the clothes they were dressed in. If any of these women gains employment they will be able to return to Dress for Success to get five sets of clothes, shoes, bags and other accessories for their working week.
– For more information contact Kay (Sineenat Khantaracha) sineenat@advancediversity.org.au (from January 2019) or visit https://sydney.dressforsuccess.org/
Butt Out is a quit smoking project that targets Arabic-speaking communities in the St George region of Sydney. Its goal is to reduce the high levels of smoking in these communities by developing and delivering smoking prevention awareness strategies and practices that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.
In 2017, Advance Diversity Services (ADS) received an Innovations in Cancer Control Grant from the Cancer Institute NSW to implement this two-stage project over two years.
In February 2018, ADS completed stage one, which targeted the Chinese-speaking community. We are now developing stage two, which aims to reach Arabic speakers in the region who smoke, and empower them to quit.
Butt Out’s Arabic project worker, Hana Srour, and the project’s steering committee members have conducted a range of media interviews in Arabic to raise the awareness of the harms of the smoking. They have also actively promoted quitline services like iCanQuit and the NSW Quitline number 13 7848 (13 QUIT).
SBS Arabic radio interviews
In her first SBS Arabic radio interview on April 24, 2018, Ms Srour spoke about the prevalence of smoking among Arabic men living in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. She revealed that around 41.7 per cent of Arabic men in the region smoked as compared with 14.7 per cent of the general population. Ms Srour also translated much of the information about the project from English into Arabic to ensure she could more easily answer the interviewer’s questions.
Listen to the first interview here.
In her second interview with SBS Arabic radio on September 4, 2018, Ms Srour raised and reinforced awareness in Arabic-speaking communities of the harms of smoking. She also promoted Quitline’s services, support and contact number.
Listen to the second interview here.
Resources
• A good resource to help Arabic people understand the harmful effects of smoking is the booklet (in Arabic and English) Please don’t smoke near me.
• A video in Arabic outlining methods for quitting can be found here.
• Watch the video of Seham Gerges being interviewed by Aghapy TV about useful strategies for quitting smoking here.
Efforts rewarded
On August 5, Ms Srour was awarded a plaque at the Arncliffe Aurora Football Club community dinner to recognise her excellent work in the Arabic community to help stamp out tobacco use.
Anthony Scerri, Program Manager for ADS’ Settlement and Community Services Program, said ADS is proud of Ms Srour’s achievements relating to Butt Out. He is also confident stage two of the project will help many people recognise smoking is unhealthy and help them quit.
– For more information please email hanas@advancediversity.org.au
On Monday December 3, Advance Diversity Services (ADS) will launch Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities’ views and experiences of the NDIS – a new publication by ADS and the University New South Wales (UNSW).
The launch is part of a workshop to explore how to make the NDIS work for diverse communities. It will feature a panel discussion with people with a disability and carers from CALD communities, representatives from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and representatives from the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Local Area Coordination Program.
An NDIA representative will talk about the NDIA’s CALD strategy including how it can help to ensure people with a disability are connected and included in the community and can achieve their goals.
ADS partnered with the St George and Sutherland Shire Disability Interagency Network to organise the event, which will be held in The Dragon Room, Georges River Council, Hurstville, from10 am to 12 pm.
What made you want to run these sessions?
I believe everyone should have some basic sewing skills, and felt the women would appreciate and utilise what I could teach them. A lot of clothes that could be easily mended are discarded because people don’t have these basic skills. By running these sessions, I was hoping to help people save money and be creative.
What have you learnt along the way?
Along the way I learnt about people’s differing learning styles and needs. Everyone has their own pace. Also, hands-on demonstrations worked best as English is many people’s second language in this community – another barrier to learning which made me want to teach this class.
Has it been gratifying to help the women develop skills and make such usable and beautiful items?
Running this course has been one of my most rewarding experiences. Helping women to feel empowered and confident in themselves and their creative and practical skills was a real joy. The course also created a wonderful community where women could come together to learn something new and have fun. It was an amazing feeling when women from the course with no sewing skills went home to practice and made beautiful clothes for themselves and their children.
– Advance Diversity Services’ multicultural women’s sewing group ran from August to October 2018.
This program is a partnership between Advance Diversity Services (ADS) and Beverly Hills Girls High School. The position will provide homework help for newly arrived migrant and refugee students aged 12 – 18 attending Beverly Hills Girls High School, many of whom have a low level of English.
We are looking for volunteers with teaching experience, or are studying a course related to education, to assist students one-on-one, or one-on-two, with high school subjects.
Students will be bringing to the sessions their own work that they need assistance with, and volunteers will be expected to assist them to the best of their abilities.
Volunteers will also be expected to make basic but accurate records of the work completed after each session.
Location: Beverly Hills Girls High School, Broadarrow Rd, Beverly Hills NSW 2209
Time Commitment:
- Ongoing – minimum four months
- 2 – 4 hours a fortnight – from 3:00pm
- Plus occasional additional trainings, meetings and performance appraisal, when required
Activities & Tasks:
- One-on-one, or one-on-two, educational support with students
- Learning materials and resources will be provided by Beverly Hills Girls High School
Skills & Requirements for this role:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent oral and written English skills
- Sensitive to the needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee backgrounds
- Sensitivity, patience, and willingness to learn
- Friendly manner and ability to build a rapport with students, staff and other volunteers
- Working with Children Check
- Report any concerns about students’ well-being to your relevant supervisor
- Not attend the program under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Dress appropriately
- Where possible, notify ADS Youth Worker in advance of absence
- Adhere to and follow all of ADS and Beverly Hills Girls HS policies and procedures
- Only duties arranged by ADS Multicultural Youth Worker
- To keep private information, gained as part of the position confidential
For more info please contact Salvin Kumar on (02) 9597 5455
