Breakout Sessions A. Settlement Planning Session Overview The Settlement Planning breakout session was facilitated by Eilis Hughes, Senior Policy and Planning Officer, Wyndham City Council and involved presentations from Brimbank City Council, City of Greater Geelong, Diversitat and the Wyndham Community and Education Centre. This session offered an opportunity for participants to learn from best practice examples in settlement planning involving local government and settlement sector agencies. Presenters Topic John Smith, Coordinator of Community Planning and Partnerships Terri Soumilas, Community Planning & Engagement Officer Brimbank City Council Settlement Planning, government and the West. Our journey so far.. Mooniapah, Community Development Officer The City of Greater Geelong and Geelong Settlement Planning Committee -
Community attitudes Key initiatives Council is undertaking to address these issues include: Establishing a Multicultural Interagency Network Collaborating with the Albury Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council Supporting cultural events and celebrations Capacity building of service provider staff with a focus on using interpreters and cultural awareness training Taking an active advocacy role by engaging with media, business and government agencies around the needs of new arrival communities Leading community education programs through schools and art projects Wodonga Council is committed to strengthening its work in this area into the future by pursuing funding opportunities that will build social cohesion programs, expanding the use of interpreter services, targeted policies and action plans, staff training and recruitment strategies that will increasingly enable Council to reflect the community it serves. A key partner organisation Council is working closely with is Gateway Health who are a leading service provider in working with migrant communities. Gateway Health promote the service as a migrant welcome zone, employ a refugee health nurse and provide multilingual information and resources. The organisation delivers some settlement services and also offers on-site interpreters. Key Issues and Discussion Key points that emerged through open discussion following presentations included: Challenges for regional Councils using interpreters in situations involving small communities. This remains an ongoing issue more so when an on-site interpreter is required. Some regional Councils are doing a lot of work with other local service providers to enhance understanding around when an interpreter needs to be accessed as well as issues related to working with interpreters. Addressing family violence in CALD communities is increasingly recognised as an issue in regional areas. Some Councils are using the ‘Settled and Safe’ program to raise the issue of family violence and impart information about Australian laws. Shepparton Council also run a Culture Club program based on information provision for new arrival communities and bring in a guest speaker on the subject. Councils are well placed to play a leadership role in employment initiatives for CALD communities, particularly around eliminating both perceived and actual barriers by working with communities and employers. Youth unemployment continues to be a major issue in regional areas. Ballarat Council have achieved good outcomes in employment for migrant communities by engaging local businesses to provide work experience opportunities. They run cultural awareness training for local businesses and train community members to apply for jobs. These initiatives have led to sustainable employment outcomes.
4.00pm Summing Up Maria Dimopoulos Facilitator 4.15pm Forum Finishes (with slippage this could go back to 5pm) Breakout Sessions Settlement Planning Council Chambers Facilitator: Eilis Hughes Senior Policy and Planning Officer, Wyndham City Council Panellists: John & Terri Soumilas Brimbank City Council Veema Mooniapah City of Greater Geelong Maureen O’Keefe Diversitat Jennie Barrera Wyndham Community & Education Centre McKie Wyndham City Council Social Cohesion Function Room 1 Facilitator: Maria Dimopoulos Myriad Consultants Panellists: Cr Gaetano Greco Darebin City Council Natalie Jacobson City of Greater Bendigo Rivkah Nissim Australian Human Rights Commission Access and Equity Function Rooms 2 & 3 Facilitator: Cr Peter Lockwood City of Knox MAV Multicultural Committee Chairperson Panellists: Kate Montgomery & Charlene Norton Greater Shepparton City Council Frances Salenga & Igor Zovko City of Ballarat Brett Sanderson Wodonga Council Dax Matthews Gateway Health
Appendix 3: Conference Delegates Organisation Position Title First Last Email Moonee Valley City Council Community Planning Officer Ms Sally Abbott Department of Social Services Multicultural Community Liaison Officer Mr Michael Abdilla Horn of Africa Communities Network Inc. Executive Director Mr Terefe Aborete Community organisation Chairperson, African Tank Dr Berhan Ahmed Stonnington City Council Cultural Diversity Planner Mrs Aysin Akdendiz Victorian Government Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Director Hakan Akyol Frankston City Council Community Development Mr Wazed Ali Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition Community Development and Partnership Officer Northwest Ms Safa Almarhoun Hume City Council Community Capacity Building Southern Ms Romany Hume City Council Access and Equity Planner Ms Andrews Kingston City Council Community Development Officer Ms Timmah Ball City of Melbourne Cultural Diversity Officer Ms Kara Barnett Wyndham City Council CEO Ms Jennie Barrera Victoria Police. Superintendent Mr Stuart Bateson Sports Without Borders General Manager Mr Tarik Bayrakli Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria Acting Executive Officer Dr Irene Bouzo Brimbank City Council Acting Manager Community Planning and Development Ms Kath Brackett Moonee Valley City Council Deputy Vice President Mr Justin Bridgman jbjb@ymail.com Hume City Council HACC Aboriginal Liaison Officer Ms Leanne Brooke Greater Geelong City Council Care Management Officer Mrs Louise Broom Wyndham City Council Team Leader Governance and Community Leadership Mrs Sharon Brown Moreland City Council Diversity Officer Ms Nelum Buddhadasa
Whittlesea City Council Multicultural Officer Ms Maria Callipari Melton City Council Access and Support Outreach Officer Mrs Lillian Campos Port Phillip City Council Coordinator Access & Inclusion Ms Laura Cattapan Knox City Council Councillor Cr Joe Cossari Kingston City Council Community Development Coordinator Ms Kate Daddo ECCV Policy Officer Ms Sylvia Daravong Yarra City Council Community Planner Ms Cristina Del Frate Darebin City Council Multicultural Affairs Coordination Mr Cesar Diaz Moonee Valley City Council Treasurer Ms Nikki Donelan Victoria Police Multicultural Liaison Officer - VicPol Mr Richard Dove OriginsInfo Researcher Mr Michael Dove Greater Dandenong City Council Coordinator Health & Wellbeing Ms Rachael Duncombe VICSEG New Futures Manager: Programs for Families, Children and people Ms Janet Elefsiniotis Darebin City Council Events and Marketing Projects Coordinator Ms Deborah Equid Ballarat City Council Acting Manager Community Development Ms Jenny Fink Stonnington City Council Community Support and Divesity Coordinator Ms Julie Fry Brimbank City Council Community Services Officer Mrs Jenna Fuimaono Moonee Valley City Council CEO Mr Andrew Gason Multicultural Arts Victoria Project Officer Ms Robyn Gawenda DHS Community Participation Mr Haileluel Cardinia Shire Council Community Planner Ms Glenda George Wyndham City Council Councillor Cr Peter Gibbons Wyndham City Council Community Development Officer Ms Kerrie Godbold Wyndham City Council Councillor Cr Glenn Goodfellow Bayside City Council HACC Diversity Adviser SMR Ms Katie Goodrope Wyndham City Council Research Officer Ms Gradinscak Monash City Council Social Policy and Program Coordinator Ms Eugenia Casey City Council Manager Ms Janette Green
Wyndham City Council Director Community Development Ms Kelly Grigsby Wyndham City Council Chairperson,Cultural Diversity Strategy Cr Gautam Gupta Wodonga City Council Settlement Assistance Coordinator Ms Rachel Habgood Monash City Council Multiculteral community Development officer Mrs Amara Hamid Maribyrnong City Council Diversity Coordinator Ms Hedley Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Coalition Community Development and Partnership Officer Southeast Mrs Nga Hosking Wyndham City Council Senior Policy & Planning Officer Ms Eilis Hughes Ballarat City Council General Manager People & Communities Mr Neville Ivey Greater Bendigo City Council coordinator inclusive communities Ms Natalie Jacobson Wyndham City Council Senior Policy and Planning Officer Mr Alex Jarvis Wyndham City Council Data Analyst Ms Victoria Kapke Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre Inc CEO Ms Kelada Greater Dandenong City Council Community Development Officer Ms Biljana Komnenovic Migrant Resource Centre (New Hope Foundation) Settlement Manager Ms Pamela Kosij Greater Geelong City Council Care Management Officer Ms Laura Krastins Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Coalition Community Development Officer- Frankston Mrs Sarita Kulkarni Sarita@bbtcpl.com Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission Senior Adviser Education Ms Jane Lewis Darebin City Council Team Leader Equity and Diversity Ms Karin Linden Knox City Council Councillor, MAV Board Member Cr Peter Lockwood Wyndham City Council Community Development Officer Mr Simon Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Community Access Planner Ms Xiaoli Ma Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition Executive Director Ms Melba Marginson Whittlesea City Council Leisure Inclusion Officer Mrs Serena Marriott Australian Red National Coordinator Mrs Diana City of Melbourne Coordinator Community Infrastructure and Participation Mr David Mazzotta
Ballarat City Council Councillor Cr Cr John Philips Melton City Council Consultant Ms Gail Price Local Government Victoria Manager Intergovernmental Relations Ms Kathy Pryor Boroondara City Council Community Development Officer Ms Theresa Rajah Manningham City Council Social Planning Ms Kirsten Reedy Healthwest Project Officer Mrs Laura Ribarow Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria Policy Officer Aged Care Mr Nikolaus Moorabool Shire Council Living at home coordinator Mrs Jean Robinson Wyndham City Council Facilitator Mrs Rodd Centre for Multicultural Youth Sector and Community Partnerships Manager Ms Gabi Rosenstreich Federal Department of Social Services Victorian State Manager Ryan Ballarat City Council Coordinator Cultural Diversity Mrs Frances Salenga Wodonga City Council Settlement Assistance Officer Mr Sanderson Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre CEO Ms Jenny Semple City of Melbourne President Mr Yadata City of Melbourne New & emerging Communities Liaison Officer Mr Parsu Darebin City Council Diverse Communications Advisor Ms Sivarajah Brimbank City Council Coordinator, Community Planning and Partnerships Mr John Smith Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Coalition Project Leader-Casey Mrs Elaine Smith Brimbank City Council Community Engagement Ms Terri Soumilas Maroondah City Council Immunisation Coordinator Ms Lisa Sparkes Moorabool Shire Council living at home assessment officer Ms Nicole Sparrow Maribyrnong City Council Diversity Planner Mr Petr Svoboda VicHealth Senior Project Officer, Mental Wellbeing Mrs Tara Szafraniec Municipal Association of Victoria Aboriginal Employment Advisor Ms Lidia Thorpe Frankston City Council Social Policy Coordinator Ms Tudor Yarra City Council Commuity Grants Team Leader Mr Michael Van Vliet
Australian Red Cross National Manager Mrs Sonia Vignjevic Moonee Valley City Council Vice President Mr Luke Virgona Yarra City Council Community Planner Ms Vrettas Hobsons Bay City Council Intake officer and Project worker Ms Lucy Vucic Hobsons Bay City Council Multicultural Officer Ms Tatiana Walker Wyndham City Council Researcher Dr Paula Wright Department of Social Services A/g Assistant Director, Multicultural Affairs & Settlement Services Mr Zaikos ECCV Project Officer Mrs Daniela Zatarakoska Ballarat City Council BRMC & CD Advisor Mr Igor Zovko Wyndham City Council Committee member Wyndham Cultural diversity strategy & policy development Mrs Valeska Migrant Resource Centre (New Hope Foundation) Settlement Coordinator Ms Zwick