Page 5113 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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physical activity. The food and nutrition component includes information about preparing healthy food and has a free, healthy afternoon tea three days a week. They also have excursions to local shops so that students can practice choosing and buying healthy foods. On sharing days, participants of this program have the opportunity to share dishes from their own diverse cultural backgrounds and to learn about healthy food from other cultures.
Another component of this program focuses on physical activities for young migrants and refugees. This gives the participants a greater chance to play a sport of their interest, as well, of course, as getting fit and making friends. Sessions are available at the YMCA or the Dickson college, with a focus on recreation focused on participants’ interests and increasing their skills. But I note that one problem with this is the very limited availability with it only being in Dickson and Civic.
The ACT Community Arts Office also promotes inclusion and diversity in the arts. Through the arts, the office is able to assist refugees and migrants produce, exhibit and perform art of all kinds. I have been privileged to see some of this myself, and it has been of a very high standard.
Canberra Refugee Support also assists refugees to settle in Canberra. They provide advocacy services to assist refugees through the maze that has been created around visas and other Australian institutions. They also help refugees make connections with other refugees in Canberra. They organise activities and programs, such as providing refugee scholarships and refugee mentoring programs.
I would also like to touch on the work the Multicultural Youth Service has been doing for over 10 years. This service has effectively worked with at-risk migrant and refugee youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. It has managed to assist refugee and migrant youth stabilise their lives through helping them find accommodation, resolve family conflict, assist with mental health issues, find employment and help resolve financial crises. The service also provides important advocacy for those at-risk youth.
These groups I have mentioned, and many more, are providing vital support for refugees and asylum seekers, particularly young people. Unfortunately, the hard work of these groups and individuals often does not get recognised and adequately supported.
I have spoken about language, but as well as being a very vital part of becoming part of our community, other really major issues for newly arrived refugees in Canberra are housing and employment. Getting employment is a major obstacle for refugees. Despite the fact that many refugees have qualifications which mean they have skills or experience necessary for many of the jobs available, actually getting a job can be one of the hardest parts of settling in a new country. It is important, because, without a job, it is very hard to get a house. Also, if you are homeless, it makes it additionally hard to get a job. It is a vicious cycle, very depressing for people, and it makes it very hard for them to call Canberra home.
They need to be in a position where they can make a worthwhile contribution to our society, to earn the money to support themselves and their families, to find a place,
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