2010-11 · hoping to come to a mutual agreement very shortly. We fare welled Leila Collins, Daniel...

www.melaleuca.org.au 1Torture and Trauma Survivors Service of the NT Inc.

REFUGEE CENTRE

REFUGEE CENTRE 2010-11ANNUAL REPORT

R E F U G E E C E N T R E

2 Melaleuca Refugee Centre ---- 2010-2011 Annual Report

Melaleuca Refugee Centre acknowledges that we are on Larrakia Country. We pay our respects to all Larrakia people both past and present. We are committed to working together with the Larrakia to care for this land and the sea for our shared future.

CONTENTS

Who We Are, Our Vision and Mission___________________________4

Members of the Committee of Management___________________________5

Melaleuca Staff___________________________6

Funding Bodies___________________________9

From the Acting Chair__________________________10

From the Director__________________________11

Administration Report__________________________12

Early Settlement Program Report__________________________14

Counselling Team Report__________________________20

Community Development Team Report__________________________26

Financial Reports__________________________33

Melaleuca Refugee CentreShop 33, Rapid Creek Business Village48 Trower RoadMillner NT 0810

PO BOX 1226, Nightcliff NT 0814

P: 08 8985 3311E: [email protected]: www.melaleuca.org.au

Front Cover: From Top left: Esther Cannue and Bella Agbalavi; Saly, Zaber, Abul from the Rohingyan community; Alivera holding Damosi and Dorothea; Nightcliff Primary School students and staff

www.melaleuca.org.au 3

WhO WE ARE, OUR VISION AND MISSIONORGANISATIONAL PROFILE

Melaleuca Refugee Centre Torture Trauma Survivors Service of the NT Incorporated is a community-controlled, not-for-profit Association operating out of Darwin. The Association was first established in 1996 as the Torture Trauma Survivors Service of the NT Incorporated to cater for the small numbers of refugees and asylum seekers wanting to settle. In 2002, it expanded and became known as the Melaleuca Refugee Centre Torture Trauma Survivors Service of the NT Incorporated (Melaleuca Refugee Centre).

OUR VISION

Melaleuca Refugee Centre is recognized as a leader in facilitating the recovery of refugee survivors of torture and trauma.

OUR MISSION

Melaleuca Refugee Centre provides an environment for resettlement and healing of refugee survivors of torture and trauma, their families and community through confidential, high quality and holistic services.


MEMBERS OF ThE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT AS AT SEPTEMBER 2011

The Karen Bamboo Dancers at Jingili Water Gardens, World Refugee Day 2011


OFFICE BEARERS

William (Bill) Prendergast ChairDr Vanessa Johnson Deputy ChairTony The Treasurerhelen Applin SecretaryDr Vanessa Johnston Public Officer

ORDINARy MEMBERS:

Ajout AjoutNatalie BellewElisabeth ArmitageTania Lambert

Farewelled between Annual General Meeting 2010 and 2011:

Leila Collins (Deputy Chair)Justine Mickle (Ordinary Member)Kylie Dempsey (Ordinary Member)

ADMINISTRATION

Director Ali Nur

Operations Manager heather Lee Kylie Dempsey

Finance Manager Peter Trayte

Administration Assistant/ Olivia Cruz Kelly Front Office Coordinator Emma Cameron

Administration Assistant Vacant

Receptionist Annie Nkiere Biongo

IT Manager Ali Baydoun IT Support Officer Fiona MacLean

Office Cleaner Regina Andrua

Vehicle Maintenance Officer Frances Mulbah

COUNSELLING

Counselling Team Leader Sara De Luca

Counsellor/Advocates Cath Archer Jan Wetzel Albert Adakpoku Cecilia Pewee

Child Focussed Alexandra JordanCounsellor

Intensive Family Counsellor Marina Milvik

youth Support Workers Emily Fajerman Sara herniman

Complex Case Support Worker Fatuma Muhudin

SETTLEMENT

IhSS Program Coordinator Sonya Schmidt

Settlement Team Leader Steve hebblethwaite

Volunteer Coordinator Meg Jeffrey Prue Keenan

housing Maintenance Coordinator Joseph Karyee

Property Manager – housing Mick Fox Alan Groves

Agency Liaison – housing Onuma Dike Bhawana Chaulagain

Tenancy Support – housing Rebecca Molyneux Katie Ottosen Tenancy Support – house Cleaning Regina Andrua

health Workers Marlene Kranz Susan Clunies-Ross Tapiwa Mbakile Jenny Milne Leandro Mendes Mie Mie Aung Nuala Scannell

Case Coordinators Esther Canmue Gener Lapina Stephanie howard Kimberley Jonnson Leandro Mendes


MELALEUCA STAFF

COMMUNITy DEVELOPMENT

Team Leader Louise Weber

FICT Coordinator Louise Weber

TIPS Coordinator Ces Rocha

Training Coordinator Jeannie O’Carroll

Communities Liaison Worker Xavier Lane-Mullins Jenny Milne FICT Bicultural Facilitators Bhakti Mainaly Joseph Ntatocombimvuma John Kabalo Ka Ni Lydia Ngalulu Mulomgama Mahendra Dhamala Tar Mla Say Violette Batwenga

Program Staff Belange Kabalo Gloire Tshinkobo Immaculee Ruziraboba Purusi Kasmaili Sumali Louise Tshinkobo Nanda Lal Ramdamkami Naw hla htey Odette Masalu

The Melaleuca Management Team acknowledges all current and former staff for their contribution and wishes those who left during the year the best for their future. They are:

Alan Groves, Bonita Moss, Ella Seiberth, Fatuma Muhudin, heather Lee, Jeannie O’Carroll, Kimberly Jonnson, Leandro Mendes, Meg Jeffrey, Neha Sen, Nuala Scannell, Olivia Cruz Kelly, Onuma Dike, Rebecca Molyneux, Sara herniman

Staff photo in front of the Melaleuca banner



Alivera , originally from Burundi, with her son Damosi and Dorothea in front.

In 2010-11 Melaleuca provided

early settlement support services to

276 people of refugee background,

counselling services to 476 people,

and facilitated significant community

development programs in the areas

of cultural transition, strengthening

families and peace leadership.


FUNDING BODIES

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Department of Immigration and CitizenshipDepartment of health and AgeingDepartment of Families, housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

NORThERN TERRITORy GOVERNMENT

Department of Children and FamiliesDepartment of Chief Minister, Office of Multicultural AffairsDepartment of JusticeDepartment of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport

FOUNDATIONS

honda Foundation

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Melaleuca’s staff and volunteers for their hard work and commitment to ensure Melaleuca offers the highest quality humanitarian service to people of a refugee background.

FROM ThE ACTING ChAIR

It has been a particularly busy and challenging year for Melaleuca. highlights of the year include another successful film fundraiser night with the screening of ‘Mother Fish’ and of course a fun filled World Refugee Day celebration in Jingili Water Gardens. The enormous contributions of volunteers, Melaleuca staff and refugee communities to make World Refugee Day a vibrant, colourful and energising event is what makes this organisation so special and unique in our Darwin community.

Unfortunately, this last financial year has been a tumultuous one for agencies across the Australian refugee sector. It was a year of mixed and often confusing public pronouncements on asylum seekers, people smugglers, detainees, onshore and offshore processing and refugees. This has impacted on Melaleuca, and its staff has had to constantly adapt and evolve to meet the changing political climate. As a consequence, the committee has spent considerable time debating and defining the core aims,

objectives and the role of Melaleuca in the provision of humanitarian services in the Northern Territory. With input from team leaders the Committee reviewed the organisation’s current strategic plan. The strategic plan (2009-2012) now more clearly articulates Melaleuca’s current strategic goals: good governance, improved sustainability, increased community awareness and the provision of high quality client focused services.

The committee has also been working collaboratively with staff and their union on a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. This has not yet been finalised but with a strong spirit of cooperation, we are hoping to come to a mutual agreement very shortly.

We fare welled Leila Collins, Daniel Nottle, Than Than, Janelle Bronca, Rick Thorneclyff, Justine Mickle and Kate Boyd from the Committee and thank them for their efforts on behalf of Melaleuca. We welcomed onto the Committee Tony The, Elizabeth Armatage,

Kylie Dempsey and Tina Lambert.

In the next financial year the Committee is looking forward to engaging staff across the organisation in the development of a new Strategic Plan for Melaleuca and establishing processes that improve the sharing of information between staff and the Committee.

We acknowledges that staff at Melaleuca have been working significantly beyond capacity, especially during the transition period between the old and new contracts from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Melaleuca’s staff and volunteers for their hard work and commitment to ensure Melaleuca offers the highest quality humanitarian service to people of a refugee background. I would also like to thank the volunteer Committee members for their contribution and support.

Finally on behalf of Melaleuca I wish to thank the members of the many communities in Darwin with whom we work.

Dr. Vanessa JohnsonActing ChairMelaleuca Refugee Centre


June Mills, respected Larrakia artist and elder, with Ali Nur on World Refugee Day 2011

This year we more than doubled the number of people who accessed our torture and trauma counselling services.

FROM ThE DIRECTOR

This was my first full financial year with Melaleuca Refugee Centre and it has been both a fulfilling and challenging year. It was a year of great uncertainty for Melaleuca especially the first half of the year when our primary funding source was coming to an end and the outcome of the new and replacement funding contract, humanitarian Settlement Services (hSS), Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) tender was not known.

The first half of the financial year was particularly challenging as staff were on temporary and short-term contracts pending confirmation of the DIAC contract. Melaleuca was eventually awarded a three-year hSS contract. For the period April to June 2011 Melaleuca was in transition to the new contract, operating under two parallel but different contracts and service specifications. During the tough financial year staff continued to support their clients under trying circumstances and I am very grateful

for their commitment and professionalism. The year coincided with the relocation of a significant number of asylum seekers into Darwin Immigration detention facilities for the first time. This resulted in Melaleuca providing torture and trauma counseling support to an every larger number of people in detention. This also tested the capacity of Melaleuca, especially its counselling services. The uncertainties related to mainland detention facilities including those in Darwin made recruitment and retention of qualified counsellors as well as future workforce planning difficult.

Alongside all the challenges Melaleuca faced during the year there have also been major achievements. These achievements are covered in the service sections in this report but some of the highlights include:

•Negotiated a new three year contract for the provision of the humanitarian settlement

services (2011-2014); •Negotiated alternative and recurrent funding for counselling support services to survivors of torture and trauma; •More than doubling the number of people we have provided torture and trauma counselling compared with that of last year; •Provision of transit support assistance for 111 people who were settling in interstate destinations in Australia;•Development and implementation of new systems and procedures for the new hSS contract;•Increase in annual income by 38 percent compared to last year’s income

We have achieved a good surplus this financial year. This surplus resulted from an increased fee for services and not from government grants or donations. Most of this has been put aside for the following major expenditure items in the near future:

•Major capital items such as replacement of our out-of-date Information Technology and

other office equipment;•Replacement of ageing motor vehicles;•Potential in the staff pay levels related in Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations;•Additional expenditure anticipated pending the outcome of the national Pay Equity case;•A need to relocate to another office premises in 2012 and related fit-outs for the new offices.

Thank you to all those involved in supporting Melaleuca throughout this year including; staff, volunteers, supporting Agencies and the Committee of Management. I look forward to working with you all as we enter 2011-12.

Ali NurDirectorMelaleuca Refugee Centre


OPERATIONS

The Operations Manager position was vacant for the majority of this financial year. heather Lee left this position and in late 2010 the efforts to recruit to this position were sadly unsuccessful. Heather’s contribution to the organisation was deeply missed.

hUMAN RESOURCES

Following on from a national Community Sector Workforce Development project in 2009-10, Melaleuca received funding for Team Leaders to undertake a Diploma of Management. During the 2010-11 financial year, Team Leaders worked towards completing this study. Their studies are expected to be complete in late 2011.

Staff continued to use internal and external supervision and attend trainings as available and applicable.

FRONT OF hOUSE

Olivia Kelly’s departure was keenly felt by all staff and clients. Fiona Maclean, IT Support, graciously extended her role to also include administration for more than six months. The Front of house Administration Team provided reception services to clients and staff, maintained the fleet of 10 vehicles including yearly registration and bi-annual servicing and ensured stock of stationery and kitchen, cleaning and other items whilst supporting the other Teams with their various activities.

INFORMATION TEChNOLOGy

The Information Technology (IT) staff continued to provide daily user and system support for 42 desktops and 3 laptops computer hardware, more than 25 different computer software programs and 44 office phones. The introduction of IT equipment, upgrades to existing equipment and security of electronic files was also managed by this team throughout the year.

Kylie DempseyOperations Manager/ Acting

FINANCE

Melaleuca maintained a steady income streams from 33 different grants and contracts. We also signed the humanitarian Settlement Services (hSS) three year contract with the Department of Immigration. The transition from the Integrated humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IhSS) contract to the hSS brought about a few internal adjustments due to the new contract requirements, but, overall the transition went well.

A change in broader administration staffing and structure meant some re-organising of the finance workforce with Emma Cameron providing support to both Front of house Administration and Finance. As such, Finance was once again in training mode for a good percentage of the year with stabilization being achieved towards the end of the period.

Peter TrayteFinance Manager

In 2010-11 Melaleuca maintained steady income streams from 33 different grants and contracts. We also signed the Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) three year contract with the Department of Immigration.

ADMINISTRATION TEAM REPORT



Erik Zaera and Cherry Lin at Jingili Water Gardens, World Refugee Day 2011

EARLy SETTLEMENT PROGRAM REPORT

Melaleuca provides settlement support for people granted permanent Australian residency as humanitarian entrants to the Northern Territory. The early settlement support was funded over the past 5 years under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC’s) Integrated humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IhSS) contract. This contract ended in April 2011 and Melaleuca was successful in securing a contract to continue settlement services under the newly developed humanitarian Settlement Services (hSS) program.

hUMANITARIAN ENTRANTS

The Melaleuca Refugee Centre provided early settlement support services to 276 people during the 2010 – 2011 financial year. Of the 276 humanitarian entrants, 111 were provided with transit support assistance to move through transport ports in Darwin onto other settlement destinations in Australia. The Settlement Team worked predominately with the 165 humanitarian entrants who settled in the Northern Territory. These 165 entrants

During the 2010 – 2011 financial year Melaleuca Refugee Centre provided early settlement support services to 276 people.

equate to 1.2% of Australia’s humanitarian intake set by the Australian government, which for 2010–11 is set at 13 750 places. Of these, 109 entrants were granted residency off shore (over-seas), 55 on shore (in Australia) and 1 was a Special humanitarian Program entrant. The majority of the 55 on-shore granted residencies were of asylum seekers in detention centres. The impact that indefinite and prolong detention has on those beginning the settling process is evident to settlement providers and supports the growing evidence that detention has an ongoing impact mentally and physically on those trying to rebuild their lives in Australia.

humanitarian entrants to the NT were granted residency based on one of the following Permanent Resident subclass visas; visa subclass 200 – Refugee, visa subclass 204 – Refuge (Woman at Risk), visa subclass 202 – Special humanitarian Program or visa subclass 866 – Permanent Protection.


62%

4%

1%

33%

Visa Subclasses of People with Regfuee

Background Supported by Melaleuca in

2010‐11

Visa 200

Visa 204

Visa 202

Visa 866

0

5

10

15

20

25

Afghani

Bhutan

Burma

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* This graph captures movements of people of refugee background that settled in the 2009-10 financial year but then moved in the 2010-11 financial year.

Visa 200 Visa 204 Visa 202 Visa 866 Total

Moved Interstate 48 7 0 24 79

Stayed in NT 54 0 1 36 91

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Total Number of Refugees

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Zokir, Saly, Zaber, Abul and Kabir at Jingili Water Gardens, World Refugee Day 2011

Naw hta So Gay, Ler Pwe htoo, Naw Thar Su, Nser Nay Lin at Jingili Water Gardens, World Refugee Day 2011

Secondary movement is common for newly arrived entrants to the NT and nationally. During the year 48% of settlement entrants to the NT relocated interstate. Reasons commonly cited by clients are to move closer to family or other community links and the high cost of rent in the NT.


The Settlement team wishes to acknowledge the support and collaboration of a wide range of agencies who contribute significantly to the communities we service. Special thanks to the following agencies; General Practice NT for co producing new refugee health resources and providing assistance to attend the 2011 Refugee Conference at Centre of Refugee Research UNSW, Territory housing, the Refugee Clinic based at Vanderlin Drive and Northlakes Clinics, Australian Red Cross, Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory, Centrelink Multicultural Services and Centrelink Casuarina Office, Commonwealth Bank, Medicare, WISE Employment, Interpreting and Translating service NT (ITSNT), Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS),

Food for Life Food Bank, Anglicare NT, Alice Springs Migrant Resource Centre, NT Shelter, Darwin Community Arts, Adult Migrant English Program, Salvation Army, Mission Australia, Anula Primary School, Moil Primary School, Nightcliff Primary School,Sanderson Middle School and Darwin high School.

As another year passes there is a moment to pause and give thanks to those dedicated and diverse individuals who have contributed so much to the settlement program. This year we bade adieu to Rebecca Molyeaux, Allan Groves, Onuma Dike, Ella Seiberth, Meg Jeffery, Neha Sen, Leandro Mendes, and Kimberley Jonnson. Again we are honoured to welcome a crew of people with the

perfect balance of compassion, humanity and a diverse professional skill set. Regina Adjura, Katie Ottosen, Marlene Kranz, Jenny Milne, Prue Keenan, Stephanie howard, Tapiwa Mbakile and Mick Fox. Thanks also to Jackie Garbutt for her continued support to the Settlement team. The Settlement team is ever thankful for the generosity and goodwill extended by the inspirational people who come from refugee background and offer friendship, leadership and the hand of humanity to those around them.

Sonya Schmidt Early Settlement Program Coordinator

Steve Hebblethwaite Early Settlement Team Leader

The journey of people settling in Darwin is supported by a large pool of volunteers who through offering their hand in friendship ease the way for those on the long road of resettlement. The time volunteers take to connect with people is appreciated and gestures large or small can make all the difference to someone’s life. A huge thanks to the 167 volunteers who gave so much of their time again this year!

SUPPORT: VOLUNTEERS, AGENCIES AND STAFF

“Being in Indonesia was so difficult, with the threat of harassment constant it was so stressful I could not even sleep. Now since being in Darwin, I have found peace, the only disturbance is from the people from Melaleuca coming to see if I need help (laughs).” Humanitarian entrant from Sri Lanka (Tamil)


L-R – Congolese women, Clothilde, Sakina, Annie, Louise and Odette (F) always ready to pitch in, provide food, dance and help plan and enjoy community events.

Pictured at World Refugee Day 2011


“The most rewarding part of volunteering with Melaleuca and supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Australia is the sense of receiving insight into the lives of the millions of refugees and a sense of appreciation for what I have; it has reconnected me to the world that I live in. It has allowed me to listen and learn from other peoples’ stories and then become part of their new challenging but hopeful life in Australia.”

Current volunteer for Melaleuca Refugee Centre, supporting a Rohingya household.

We warmly acknowledge and extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to the great many volunteers

who’ve managed their busy lives to maintain a loyal commitment to volunteering their time

and energy. It’s thanks to them that new arrivals have strengthened their capacity to adapt, form

friendships, heal, integrate and begin their journey

I was very fortunate to join Melaleuca in the role as volunteer coordinator in March 2011. The volunteering Social Support Program exists to complement Melaleuca’s early settlement work during client’s initial six months. This assistance is crucial to offering new arrivals companionship, morale support, local orientation, practical support and skills vital to adjusting to a new culture and life in Australia.

The social support program currently has 167 trained volunteers, 70 of whom are actively supporting households of current clients. Over the 2010/2011 period, 127 people have been recruited

and trained as volunteers. A majority continue to be female who specify a preference for assisting families and women, however, there is an increased demand for settlement of people from detention who are predominantly individual men. As a result, the program is increasing its focus on recruiting male volunteers to ensure individual men from detention gain the broad benefits of a volunteer support group.

The volunteering calendar is an eventful and enjoyable one. To celebrate National Volunteering Week, volunteers delighted in a reception at Government house on 10th May 2011. Ms Tessa Pauling, patron for Melaleuca,

warmly addressed the invitees describing her personal passion to support people from a refugee background. This was followed by engaging words from the Director Ali Nur with his personal story. Furthermore, at least 38 volunteers have generously contributed to community events injecting their tireless energy and spirited interest into harmony Day in March, the Seebreeze Festival in April and Refugee Week events in June.

In my role I respond to many enquiries from volunteers and others in the community with an interest in supporting people from a refugee background in other ways including youth activities, tutoring, the arts and

sport. Melaleuca upholds its valuable role in linking people to the relevant organisations currently undertaking this work.

We warmly acknowledge and extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to the great many volunteers who’ve managed their busy lives to maintain a loyal commitment to volunteering their time and energy. It’s thanks to them that new arrivals have strengthened their capacity to adapt, form friendships, heal, integrate and begin their journey of settlement in Australia

Prue Keenan Volunteer Coordinator


Martin Matete and Kwana family with Melaleuca volunteers at East Point Picnic

EARLy SETTLEMENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

COUNSELLING TEAM REPORT

The counselling team at the Melaleuca Refugee Centre provided support and services to 476 people from refugee background during the financial year 2010-2011.

Short-Term Torture and Trauma Counselling (IhSS)

Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT)

Newly Arrived youth Support Services and youth Program (yOUTh)

Intensive Family Support Services (IFS)

Torture and Trauma Counselling (Dentention) (T & T)

ShORT-TERM TORTURE AND TRAUMA COUNSELLING

This financial year Melaleuca delivered short term counseling to 86 individual clients from a refugee background. Short term torture and trauma counselling program was part of the Integrated humanitarian Settlement Services (IhSS) contract with Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). The program provides assistance within the first six months after arrival. Survivors of torture and trauma are assisted to manage their recovery from the impacts of social and pyschological reactions to trauma and torture.

PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVORS OF TORTURE AND TRAUMA (PASTT)

This financial year Melaleuca delivered direct counseling services to 80 clients of refugee background who have been in Australia longer than six months or more and post their early settlement period. As per its title, this program provides counselling and advocacy support to survivors of torture and trauma.

*Cultural identity may not reflect Country of Origin. For example, a child born in Australia may be Afghani.

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MUMS AND BUBS DANCE

A dance movement therapy program for mother and infants aged 0-4 ran weekly at Melaleuca for three series, each of 8 weeks and has been very successful in working with families displaying issues of interrupted attachment and bonding.

WOMEN’S DANCE gROuP

The dance movement therapist has offered a therapy program for women living in detention which focuses on developing and an improved sense of safety and wellbeing in one’s own body. Despite rapid movement of clients in and out of Darwin detention facilities, all women who have attended have demonstrated significant improvements in wellbeing following attendance at the program for 2-3 weeks.

4%

14%

19%

14%

49%

Direct Counselling Service to Clients by

Melaleuca by AGE 2010‐11

0 to 4 yrs

5 to 11 yrs

12 to 16 yrs

17 to 24 yrs

25+ yrs


Left: Alex Jordan, Child Focused Counsellor (Melaleuca) facilitating community dancing with the Burrundi Women Dancers at World Refugee Day 2011

ThE INTENSIVE FAMILy SUPPORT (IFS) SERVICES

The IFS program delivered direct services to 55 individuals within family groups. This program provides intensive support in a ‘wrap around’ appraoch to meet the needs of all members of a family, and to young mothers and the babies in particular.

The IFS service provides: •individual counseling, •family group work•advocacy and •practical support. The IFS counselor works in close collaboration with Melaleuca’s Child Focused Therapist, and the Families in Cultural Transition and the Tips and Ideas on Parenting Skills programs.

NEWLy ARRIVED yOUTh SUPPORT SERVICES (NAySS) AND yOUTh PROGRAM

One of Melaleuca’s most popular programs, the youth Team this year engaged with 145 young people from refugee background. The youth Program supports young people who are at risk of homelessness and enhances refugee youth engagement with family, education, training and employment and community.

This year the Team provided:•individual case work support•focused group work•school based support at Darwin high, Nightcliff and Sanderson Middle Schools•community development activities

•capacity building initiatives•action based research

The Team facilitated several interactive group programs throughout the year including: •Swim Survive Program•visits to Litchfield Park •school holiday activities

•youth led programs and events

These group work initiatives are facilitated to create networks for young people and provide them with important social connections and extra support.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

100

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Trauma symptoms experienced by Melaleuca Counselled Clients

UNDER 18yrs (perecentage %) in 2010‐11

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Mild %

Moderate %

Severe %

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Trauma symptoms experienced by Melaleuca Counselled Clients

18yrs AND older (perecentage %) in 2010‐11

Other

Mild %

Moderate %

Severe %

A group of young people presenting a farewell gift to youth Team staff member Sara herniman (centre) at World Refugee Day 2011, with Emily Fajerman (front).


LEADING ThE WAy

In June 2011, The Centre for Refugee Research funded two young women from refugee background to attend and participate in the youth Forum at the 2011 UNSW Refugee Conference. Accompanied by one of the youth Workers from Melaleuca, the young women, Kani Kenyi and Susan Jackson, were able to engage with young leaders from across Australia

to identify and discuss issues that impact the lives of refugee young people, both locally and internationally. This experience provided the young women opportunities to engage in human rights frameworks and to participate in leadership and advocacy training and make new connections with young people from across Australia.

“Hearing other people talk about their experiences and what they had to go through inspired me. It gave me confidence and made me feel proud to be a refugee.” -Kani Kenyi


L to R: Lwin htey and Francine Niyonkura at World Refugee Day 2011

Kani Kenyi and Susan Jackson

Melaleuca School program supports a number of schools in Darwin to develop systematic ‘whole of school’ strategies for supporting refugee and asylum seeker children. Using the Schools In for Refugees resource kit developed by Foundation house in Victoria, this program assisted Anula and Nightcliff primary schools to undertake an audit of their current strategies for supporting students from refugee background.

This program helped develop ‘Refugee Action Teams’ (RAT). Our staff provided resources, professional development and mentoring in the implementation of a school specific action plan to improve support structures in collaboration with the wider school community. Both schools have put in significant effort and made positive changes to their strategies for including and supporting refugee and Asylum seeker students.

SChOOLS FIRST GRANT: BRIDGING CULTURES PROJECT

Our partnership with the Nightcliff Primary school has developed further to form the ‘Bridging Cultures’ project funded under the National Australia Bank’s (NAB) ‘Schools First’ Program. Melaleuca and Nightcliff were successful not only in gaining a NAB grant, but also in winning the state prize which doubled the project funding. This funding has allowed the development of a dedicated ‘Refugee Action Team’ including staff from the school and Melaleuca who meet monthly to develop whole of school support strategies.

The Schools First Grant funding also allowed the employment of a full time bi-cultural worker and an additional child-focused counselor at Melaleuca. These staff work in a focused way with the Nightcliff Primary School to assist in the development

of the support programs through individual and small group counselling to students of refugee background. One of way of doing this was to provide dance movement group therapy for upper primary girls that focuses of development of self-regulation, self-esteem and identity.

A part-time Project Manager was also employed to oversee project development and to run the Community Arts project activities: these have included Dance and Media Arts Programs, Circus and Drumbeat programs for select groups of refugee and other students.

The Bridging Cultures project has already led to improved understanding and support for refugee students and families and better outcomes for students in the classroom and playground. The project has also attracted a great deal of attention as a model project in local and national media.

Melaleuca school’s program was awarded first prize in the Northern Territory for its oustanding achievements in the NAB Schools First national competition.

MELALEUCA SChOOLS PROGRAM

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of:Alex Jordan and Anita Gupta from Melaleuca and Nightcliff Primary School staff Jenelle Saunders, Alice Mulbah, Liz Veel, Principal, Tim Morgan, Assistant Principal and Liz Walker, ESL teacher.


Nightcliff Primary school student Moses Akena participating in the Bridging Cultures Digital Storytelling Program


The Bridging Cultures project has led to improved understanding and support for refugee students and families in schools and better outcomes for students in the classroom and playground.

COMMUNITy DEVELOPMENT TEAM REPORT

The Community Development Team delivers a range of programs underpinned by the key principles and values of Community Development: education, participation, democracy, advocacy - strategies of empowerment that build social capital and community capacity.

The great human quality is adaptation. People from refugee background who have been exposed to violence, trauma, state sponsored terrorism and death, have this quality in abundance.

The Community Development Team delivers a range of programs underpinned by the key principles and values of Community Development: education, participation, democracy, advocacy - strategies of empowerment that build social capital and community capacity.

Throughout the last year the CD Team continued to facilitate the following programs:•Families in Cultural Transition •Tips&Ideas in Parenting Skills•Community Liaison •Training and Education•Community Reference group •Refugee Support Network •Melaleuca Newsletter•Community e-bulletins And faciltated community engagement in the following:•World Refugee Week •Annua Deckchair Fundraiser •Harmony Day•International Women’s Day

•Sea-Breeze Festival•Darwin Festival

In 2010-11 the Team expanded from four to five staff, with the addition of the Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP) pilot program; the first of its kind in Australia. As with FICT and TIPS, AVP increases social capital and builds community capacity through adopting the bi-cultural facilitator model, where community members participate in ‘train-the-trainer’ programs to equip them to facilitate programs in language to their own community, supported by our Program Coordinators.

As the NT lead agency in torture and trauma, Melaleuca receives ongoing requests from our communities, sector agencies and government to respond to emerging issues or critical incidents. In the past year, these initiatives include establishing:•Melaleuca Safe Children and Communities Working group•Community Elders group•Sexual and Reproductive health initiative •MOu’s with CDu for the ‘i-settle with IT’ and Horticulture

program•’Aqua safe’ initiative •National e-book resource ‘i-talk’ on depression •National Legal Aid Cpmmission Tenancy Resource Kit •Community participation in radio and television documentaries advocating the rights of refugees and asylum seekers The outcomes and achievements of the CD Team are far reaching in the communities we work with. This is possible through the professionalism and dedication of the Team, striving for excellence in outcomes and

a commitment to a process to empower our communities.

In the last year we said farewell Bonita Moss and Jeannie O’Carroll, welcomed Cesarina Rocha, Justine Mickle and Jenny Milne. Xavier Lane-Mullins took temporary leave to expand his professional experience at another agency.

Utilising mechanisms to critique and evaluate our work qualitatively and quantitatively as always remain exciting and challenging. A snapshot of the Team’s program areas and achievements in 2010-11

Children from the Burundi community enjoy a cup of tea in the Child Friendly space at Melaleuca, while their parents participate in the FICT Welcome to Country module.


Bicultural Facilitator Violette Batwenga (centre) with FICT participants at the Welcome to Country session facilitated by the School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems, CDU.

Being forced to flee their country of origin, survive life in refugee camps in a second

country, often for many years, they then start a new life in a third country. Building on the great work already undertaken by the Settlement and Counselling Teams, the focus of the Community Development (CD) Team is to support emerging communities meet the complexity of challenges

as they adapt to their new life in Australia.


The Comunity Liason Officer plays a key role in the great Melaleuca ‘Welcome’ tradition where existing community members arrange to be at the airport arrival gates to ‘welcome’ new arrivals with a delicious meal already prepared in their new home.

COMMUNITy LIAISON

The Community Liaison Officer (CLO) is a ‘lynch pin’ position that create links between communities of refugee background and mainstream services to increase engagement and support communities to advocate for themselves. The CLO attends numerous meetings within communities, maintaining a flow of knowledge and information between communities and building relationships.

TRAINING

Training is delivered to both external stakeholders and Melaleuca staff. During this reporting period a considerable focus was directed to updating and refining the quality and currency of resources utilized in the delivery of training. Training is promoted through our generic ‘Calendar of Training’, promoted on the website, through interagency, and word of mouth. In the past year external training was delivered to a wide range of participants from diverse sectors, including medical and allied health professionals, educators, police, detention centre staff, volunteer advocates, carers and more.

We responded to training requests during the year, resulting from emerging

community need and government policy shifts. The introduction of detention centres to Darwin created a new service industry with unique training needs. Our Training program responded to this and will continue to into the future. Regular in-house training was

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Co**unica0ng E3ec0vely

Counselling and Self Care

Diversity of Older People

Cultural Considera0ons

The Refugee Experience

Working with Refugees

Working with Young Refugees

Training provided by Maleluca to external

stakeholders 2010‐11

Police

Allied Health

All Sectors

also provided to Melaleuca staff on a needs basis. This position facilitated the Refugee Support Network for six months of the past year, then taken on by the Team Leader and supported by other CD staff until the positions filled.

The CLO convenes the Community Reference Group where key representatives from communities dentify issues requiring attention e.g. Centrelink introduction of Income Management); links service organisations with community leaders to follow up matters; supports a Community Elders Group; played a key role in the major event of the year World Refugee Day; supported the Refugee Support Network,

and produced the widely read Melaleuca Newsletter.

The CLO plays a key role in the great Melaleuca ‘Welcome’ tradition where existing community members arrange to be at the airport arrival gates to ‘welcome’ new arrivals from the same community with a delicious meal prepared in their new home.


FAMILIES IN CULTURAL TRANSITION (FICT) PROGRAM

The FICT program is designed to support individuals and families in the transition to a new life in Australia. This program is comprehensive, providing information on support systems and legal frameworks, exploring concepts of multiculturalism and, equity, democracy and rights; enables discussion around the challenges and tensions of shifting cultural values and beliefs as families adapt to great changes they are facing. And the group process affirms cultural identity and strengthens communities.

The program is delivered to one community at a time, over 3months, in language. Employ two Bi-cultural Facilitators (male and female) who are trained and supported by the program Coordinator.

Community members are also employed throughout each programs as drivers, child carers and cooks.

In this reporting period newly arrived members of the Bhutanese community and the Congolese community completed the FICT program. Also, the ‘Welcome to Country’ module was delivered to the Burundi community as well as the tow above.

A Somali FICT group was planned for, however a departure of most new arrivals made this unviable. Darwin’s high rental costs and the onset of Income Management were given as the reasons for this mass relocation of Somali to elsewhere in Australia.

A FICT program for our Sudanese Community was then being developed, however a tragedy within the community required appropriate time for grieving; that program is

Kausilia Ramdam Kami receiving her completion of FICT certificate from Louise Weber, Program Coordinator.

Emerence and Martin Matete with their sons Martin Jnr and Charles celebrating completion of the Congolese FICT program at Darwin Waterfront.


The Bhutanese TIPS group led by Bhakti Mainaly (centre)

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR FICT PARTNERShIPS

The FICT program is always evolving as it adapts to changes in policy, community needs or local factors. Establishing new links and maintaining existing partnerships is vital to this.

Everybody’s Business! is a new initiative formed in response to an identified need for information around sexual and reproductive health. FICT is engaged in a new multi-agency partnership with the NT Women’s Health Strategy unit, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, General Practice

Network NT, Family Planning Network NT and Refugee and Migrant Settlement Services Anglicare. This group operates as a sub-committee of the Refugee health Program of the General Practice Network NT. The group has organized community consultations, facilitated training for the sector, developed a pilot program and is planning to roll out training for bi-cultural staff to deliver this content as an addition to the current FICT program.

FICT for MenThe increase of onshore humanitarian entrants from detention centres is creating a demographic change to our client base. A shift from families of South East Asia and the African continent to individual males from Southern and Western Asia requires reassessment of the current focus of our programs. Efforts are now being directed to assess the needs of these emerging communities and adapt FICT accordingly.

TIPS AND IDEAS ON PARENTING SKILLS (TIPS)

The Tips and Ideas for Parenting Skills (TIPS) Program was developed in New Zealand and, like FICT, comprised 10 modules covering a range of topics. TIPS supports the challenges of parenting in a new environment and across cultures and offered to parents 12months post arrival when unanticipated issues around adapting emerge.

As with FICT and AVP, TIPS offers ‘Bi-cultural Facilitator Training’ for community members, who are then supported to deliver the TIPS program to their

community in language. Under the TIPS Program the following activities were undertaken: A ‘Healthy Lunchbox Ideas’ component was trialed to increase nutritional intake of children. Being successful addition it is now incorporated into the TIPS programs.

As TIPS is usually 12 months post arrival, a home visiting component was added in the past 12 months. The need for a snapshot audit of child safety in the new home environment was identified. Resources in language are used. Follow up is referred to our Intensive Family Support Counsellor.

Child Safe and Melaleuca Communities (CSMC) Working Group Initiative Last September, Melaleuca established an internal working group to set new benchmarks as a child safe organization. Working closely with Child Wise and NAPCAN, we established the Child Safe Melaleuca Communities (CSMC) Working Group. Representatives from Melaleuca teams meet regularly to progress the aims: make policy and procedural improvements; pilot a small Community Safety Plan project. Support Melalueca progress toward national accreditation as a ‘Child Safe’ Organisation.

I would like to thank the following for their support this year:•NT Legal Aid CommissionMulti-Cultural Educators for information sessions on family, domestic violence and child protection law to each group.•School of Australian and Indigenous Knowledge Systems CDU for delivering theWelcome to Country module; made possible through funding from NT Government. •Bicultural staff from the Bhutanese, Burundi, Congolese, and Sudanese communities.

Future directions: in recognition of the importance people from refugee background place on keeping families strong through the process of adapting to a new life, this program will

expand the number of modules provided to better support families, children and youth as they confront the complexities of adapting to life in Australia.


ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROGRAM (AVP)

‘PEACE LEADERSHIP TRAININg’

In 2010-12 Melaleuca is undertaking a pilot project that adapts an internationally recognised model of conflict resolution to emerging communities from refugee background in Darwin. This project aims to build the capacity of community members to meet individual and family needs in a way that maintains and fosters harmony and non-violence.

Similar to FICT and TIPS, AVP recognises existing skills

and uses a train-the trainer model to equip community members to facilitate sessions in their own communities in language.

This 18 month project is being developed to deliver, specifically to the Burundi, Burmese, Congolese, Karen, Liberian, Somali and Sudanese communities. Participants build skills through sequential workshops: Basic, Advanced, and Facilitator training.

A wide range of community leaders, government and sector agencies were consulted in the first phase and an Expert Reference Group is being formed. The program Coordinator has:•Presented at the ‘Prevention

of Violence against Immigrant and Refugee Woman’ seminar, organised by General Practice Network NT. •Published updates in the international AVP journal•undertaken training with experienced AVP facilitators in interstate. •Contributed to the national AVP network.

The importance of AVP for young people of refugee background has been recognised and is being considered for the later stage of this Pilot. The AVP, TIPS and FICT program are funded by the NT Department of Children and Families.

Community members with their certificates for Peace Leadership Training with interstate facilitators and Melaleuca AVP Coordinator, Justine Mickle (centre front)


Acholi Women Dancers at World Refugee Day 2011, whistled in by Balbina Jackson

The great human quality is adaptation. People from refugee background who have been exposed to violence, trauma, state sponsored terrorism and death, have this quality in abundance.


FINANCIAL REPORTS



James James Jamshid Jamil and Madeleine Challender building the ‘1000 Cranes for Peace’ mobile, Wolrd Refugee Day 2011

Melaleuca Refugee CentreShop 33, Rapid Creek Business Village48 Trower RoadMillner NT 0810

P: 08 8985 3311E: [email protected]: www.melaleuca.org.au

2010-11 · hoping to come to a mutual agreement very shortly. We fare welled Leila Collins, Daniel...

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