Journey of Pasifika families from the Pacific to the West

Presentation by Kalisi T Bese Program Manager, Pasifika YLS

Young Offender Support Services (YOSS) Inala Youth Services

Servicing the Logan and Inala areas.

My Story - Courage of a young girl. Kalisi Bese Volatabu - YouTube

12 Sittella Street, PO Box 141, INALA QLD 4077

Phone: 07 3372 2655/ Mobile: 0439 670 432 Email: syscmanager@iys.org.au Web: http://www.iys.org.au/

This Presentation focuses on various issues and challenges that are experienced by our Pacific families through out regional areas, States &

Territories and Australia as a whole.

It is important to recognize the diversity of experiences amongst our Pacific people. In general terms Pacific Island migration falls into a few categories; Those who migrated

from New Zealand before February 2001 and Post 2001 Trans Tasman Changes; and those that directly came from the Islands; Skilled migration, Student Visa, Family Sponsored

Visa and Seasonal Worker Scheme.

2011 ABS Census Population - Country of Birth

NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT O.T TOTAL

Northern Mariana Islands 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 13

Pitcairn Islands 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Polynesia (excludes Hawaii), nfd 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 6

Wallis and Futuna 6 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 14

Melanesia, nfd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Palau 4 4 10 0 0 0 4 0 0 22 Polynesia (excludes Hawaii), nec 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 Micronesia, Federated States of 6 4 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 Oceania and Antarctica, nfd 225 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 235

Micronesia, nfd 8 10 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 32

2011 ABS Census Population - Country of Birth

NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT O.T TOTAL

Marshall Islands 9 10 10 0 0 4 0 0 0 33

Tokelau 255 16 225 0 13 0 15 0 0 524

Guam 27 16 27 4 0 0 0 10 0 84

Tuvalu 20 24 66 0 6 4 0 0 0 120

French Polynesia 142 30 194 5 17 3 4 5 0 400

Samoa, American 80 54 100 8 12 3 0 0 0 257

New Caledonia 474 84 578 17 35 7 3 22 0 1220

Kiribati 95 86 238 24 26 9 16 5 0 499

Niue 300 92 243 10 48 3 0 9 0 705

Vanuatu 434 139 393 23 51 15 25 28 0 1108

2011 ABS Census Population - Country of Birth

NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT O.T TOTAL

Solomon Islands 521 160 844 58 84 10 39 42 0 1758

Nauru 72 221 158 18 25 8 7 6 0 515

Tonga 5550 1446 1596 104 215 37 50 209 3 9210

Cook Islands 2090 1704 1836 91 291 15 33 33 0 6093

Papua New Guinea 5428 2534 14500 935 1764 311 612 704 0 26788

Samoa 7877 4022 6473 95 364 35 33 194 0 19093

Fiji 32303 9714 11400 1158 1033 274 288 809 0 56979

New Zealand 114231 80235 192036 12850 70736 4928 3969 4388 24 483397

Total 170164 100615 230979 15400 74720 5666 5098 6464 27 609133

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?

WHAT DO YOU THINK

ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?

Protective and Risk Factors of our Pasifika families.

Child Factors Family Factors Education & Employment Factors Life Events Community & Cultural Factors

Questions for Discussion Current issues of our young Pacific people Community engagement, if any Any current program for our Pacific young people What works? What strategies are in place that appears to be

working? Support or assistance available for parents Any development programs for our young or

families Raising the awareness of our young people and

their families.

There appears to be key elements or trends which, both of these elements feed into predicted increase in the Pacific offending population in custody and community Orders.

1. Youthfulness of the Pacific offenders

2. Seriousness of the offences committed by the Pacific offenders

John Morrony Correctional Centre; Inmate Survey 2002 (20)

Parramatta Correctional Centre; Inmate Survey 2009 (50)

Talanoa Open Community Forum 2010 - PARRAMATTA NSW (250)

Southern QLD Correctional Centre; Inmate Survey 2012 (40)

Kids off the Streets Community Forum 2012 – Griffith University QLD (80)

Logan Alive Community Forum 2012 – Multilink Community Service, Logan QLD (60)

Woodridge State High School Forum 2012 – Logan QLD (50) What are Human Rights Forum 2012; Woodridge State High School (200)

Pasifika Youth Justice Community Forum 2013 – Griffith University QLD

Community & Correctional Consultations

NSW Corrections Stats - 2009 Country of Origin Numbers Country of Origin Numbers

NZ 191 Tonga 96

Samoa 86 Fiji 81

Maori 75 Cook Is 24

PNG 6 Hawaii 1

TOTAL = 560

QLD Stats – Serco SQCC 08/2012

Survey with Inmates –

Age: 18yrs to 25yrs – 70%

Approximately have 40 Pacific Island inmates

Education Level: Secondary – 90%

Community Local: Logan – 60%

List of Offences

Affray Aggravated Robbery Assault Assault Occasioning

Actual Bodily Harm - A. O. A. B. H

Assault Police Armed Robbery with

Offensive Weapon Break & Enter to Commit

Serious Offence Common Assault Contravene AVO Domestic Violence Drive Whilst Disqualified Drug related offences Grievous Bodily Harm

Kidnapping & Abduction Life Endangering Acts Maliciously Destroy

Property Manslaughter Possession of Prohibited

Drug Possession of Shortened

Firearms Rape & Attempted Rape Resist Arrest Robbery Robbery in Company Steal from Person Steal Motor Vehicle Supply Prohibited Drug Trafficking

QUESTIONS Do you think there is an increase of Pacific Offenders in

Custody? - What do you believe is the reasons behind this increase of these Pacific Offenders in custody?

Do you think tough sentencing options work? - Apart from incarceration/ custody, what options can we utilise to reduce the number of Pacific offenders in custody? How effective is this option? Will this make an impact?

Do you believe the wider Pacific Community could assist? - what role or responsibility could the wider Pacific Community undertake?

Is there sufficient support and assistance available for individuals or families? - List the various support or assistance available to families or offenders. What resources, tools and programs need to be identified and implemented?

Would you seek assistance from stakeholders, when in a crisis? - During a crisis - would you have an understanding of what assistance are available?

Reasons to the increase of Pacific Offenders in Custody:

Communication (Parents - Children) - children can not express themselves at home, they are not allowed to do so. As parents if young voice their opinion or vocal, they are perceived to be disrespectful.

Culture – lack of understanding the Australian Western System; Cultural teachings – by the parents; the delivery of this method which effects the children of the current and next generation; lack of engagement with the young people

Language – lack of proficiency in English; with the parents and young people.

Relationship Breakdown - Lack of Love (Parents - Children) Both parties have to work together, raise the awareness - emotional language and expression.

Lack of Support (Whilst in custody/ when released to the community)

Negative attitude/ Rebellion - Lack of Cultural Knowledge

Fathers/ males are seen to be more occupied in “Kava” sessions and not spending time with family

Reasons to the increase of Pacific Offenders in Custody

Financial support to the church or family back in the Islands and not on immediate family.

Mental Health issues - Depression

Suicide – Grief & Loss issues; Loss of friend or family member

Identity - as Pacific people are from communal systems, being autonomous is not readily encouraged. Hence the difficulties of our young people to express themselves.

Wrong Crowd = community - young people lack a sense of belonging in the home.

Homelessness

Family Unit (Rigid Teachings) - limited social activities, boundaries blurred (in dysfunctional families), poverty

Domestic & Family Violence - Abuse within the home; Physical, Sexual (Incest), Emotional, Economical, Social etc

Reasons to the increase of Pacific Offenders in Custody:

Addiction - Alcohol, Substance abuse, Gambling,

Gang Mentality = group = community - some young people cant handle balancing two worlds, some recreate their own world (own identity)

Emotional Pressure within the home – high expectations from parents or care-giver

Religious Doctrine - cant relate to the world

Overcrowding within the home.

Immigration or Visa – rigid requirements and limitations of Services to assist families due to the Visa Category; Settlement Service Scheme

Rights and Obligations in Australia – lack of awareness

Education Pathway – not entitled to student loans (SCV- NZ Citizen)

Unemployment – there appears to be lack of opportunities available

TOUGH SENTENCING OPTIONS Tough sentencing options doesn’t work

Early intervention - Parenting Skills - quality time as a family unit. Learning to communicate to each other positively and support each other

Practical Program - i.e.: Communication, Education, Sports, Music, Mentoring and Development Program

Restorative Justice Program; Youth Conferencing - JJ’s Intervention/ or Court Restorative

Culturally appropriate Programs in Custody - Initiative Program Support JJ’s, Pacific Offender Program, Pasifika Families Program

Funding Program for Service delivery on a LONG Term basis; with tangible and practical Outcomes.

PACIFIC COMMUNITY - ASSIST Educate - Cultural/ Westernize Society. Cultural Identity

Programs/ Moral Codes Workshops

Culturally appropriate Programs – facilitation and ownership of the project

Employing Bilingual Workers in Social Services Organisations

Media - utilise the various Community Radios, Websites, Newspapers, Emails, Social Media

Utilise ex-offenders to motivate young people to take a positive path. These ex-offenders will require support from Govt, PCYC and NGO agencies. Training or Courses that could assist their personal growth.

Leadership and Mentoring Program – Sports, Business, Community Champions

PACIFIC COMMUNITY - ASSIST Encourage Youth Culture - parents need to understand the identity

choices of the young people

Motivate young people to have a voice - young people found working with parents is a challenge

Create space for young people

Support individuals and families

Educate and promote Pacific Cultural Awareness

Specific Pacific Organization to Organise Forums - relevant and appropriate educational Forums

Utilizing the various Churches or Religious groups to support and assist the young people and families

Build the Capacity of the Pacific Community members to help others; through Training, Workshops etc

SUPPORT & ASSISTANCE Quality time between Parents and Children

Parents and Community leaders or elders to allow children to have a voice.

Parents to show “Love” towards a child.

Vocational aspirations - assist the young people to achieve their Goals

Educational Development Programs

Religion - educate or teach the children of sound faith.

Engagement or Involvement of young people and families

Cultural Workshops or Programs

DIRECTORY of Pacific Support groups - Gov, NGO, Churches, Youth Groups, Community Groups

Rights and Responsibility Program - young people to take ownership of their actions

RECOMMENDATIONS Create and Implement Pacific Cultural Programs within Schools,

Juvenile Detention Centres, Correctional Centres, Community Organisations, Groups, Churches.

Increase the resourcing of early intervention programs for children and young people at risk; within Schools, Community Organisations, Groups and Churches.

Support and increase resources; to current Support Programs within the Community:- namely Churches, Community groups and families.(Family Support Group)

A whole of Government Approach on PI issues including, Education, Genuine Community Ownership, and Settlement issues. Promote knowledge, Training Education Empowerment

Engagement of bi-cultural workers across Government Departments especially services that Government are encouraging Pacific Islanders/ Maori people to access.eg. Health, Education, Employment Services. Employ Pacific Islands/ Maori people as teacher aids, youth workers liaison workers to facilitate relationship between school community and other agencies.

RECOMMENDATIONS Facilitate Community Forums on a regular basis; for Development

Programs and Workshops – (2 per year or on a regular basis)

Create Directory for the wider Community to utilise when required

Disseminate information to the Community on a regular basis via: Websites, Community Radio, Emails, Church Bulletin Boards, and Community Forums.

Resource and Information materials – Translated to reflect the diverse languages

Youth & Family Handbook – to assist them navigate through the Judicial System.

Generate space for young people e.g.: Cultural and Learning Centre for youth, parents and the wider community.

That a data collection system be developed across all government departments to assist in improving cultural responsiveness so they are able to identify and monitor key issues affecting Pacific Island and other CALD groups.

Pasifika Youth Links Service is a program managed by Inala Youth Service (IYS), funded under the

Safe Youth Safe Community Project, Young Offender Support Service from

Justice Attorney General, QLD.

VISION: To restore HOPE & bring a positive CHANGE to the lives of our young people.

Allowing the identities of repeat offenders to be published by the media. The publishing of first time offenders will continue to be prohibited.

A new offence for breach of bail.

Making all juvenile criminal histories available in adult courts to give a Magistrate or Judge a complete understanding of a defendant’s history

Removing detention as a last resort to give the court more discretion during sentencing

Transferring juvenile offenders to adult correctional centres when they reach 17 years of age if they have six or more months of their sentence remaining.

Pasifika Youth Links Service - OBJECTIVES

Engage Pacific young people in programs, to raise their awareness and a method to discover who they are as an individual.

Creating an avenue or pathway for these young people to address their offending behaviour by encouraging and inspiring these young people to overcome their personal and social barriers.

Give these Pacific Island and Maori young people the opportunity to explore their strengths, skills and knowledge hidden within themselves as part of their healing, rehabilitation and education through participation in programs.

Each young people are given the opportunity to perform as an individual or as part of a group, instilling in them to make positive changes in their individual lives and be role-models to others; especially when in the community, incarceration, or when released to the wider community.

The young people and their families are informed or referred to services and programs that are available for self-development and growth.

PYLS - FUNCTIONS Adventure Base Learning Camp – intensive adventure based

experiential learning program at The Outlook twice per year. This work with our young people focuses on activities that promote positive the social development; with elements of group work and team building.

Anger Replacement Therapy (A.R.T) – Anger Replacement Therapy is a multimodel Intervention designed to alter the behaviour of chronically aggressive youth. It teaches young people varying methods of how to modify their own response to anger. One on one mentoring, or small gender and aged based groups that reinforce the teachings delivered in A.R.T e.g How to deal with other peoples anger, how to deal with group pressure, moral reasoning such as ‘always expecting the worst’, ‘Respect, Trust, Integrity as well as Pasifika Culture.

Case Management – Individualised case management plan identifying the clients goals over the next 6 months. Barriers preventing the cilent and primary care giver from achieving those goals. Identifying what support and other services need to be involved. Dates for review of progress.

PYLS – FUNCTIONS Kids Off The Streets (KOTS) - Connect the young people back to

their communities and families; Address the barriers that prevent young people from remaining in a safe home or place; Assist young people to find housing and pathways forward into employment, education; Encouraging and inspiring the young people to overcome personal and social barriers.

MANA Mentoring & Leadership Program - Provide structured and clinical mentoring to help our youth to fulfill their potential and to prevent such outcomes. One on one mentoring including an in-depth case management system; Group work sessions targeting contemporary Pasifika issues; Community Connections; Youth-driven Community Programs

MANA Pasifika Sports Program - our young people and their families; partnership with stakeholders in a creation of a Mentor and Leadership Program to assist and support our young people and their families. We have identified 10 young people that will be undertaking the Program. These to implement avenues that we can best manage our young people, with the objective to assist and support them in all areas of their lives. Building on Life Skills, Confidence, Team Work and Respect for each other and the wider community.

PYLS - FUNCTIONS MANA Pasifika Creative Arts Program – to build our young people’s

Cultural Knowledge and Awareness. With the objective to reconnect our young people with their Cultural history, Ancestry and Identity. To build their skills on Art & Craft, Wood Carving, Painting/ Drawing, Weaving, Music, Drama, Dance, Songs. The program would encompass various workshop days to facilitate these components; the duration of the Program is to 10 weeks. With an element of showcasing the art-work at the QLD Museum to.

Pasifika Families with Purpose and Pride (PFPP) – This program was created to help young people and parents of Pacific Island and Maori origin, develop strong connections with their family unit and learn life skills that will enhance their relationships, health, wellbeing and connect to other support services. This program was developed after consultation with stakeholders, young people and the local community. This process identified various strengths and barriers on the home front were identified.

Support & Referral to other Services - We will provide support and referrals to specialist agencies for our young people and their primary care givers to access appropriate services.

Community Awareness & Promotion

4EB Community Radio - We have been utilizing this medium to raise the awareness of the wider community on issues and matters of our Pasifika young people and families. Weekly updates on Community issues

Promoting information to all community members

Collaborative approach - seeking all groups and churches to come together to form constructive strategies or actions to assist with addressing matters that arises within the community.

Newsletters, Churches, Community Meetings, Forums and Events - We continue to attend and participate in community discussions and deliberation to raise the awareness of the importance of working collaboratively with all, to best support and assist our clients and their families.

Pasifika Youth Links Team: L-R Andrew Faavale, Valami Waqaliva, Kalisi Bese, Jimmy Noa.

VINAKA VAKALEVU -

Presentation by Kalisi T Bese Program Manager, Pasifika YLS/ IYS

Young Offenders Support Services (YOSS) Inala Youth Services - Servicing the

Logan and Inala areas.

12 Sittella Street, PO Box 141, INALA QLD 4077 Phone: 07 3372 2655/ Mobile: 0439 670 432

Email: syscmanager@iys.org.au Web: http://www.iys.org.au/