Meet the winners of this year's ABC Radio Brisbane Community Spirit Awards!
If ever there was a need for community spirit, it is in 2020. The inaugural ABC Radio Brisbane Community Spirit Awards acknowledge the strength and diversity of Brisbane's communities and recognise those across the city who are making a real difference.
Somalia-born refugee Faysel Admend Selat took out the the award for Community Champion and QPASTT Youth Voice Brisbane won the Multicultural Community Cohesion Award. Read the full story here.
The 2021 QUT Asylum Seeker Tuition Fee Scholarship applications are open
This scholarship is to enable students who are seeking asylum in Australia to access higher education and receive:
a tuition fee scholarship for the duration of your course
a guaranteed QUT Equity Scholarship - a minimum of $3,500 for one year
an Equity computer on commencement at QUT.
If you submit your application and all documentation by 15 Jan 2021, QUT will let you know the outcome by 29 Jan 2021.
Note that applicants who hold Bridging Visa ‘E’ (subclass 050), Temporary Protection Visa (subclass 785) and Safe Heaven Enterprise Visa (subclass 790) need to have study rights as part of their visa condition in order to be considered.
More information about eligibility and how to apply here.
Communicating with migrant and refugee communities during COVID-19: Learnings for the future
As the COVID-19 pandemic developed in Australia, Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) consulted regularly with members on its impacts. This has included consultation on the communication of health information to newly arrived communities.
A report was prepared to provide insight that can be used to guide further information provision as the pandemic continues, as well as lessons that can be used to inform any future emergencies.
Multicultural Connect Line has been set up to facilitate a pathway into mental health and social support services for people across Queensland experiencing disruption to daily living. What has been found is that while the Coronavirus pandemic has not directly impacted many callers, it has certainly made accessing services and support more complex.
The team of qualified, multilingual helpline intake staff are able to talk to people in their own language (interpreter services available) and do a brief assessment of need over the phone and facilitate referrals to relevant services in people’s local areas.
More information here including translated resources or call 1300 079 020 and speak to Sameera.
NAATI Annual Report 2019-2020
The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) has released their annual report 2019-2020.
The theme for their 2019-2020 annual report is – Transformation. Innovation. Resilience.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) suggests that current Australian data collection and reporting on cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity, particularly in relation to human services planning and delivery (including health, mental health, aged care, disability and social services), is inadequate.
FECCA calls for the establishment and resourcing of a National Working Group to develop consistent and accurate measures of cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity to ensure adequate, appropriate, accessible and useful data collection.
Read the full issues paper, including their 10 recommendations here.
Seasonal Job Opportunities- for refugees, temporary visa holders (i.e. some asylum seekers)
Now is the time to pick up work as a fruit or vegetable picker along Queensland’s Harvest Trail. Multicultural Australia is encouraging you to #pickqld with a range of employment opportunities on offer now during the harvest season - November 2020 to March 2021.
Jobs are available in regional locations Queensland for various visa holders.
Free Legal Advice for People Seeking Asylum and Refugees
Romero Centre is providing free legal advice for people seeking asylum and refugees.
When: Every Tuesday from 1pm to 4pm. Where: Romero Centre; 8 Dutton Street, Dutton Park
Assistance may be provided in the following matters: Traffic offence / Fines & Penalties / Domestic Violence / Assault or any other criminal law issues. They also certify documents and take statutory declarations.
Diploma of Financial Counselling- SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
A free Diploma of Financial Counselling course for people who have a multicultural background, have made Australia their home, have done some work in Australia in community services, health, social work or related fields and want to learn new skills to make a difference to their communities by adding new financial capability and financial counselling skills.
Students are also linked to industry through a workplace learning opportunity in a financial counselling agency with expert mentors.
A new free Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line is available to provide information and support, as well as a listening ear. If you need to talk to someone about how COVID-19 is affecting you or your loved ones, you can call the Support Line on 1800 171 866.
Reach more people with plain language writing: Health literacy training
Are you making clients sick with poor writing? Health is complex.
If clients can’t understand your information, they can’t stay well.
We all need a plain language check-up.
This new eLearning course is a guide to how you can communicate with people who struggle to digest information. It will help you reduce information overload and remove jargon from your writing.
The training takes between 2 – 2.5 hours. More information and course pricing here.
The Migrant Women’s Emergency Support Service Inc., operating as Immigrant Women’s Support Service (IWSS) is a non-profit, feminist organisation committed to providing services that recognise and promote the rights of women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and their children.
The following positions are being advertised (click on the links below for more information on each position:
2 Caseworker Positions - 1 permanent caseworker commencing Jan 2021 and 1 temporary caseworker position - Jan to April 2021
1 Receptionist Temporary Position - Jan to March 2021
When: 17 November to 14 December 2020 Where: 600 Stanley St, South Brisbane About: Take a look at the photographic exhibition here the heart is…where eight people from refugee backgrounds share their stories of survival, who they are now and how they want to be seen.
The exhibition is part of Adderton: house & heart of mercy’s external program Adderton Everywhere highlighting social justice issues in surprising public spaces. More information here.
Register for Adderton’s e-news and follow @addertonbrisbane on Instagram and Facebook. (Image: ‘Sanyu’ supplied as part of QPASTT’s Where the heart is… project. Photographer Mark Crocker with Meron.)
Have your say about improving health access and outcomes for migrants and refugees in Brisbane South
All health professionals – in clinical or non-clinical roles – working in the Brisbane South PHN region are invited to complete this survey.
The survey may take around 20 minutes to complete and can be completed in multiple sittings. The survey is open until Friday, 18 December, 2020. Click HERE for the survey.
The survey is conducted by Griffith University, Metro South Health and The University of Technology Sydney.
Research and Publications
Report on The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
The Disability Royal Commission recently released their interim report.on the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
Department of Social Services’ website have a full list of organisations providing counselling, advocacy, legal and financial supports for the Disability Royal Commission.
Integrating refugee health in primary care
Journal: Australian Journal of Primary Health Title: Reconceptualising specialisation: integrating refugee health in primary care Authors: Donata Sackey; Meryl Jones and Rebecca Farley
Refugee Nurses Australia (RNA) has joined over 70 other organisations, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Refugee Council of Australia and the Human Rights Law Centre in adding their support to the #timeforahome campaign. The campaign is calling for an end to the policies that have negatively impacted women, men and children seeking asylum in Australia for the last 7 years, and calls for detained asylum seekers to be released and permanent resettlement solutions to be found. You can read more about the campaign on the website here: https://www.timeforahome.com.au/
Click below to view webinars of this year's RNA forum
Law graduate Amiel Nubaha says his time at Griffith University inspired him to draw on his incredible life experience to give back to society. Amiel is also a member of Mater's Refugee Health Consultant group known as the "G11". Read his story here.
Stories of asylum seekers 'Temporary: a new eight part podcast'
The stories of people seeking asylum are supposed to end. But in Australia, people who arrive by boat are seldom able to finish their story.
In this series we hear stories from those seeking asylum in this country. Those who are stuck in a new country with no support, separated from their families and the people they love. We learn about the system that is designed to keep these people in a state of permanent uncertainty. Listen to their voices, from a limbo of Australia’s own creation, and discover who they are and why the end of their story can’t yet be told.
Click here for more information and to listen to episodes 1 and 2.
ABC News: Cultural backgrounds, languages could be recorded during Coronavirus tests to help future health responses
People from ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 and less likely to engage in public health messages.
The Health Department has confirmed it is "actively considering" capturing cultural and linguistic diversity data, cautioning it would only collect information in a way that is "useful and respectful".
This E-Newsletter provides a regular forum to share news, resources and information to support practitioners, build capacity and partnerships to improve the health and wellbeing of people from refugee backgrounds.
If ever there was a need for community spirit, it is in 2020. The inaugural ABC Radio Brisbane Community Spirit Awards acknowledge the strength and diversity of Brisbane's communities and recognise those across the city who are making a real difference. 
This scholarship is to enable students who are seeking asylum in Australia to access higher education and receive:
As the COVID-19 pandemic developed in Australia, Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) consulted regularly with members on its impacts. This has included consultation on the communication of health information to newly arrived communities.
Multicultural Connect Line has been set up to facilitate a pathway into mental health and social support services for people across Queensland experiencing disruption to daily living. What has been found is that while the Coronavirus pandemic has not directly impacted many callers, it has certainly made accessing services and support more complex. 
The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) has released their annual report 2019-2020. 
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) suggests that current Australian data collection and reporting on cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity, particularly in relation to human services planning and delivery (including health, mental health, aged care, disability and social services), is inadequate. 
Now is the time to pick up work as a fruit or vegetable picker along Queensland’s Harvest Trail. Multicultural Australia is encouraging you to #pickqld with a range of employment opportunities on offer now during the harvest season - November 2020 to March 2021. 
Romero Centre is providing free legal advice for people seeking asylum and refugees.
A free Diploma of Financial Counselling course for people who have a multicultural background, have made Australia their home, have done some work in Australia in community services, health, social work or related fields and want to learn new skills to make a difference to their communities by adding new financial capability and financial counselling skills. 
A new free Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line is available to provide information and support, as well as a listening ear. If you need to talk to someone about how COVID-19 is affecting you or your loved ones, you can call the Support Line on 1800 171 866.
Are you making clients sick with poor writing? Health is complex.
When: 17 November to 14 December 2020
The Disability Royal Commission recently released their 
Law graduate Amiel Nubaha says his time at Griffith University inspired him to draw on his incredible life experience to give back to society. Amiel is also a member of Mater's Refugee Health Consultant group known as the "G11". Read his story 
The stories of people seeking asylum are supposed to end. But in Australia, people who arrive by boat are seldom able to finish their story. 
People from ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 and less likely to engage in public health messages. 
