 Advocacy - Newcomers Network The People of Australia Australian Multicultural Advisory Council Statement on cultural diversity and recommendations to government - comment by Sue Ellson, Founder and Director of Newcomers Network
I attended the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council http://www.immi.gov.au/about/stakeholder-engagement/national/advisory/amac/ launch of its Cultural Diversity Statement http://www.immi.gov.au/about/stakeholder-engagement/_pdf/people-of-australia.pdf (1MB PDF) presented by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Chris Evans MP) at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne today.
The event started with an aboriginal dance and welcome to country followed by school children from the Song Room Choir of Sacred Heart Primary School in Fitzroy singing the national anthem. Guest speakers included Laurie Ferguson MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Andrew Demetriou, CEO of the AFL and Senator Chris Evans before two more songs from the children that were very warmly received.
Unfortunately there was no time allocated for questions.
There were many community representatives and well known multicultural representatives in attendance who enjoyed the nice refreshments after the speeches and had a good opportunity to network.
I collected the 18 page colourful pamphlet - and have decided to make some of my own comments.
Please bear in mind that these recommendations are mostly for skilled and business migrants arriving through 457, 175 and 176 visas.
Page 9 We are multicultural because we choose to be and need to be...to fill our shortages f labour and skills
Why is it then that new arrivals find that they must have local experience before they can get a job?
Why don't skilled migrants find jobs immediately after arrival that can utilise their skills and experience?
Why do these talented migrants decide to leave Australia (supposedly a first world country) because of their frustration at not being able to get work?
Why are they not encouraged to seek professional, paid assistance or given pre departure information to start their networking before they arrive in Australia?
Why are they not invited to start their networking and connecting before they leave their home country?
Page 12 Good governments do not tolerate discrimination and do all they can to eliminate prejudice and bigotry
Why does the Australian Government provide settlement services to humanitarian and refugee entrants but hardly any support to skilled and professional migrants (particularly services tailored to their more specific needs)?
Could the government declare that a percentage of all organisations with more than 10 staff recruit people who have lived in Australia less than three years (an affirmative action policy, even if only on a short term voluntary basis) so that new arrivals can gain Australian experience?
Why doesn't the government encourage new arrivals to network with their ethnic community organisations, multicultural organisations, industry networks and mainstream Australian services? (by providing local liaison officers or information services, preferably in the new arrival's first language. As a minimum, perhaps they could be referred to their local country's embassy/consulate for a direct referral).
Page 12 ...help these Australians of the future find their way into the life of their new communities
When does this start? It is my belief that this should start before their arrival in Australia, if not when their visa is granted, beforehand when they complete their visa application. Instead of asking a migration agent to 'fill in the blanks' on their behalf, there should be more of an effort made by the newcomer and their family to start their networking, assessment of their skills, their cultural training and their preparations for life in Australia BEFORE they arrive here.
One of the most simple and useful ideas is to make sure that they organise to have someone meet them at the airport when they arrive. So they need to get onto the internet and introduce themselves to people who share a common interest, the same country of origin, the same industry, the same family name - anything to approach someone and say, can you please just meet me at the airport and take me to my short term accommodation. They could offer to pay for someone to do this, but it makes a big difference, after a long flight, to have someone waiting for you on arrival.
There is no direct information session provided to these migrants. How do they learn the basics of Living, Working and Networking in Australia? Who will explain how to settle here? Who will explain the culture? Who will give them accurate and reliable recommendations for finding work? Where can they go to improve their own English skills or those of any other family members travelling with them?
page 15 We must plan for the settlement of new citizens
As stated above, this needs to start prior to their departure from their home country. We need the new arrivals to take responsibility for learning the new systems in Australia so that they can access mainstream services like other Australians. They can arrive with an expectation of both rights and responsibilities and a commitment to achieving their own success - not a welfare mentality or because it was so difficult to get a visa, they must really want me and then having completely unrealistic expectation of how to find work in Australia - prepare them for the 'hero to zero' syndrome. Australia likes its residents to 'earn their stripes' before they are accepted into our workplace culture.
page 15 The objective of a harmonious multicultural Australia must be pursued not just with idealism, but also with an acute and informed understanding of reality and a healthy dose of pragmatism
This does not mean more committees, more research and passing responsibility on to either state or local governments. It means saying, Australiawide, that we offer timely and useful advice for the benefit of newcomers to help them utilise the EXISTING Australian resources. There is no need to develop a barrage of 'multicultural' or 'ethno specific' resources, programs and activities.
It means educating the newcomers on how things work in Australia, what to expect, how to ask questions and make the effort themselves. It is too easy for people who already speak English to become isolated (because they are not even attending English classes so that they can meet other people) - so they need to connect to other people, real human beings, frequently and in situations where they can make new friends that share the same passions, interests, culture, faith, sporting code etc - this is how they will connect in Australia.
This does not need to be a lengthy process, it can simply mean attending one event with an introduction to these concepts, where they also meet some other newcomers. If there is an issue about funding, simply add $50 to the cost of the visa and say that the event is included as part of the immigration process.
page 17 They should consider stressing Australia's cultural diversity on more occasions
I disagree - our cultural diversity should be PRACTICED. For instance, how many people of a multicultural background are at the top levels in our local media?
How many newcomers move into the same level position or higher than their previous location on arrival?
How many newcomers get cultural training so that they can perform to 'Australian standards?'
How many newcomers spend their own money on their own Australian development? How many spend $300 on going out to dinner with nice wine at a restaurant?
How many newcomers start the job hunting process AFTER finding accommodation, schools etc and then start panicking because they have now been in Australia four months without a job?
How many suffer depression and other health related matters because they come from collectivist cultures or large social networks and then are treated like separate individuals who must fend for themselves here in Australia when what they really need is a new social network, of all ages, as soon as possible?
How many are taught settlement strategies? Do they have realistic expectations? Are they aware of what culture shock is?
Are they not just homesick but foodsick? Whilst there are many cuisines and ingredients now available in Australia, this is not something they can automatically resume eating from day one. People who eat strong Indian food may find that other people do not like sitting close to them at work.
pages 17-19 Recommendations to Government
Whilst I agree in principle with all of the recommendations, I have already highlighted to my mind some simple and straightforward ideas that are extremely pragmatic. The final recommendation states:
10. That the government encourage participation in community life by all members of Australia's diverse population.
This sums up what every Australian needs to do to enjoy life. What is lacking is the starting process. Ultimately, it is not the responsibility of the government to do this - it is up to the new arrival (who is generally very proactive before and upon arrival. What happens is that if this momentum is lost, if the opportunity to educate them passes, then the slide downwards can happen very quickly.
Changing the immigration process to empower newcomers to manage their transition pre departure and on arrival is essential. Encouraging the newcomer to connect to resources that suit their own personal style is critical. I believe, quite simply that:
The Australian Government should host four information sessions per year in major cities and regional centres so that local people and newcomers can come along, be informed about how to live, work and network in Australia (learning settlement strategies, understanding culture shock, finding work and friends).
The Australian Government should also consider sending Welcome Kits directly to visa applicants and asking them to prepare their own settlement connections in their application.
It would be a great start - and very low cost. And this statement did not cost anything to produce apart from some computer and brain power! I am not on the payroll of a government committee or any political party either.
I welcome your comments and contributions.
Sue Ellson
Founder and Director
Newcomers Network
0402 243 271
sueellson@newcomersnetwork.com
1658 Words
Contributions for this article were also provided by Michael Thornton of Thornton Immigration http://www.thorntonimmigration.com.au (details of applicable visas) and Alba Chliakhtine from ABRISA, The Brazilian Association for Social Development and Integration in Australia http://www.abrisa.org.au (focus on social needs, employment and networking). My own comments are based on many years experience working directly with newcomers, their comments, emails and stories that we have shared, the research projects I have completed and ordinary common sense (none of this is rocket science, just practical and pragmatic ways to move forward).
Publication Details
Sally Rose from Open Forum published this article online on 30/4/10
http://www.openforum.com.au/content/people-australia
Last update: 1st May 2010
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