Inclusion and Integration Grants Program

Background

In November 2005, the Western Australian Government developed a strategy to address issues of alienation and marginalisation that can lead to exclusion and social isolation for members of religious and ethnic minorities, particularly those from new and emerging communities. This strategy is designed to promote and encourage integration and inclusion of all Western Australians regardless of ethnicity, language or religious beliefs.

Inclusion and Integration Grants Program (IIPG) First Round 2006 - 2007

In 2006, the Office of Multicultural Interests [OMI] invited applications for grants under the Integration and Inclusion Grants Program [IIGP]. The IIGP objectives are to provide one-off funding to community based and non-government organisations to undertake projects designed to build community capacity, and promote integration and active participation by all members of Western Australia's diverse community.

The 2006 IIGP First Round comprised three funding categories.

Community Based Initiatives - to support existing and new community based initiatives that promote integration and active participation by members of the community in social, economic or political aspects of life, thereby combating marginalisation and exclusion.
Promoting Interaction and Communication - to promote interaction and communication between and among different religious and ethnic groups from new and emerging communities and the broader community, and that facilitate ongoing dialogue between groups.
Youth Leadership - to promote and enhance active participation by youth, particularly those at risk of marginalisation and exclusion, and that provide opportunities for youth from new and emerging communities to interact with the broader community.

A total of eight projects were funded under the First Round of the IIGP. Five projects were funded within the Youth Leadership Category, two projects were funded under the category of Community Based Initiatives and one project was funded under the category of Promoting Interaction and Communication.

Inclusion and Integration Grants Program: Successful Grants Recipients

Lead Organisation Edmund Rice Centre Mirrabooka Inc	Grant Category Youth Leadership	Project Title Sports Leadership Camp
A sports leadership camp that will provide youth from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (especially youth from new and emerging communities at risk of marginalisation and exclusion) with the opportunity to learn coaching and leadership skills. The participants will be targeted from the suburbs of Balga, Mirrabooka, Westminster, Koondoola, Girrawheen and Nollamara.

Lead Organisation The Western Australian Council of Social Services (WACOSS)	Grant Category Community Based Initiatives	Project Title Building Networks Project
The project aims to provide advice and training relating to the operation, management and governance of small new and emerging community organisations; develop inclusive integrated tools for Non-Government Organisations; and develop mechanisms for fostering and increasing inter-group collaboration and partnerships.

Lead Organisation Ishar Multicultural Women's Health Centre	Grant Category Youth Leadership	Project Title Getting Connected
The project aims to empower a number of young women aged 13-17 years from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, at risk of marginalisation and exclusion, to take charge of their own lives and develop links with their community to achieve their life goals. The young women will have the opportunity to develop life skills, gain confidence, broaden their network of influence, and gain access to information and opportunities within the broader community.

Lead Organisation Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation	Grant Category Youth Leadership	Project Title L I P Leeuwin Youth Scholarships
The project will provide scholarship opportunities for young people from at risk or marginalised communities to take part in leadership voyages on board the tall ship Leeuwin II. Participants will work as part of a team with young people from a range of backgrounds and learn to support each other to achieve team and personal goals. The project will help break down the barriers of social isolation experienced by these youth and provide opportunities for developing friendships and building social networks.

Lead Organisation Muslim Women's Support Centre	Grant Category Youth Leadership	Project Title Connecting Communities
This interactive leadership project is designed to develop the confidence and personal leadership skills of a number of young newly arrived migrants, both male and female. The four six-week leadership programs will focus on building practical skills and confidence and connecting students with the broader community. The skills will be developed through workshop activities, broader community involvement, excursions and interaction with youth and community mentors.

Lead Organisation Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (ASeTTS)	Grant Category Youth Leadership	Project Title Vacation Program for Refugee Youth
The Vacation Program will target young people from refugee backgrounds (mainly from the Sudanese and Middle-Eastern communities) and will complement the Newly Arrived Youth Support Services (NAYSS) program through a range of activities to increase their understanding of, and lessen the stress of living in, their new environment and culture, build self-esteem and reduce social isolation, as well as recreational activities.

Lead Organisation Fremantle Migrant Advisory Association	Grant Category Promoting Interaction and Communication	Project Title Multicultural Men's Support Program
The project will educate, support, advise and advocate for both newly-arrived migrant, refugee and humanitarian entrant men and long-term overseas born male residents of Western Australia who are experiencing alienation and dislocation in their lives due to identified issues.

Lead Organisation Gosnells Community Legal Centre Inc	Grant Category Community Based Initiatives	Project Title Our Strong People Project
The project will target culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities in the South-east metropolitan corridor, including Cannington, Thornlie, Gosnells, Armadale, Serpentine/Jarrahdale and adjoining suburbs. The project aims to develop skills to assist integration and the active participation of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities in community services; develop a model to assist CaLD communities in the development of life skills; mentor and provide support and training to community members; and develop training and information resources for CaLD community development workers

Inclusion and Integration Grants Program (IIPG) Second Round 2007 - 2008

In 2007 there was a call for applications for a second round of the IIGP (IIGP2). It was decided that the focus should be given to promoting greater interaction between different parts of the community. Consequently, the second round only has one funding category of Promoting Interaction and Communication.

The purpose of IIGP2 is to provide opportunities for people to mix and interact with the aim of achieving greater understanding of, and mutual respect for, the range of cultural and religious communities living in Western Australia. Projects must encourage and provide opportunities for discussion, dialogue and interaction between diverse communities, that is:

between new and emerging communities and the broader community; or
between established culturally and linguistically diverse communities and new and emerging communities.

In September 2007, the Minister for Multicultural Interests and Citizenship, Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich MLC, approved funding for the following five projects, which will be implemented between January and December 2008.

Lead Organisation Community First Inc	Project Title Bilyidar Celebrating Diversity
The "Bilyidar Celebrating Diversity" project will bring together 40 young people, aged between 15 - 21 years, from the Filipino, Sudanese and Nyoongar communities, who live in the Local Government Areas of Mandurah, Murray and Waroona to engage in several project activities to develop an understanding of different cultures and address racism in the Peel region.

Lead Organisation

Bunbury Community & Child Care Association (Milligan House) Inc

Project Title

Harmony - Let it be

The "Harmony - Let it be" project aims to break down barriers based on fears, misconceptions and misunderstandings of different religions and cultural traditions and practices; increase integration of diverse groups into the broader community; and increase respect and appreciation of diversity among the 50 participants, who live within the Greater Bunbury area. The participants will be members of the Catholic and Anglican churches, the Buddhist Centre, the Baha'i Centre, and Islamic Associations.

Lead Organisation

Learning Centre Link

Project Title

Linking Communities

The "Linking Communities" project will involve employment of a part-time Cultural Access Worker by Learning Centre Link to work with six Learning Centres over a 10 month period to enhance the connections and interaction between Centres, New and Emerging Communities and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse groups through various project activities. The project has the potential to involve about 380 people.

Lead Organisation

Community Vision Inc

Project Title

Tales of Times Past

The "Tales of Times Past" project will provide an opportunity for a group of seniors, in the City of Joondalup, from different religious and cultural backgrounds, to come together to recall and develop personal recollections on a diversity of themes. The aim will be to present these stories at six primary and senior schools, as well as to community organisations. It is anticipated that a large number of people, from different generations, will be involved and connected through this project.

Lead Organisation

Edmund Rice Centre

Project Title

Harmony Weekend

The "Harmony Weekend" project will comprise two Harmony Weekend Camp experiences for 80 people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, Anglo-Australian, and Indigenous backgrounds. Participants will be members of the El Fan Iraqi Community, the Sudanese, Buddhist, and Baha'i communities, and the Edmund Rice Network. The family oriented camps will give participants, from a variety of cultures and faiths, the opportunity to interact, share experiences, beliefs and values, and learn from each other. It is envisaged that the project will serve as a catalyst for further formal and informal interaction between participants following the camps.